John Deere 825i Evaluation

[kmjohndeere44]

My dealer dropped off an 825i for me to try Thursday. I currently have an 850D and wasn't sure I wanted to move away from the diesel engine. I learned more than I expected!

First - i thought the changes from my Gator were going to be the bigger wheels/tires, new engine, new front suspension and new box only. They've actually practically melted and re-poured except for the rear suspension. New frame, more room inside the cab, new shifter controls.

The 825i has tremendous low end torque - accelerates much faster than the 850D (I was concerned they were going to gear it for top speed and it would not pull). The engine is very refined for noise and vibration - night and day better than the 850D Yanmar.

Steering ratio is slower (numerically higher) so steering efforts are dropped and higher speed steering is more stable, but it suffers in the woods - more steering wheel input to maneuver.

Shock damping is more controlled and roll stiffness is higher than 850D and makes it feel very stable at the higher speeds both off road and on asphalt.

My 850D has nasty gear rattle in the front differential that a trip back to the dealer could not fix. This is eliminated on the 825i - very welcome improvement!

The new cluster is very nice - back lit so easy to see at night - has an odo, trip odo, tach and speedo - fun to watch it at MPH!

The shifter control efforts are much reduced from the 850D.

The box is a great improvement with the integrated tail/brake lights. Feels substantial now instead of a bit rinkydink like the stamped steel on the 850D.

All in all I was very impressed, and ordered one this morning fully loaded (got the doors and heater for the deluxe cab this time! Will be a welcome addition in February in Michigan). Hope to get it second week of September.

Only option I didn't get was the sport exhaust - does anyone know what the real options are there and the effects on sound and power? The price went up on it from $399 to $599 overnight so I opted out to see what other options there might be

 

[jcmseven]

They are nice machines. I ordered one for my dad that should be here next week. My only issue is with the "bench" seat. I was thinking of selling my Ranger and getting one for myself also, but the JD bench seat option, which I need for my family, is very narrow, lacks a center belt at this time and really looks more like a modified shallow bucket with a foam centerpiece. The middle person also would have to straddle the shifter so it is not a true three person bench in my opinion.

John M

 

[sunnyside360]

They are nice machines. I ordered one for my dad that should be here next week. My only issue is with the "bench" seat. I was thinking of selling my Ranger and getting one for myself also, but the JD bench seat option, which I need for my family, is very narrow, lacks a center belt at this time and really looks more like a modified shallow bucket with a foam centerpiece. The middle person also would have to straddle the shifter so it is not a true three person bench in my opinion.

John M

My wife and I took the JD XUV 825i for a test drive a few days ago. We currently have a 2008 Ranger 700 XP/LE and will be updating soon so we've been looking. I think it's coming down to either a 2011 XUV 825i or a 2011 Ranger 800 XP/LE which we also test drove as well as others. Once you are used to using the Ranger 3 person bench seat it's tough to change if you have visiting grand kids quite often.

 

[jcmseven]

Yes, I really like the true bench seat and EPS power steering on my Ranger. Having had both Polaris and JD products in this line, I think the JD products are built heavier and more-durably, though no one can argue the Rangers are tough machines. My Ranger will obviously run circles around my 850D Gator, but the Gator is some better pushing heavy snow, pulling heavy trailers and generally doing heavy work things. That said, those activities comprise only 25-30% roughly of what I do with the UTV, so the extra speed and slick ride and power steering of the Ranger more than makes up for its slightly reduced chassis weight and lack of low end diesel grunt (in my model). I was pretty impressed with the 825i (enough that I ordered one) but in my mind it really needs that true bench seat, power steering (reportedly coming in 2011) and a tilt type wheel to compete with the Ranger in that segment. Two years ago, I would have denied these being important things, but having used and enjoyed them on my Ranger a while they are very important indeed.

John M

 

[TCowner]

I agree. I bought the Polaris Ranger HD with power steering when it first came out. I got mine in December of 2008. WIth the HD you get the air shocks and the power steering. I'm not sure the air shocks are that important but the power steering sure is.

Its kind of like when power steering first started appearing on garden tractor in the early-mid 80s when John Deere gave us the 318 and 420. Folks used to think we were crazy if we needed power steering on a garden tractor. Now its standard on the premium tractors and most of us wouldn't go back to one without it.

Its the same for me at least with the ranger. It is effortless to back around into tight places with the Polaris HD. Polaris redesigned their steering with the 2009s so that they actually steer pretty well without the power steering. That is, until you drive one with power steering.

I too think the new John Deere Gator is impressive. I've not driven one but saw one at the Iowa State fair last weekend. I need to drive one to see how the steering compares but I think Deere will need to at least offer it as an option.

Until they do, my Deere dealer won't get my Ranger HD until he pulls my cold dead fingers from the EPS wheel.

 

[turfjim]

I took delivery of my 825i last week. It is a wonderful machine.

Here is the only big complaint I have. There a huge amount of heat from the radiator that comes into the foot and leg area. When you are traveling thru a timber where there is no breeze, it gets oppressive.

Once you guys get your 825i, let me know if you experience the same thing. By the way, I live in Maryland where it gets hot! This problem will be welcome in the winter, but we have more summer than winter out here.

Jim

 

[kmjohndeere44]

I've had the 825i for a while now and thought I'd post an update. I received it in mid-September so been running it around 6 weeks now. I ordered it with the Maxxis Bighorn tires with alloy wheels, but they were on backorder, so it came with the Ancla MT tires on steel wheels. It is amaxing how much the tires and wheels effect the looks of the machine.

The fully enclosed glass cab looks great and is built very well, but I was disappointed with how much road vibration and boom there was inside the cab while driving on pavement. There were resonances of panels and pipes that would light up at certain speeds and it really detracted from the quaility experience that I'd had with the demo model without the cab. I was amazed when we installed the right tires (the Maxxis came in last week) that the booms and resonances went completely away! I understand the effects of tires on the ride, but was surprised that all of the noise was caused by the tires only - I assumed some of it was being caused by the powertrain and driveline. If you are going to drive much on pavement, I recommend staying away from the Ancla tires.

Another concern was the stopping power with the brakes. The cab adds significant weight but I still expected the vehicle to stop almost as well as the demo Gator. Initially the linings just didn't provide the deceleration, but after 50 miles or so they have burnished enough that they feel good.

Last item that took some getting used to was the heater - it is a heater only - no A/C - and if the valve is open that lets the engine coolant run to the heater box, like it or not it WILL be hot in the cab regardless if heater is turned on or not. So lesson learned was to leave the valve closed and the cab stays reasonable on warmer days.

All in all I am very pleased with the machine - very well made and improvements in every area (for example you can open the windshield and access storage now - on 850D there was a cross member at the base of the windshield that had to be unscrewed and removed before storage was accessed).

I'm looking at putting a Boss V plow on it and I'd like to change the muffler, but still choke on the $599 price for the sport muffler

 

[jcmseven]

Mine should be here next week. It is amazing how much difference the radial tires make in the ride and noise.

John M

 

[kmjohndeere44]

Hauled gator 45 miles today to have Boss Power-V XT installed - VERY happy to learn they didn't have the right mounting skid plate - it won't be available for at least a month according to Boss> I did get to look at plow - really nice piece of machinery

 

[jcmseven]

Gator still not ready on my end. It has been received at the dealer and is being fitted with the Fox Racing shocks and upgraded exhaust. I am hoping that it will be ready later this week. I am also having a center seat belt fitted. As for the plow, I opted to get the John Deere Power Tach plow instead of the Boss Plow. In speaking with Jamie at Boss, I had heard the bracket/mounting plate was not quite ready given the different mounting pattern on the new 825I

John M

 

[kmjohndeere44]

Pleasae let me know what you think of exhaust, if you get a chance to drive it with original then the new one. I want it, but see it for $399 on some sites and $599 on others = not sure what to believe and really not sure if it is worth it

 

[kmjohndeere44]

And also let us know what you think of overall machine!

 

[jcmseven]

I will post pictures. I understand it is ready, but I must work through Saturday before I can go get it as my dealer is about three hours' drive from me. Also wanted to post that the fellow at Unisteer said they possibly would have their power assist steering available within two-three weeks.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Well, got the Gator today. Will post some pictures but got the olive green with the silver aluminum wheels, Maxxis Bighorn tires, Fox Racing shocks, hydraulic dump, front and rear brush guards, bed liner, top and half windshield, performance exhaust, bench seat with extra middle belt, adventure lights and Power Tach blade (which is pretty sweet, BTW). Seems really stout. Anxious to see how it plows snow if we get much this winter.

John M

 

[kmjohndeere44]

Bought outside rearview mirrors and installed last night - very well made. Also set up XM radio (portable unit). I am really teetering on the exhaust! Is it worth $599?

 

[jcmseven]

I did not pay that for mine, but it was installed at the factory with my order. I think it cost me in the $350.00 range. As for whether it is worth it, tough question. I think it sounds great; not too loud and actually more quiet at idle with a solid but not annoying exhaust note at mid to full throttle. To me, it sounds like one of those old GMC dump trucks with the Detroit diesel in it. As for power, I bought my dad essentially the same Gator I have, save some of the niceties such as the exhaust, Fox shocks, etc. Physically it looks exactly the same including wheels and tires. My seat of the pants impression is that mine has more low end and mid range ooomph than does my dad's, but we have not lined them up yet. Whether this is just something being new or whether it is the exhaust I do not know but it could be. Since this is such a personal decision I am only going to offer my opinion. My opinion is that it is probably worth $250-300 more to have the performance exhaust. $350.00 would be pushing it (what mine cost) and $500 plus--if that is the best you can find on price--likely is not worth the extra money. If I were in your shoes, I would forego the exhaust and save your money for the Unisteer Electrasteer kit which will likely be available within the next few days. I already have one ordered for mine and know this would be a better use of your money as I have had one before and really liked it. This is especially handy with the heavy front blade (Power Tach) I bought with my machine and would do more for daily performance than would a performance exhaust. My $0.02.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Well folks here are my thoughts thus far and my contribution to the Gator v. Ranger debate. I have now had my Gator a week and though that is not that much time, I have already put 12 hours use on it. Here's what I've come up with:

Engine/drivetrain/power/speed: My 800 Ranger ran a GPS supported 54 mph top speed; my Gator 46 mph. The Ranger has a clearly faster top speed, but the Gator accelerates much more quickly and has more mid-range torque, thusly feeling more powerful. The Ranger to this point has given better fuel economy as I have already gone through two tanks on my Gator. Assumably the Gator engine will have a longer life span, but this will have to be seen.

Chassis: The Ranger uses a C-channel carriage style frame. The Gator uses a hydroformed boxed frame that feels much more rigid. The suspension pieces on the Gator are much heavier and seemingly more-durable. The drilled and vented brakes on the Ranger are larger and stop much better than do the Gator brakes.

The cockpit: the Ranger has a wider front bench seat than the Gator which has a smaller more-tight bench seat. The Ranger also has a flat foot area with much more leg room and tilt wheel with power steering. The steering wheel and cockpit on the Gator are carry-overs from the previous XUV and are not as ergonomic. The Gator has heavy manual steering v. the power steering on the Ranger. I have ordered an Electra-steer kit for my Gator for this reason.

The cargo box: The Ranger has a shorter wider cargo box that is not as voluminous as that on the Gator. The Gator box is much more heavy duty and has a factory spray in style liner. The Ranger's box interior is very slippery when a bed mat is not used; the Gator's is not. The Gator can haul more weight in the box without it affecting the performance of the vehicle. Despite having a 1000+ box capacity rating, my Ranger was appeared very overloaded with 800+ pounds in the box and the handling did suffer.

Off-roading: The Ranger is a good off-road UV. It is much lighter (1250 pounds v over 1700 in my configuration) and the reduced weight makes it much more nimble in the woods. So far, I have been unable to find anything that gave either machine much trouble, but the Ranger to me is a slightly better off roader mainly due to its lighter weight. Unfortunately, this comes at a slight cost in work performance, as my Gator easily pulls big trailers around that really affected the Ranger and I suspect is a much better snow plow machine as well.

Accessories: I had a number of accessories with my Ranger including pre-runner brush guard, plow, windshield etc. The Gator has the same accessories. Like much of the rest of the machine, the Gator accessories are much heavier and seemingly more durable. This is with the exception of the flimsy half shield in front. I have had one in the past, but this one is not nearly so well made. I will be upgrading to the full glass windscreen and cannot recommend the half windscreen any longer.

Conclusions: the 800 Ranger and the XUV 825i Gator are both outstanding machines. I do not feel there is a true "best" between them. Like in many cases which is better depends on owner intent. I do about 90/10% work v. play, so in my case the heavier, more-powerful Gator is the better choice. It has much more torque, heavier components, and a better warranty. It would easily pull my previous Ranger into the next county and has enough engine power to be fun also. The problem JD has is that the ergonomics of the seating and steering positions are not yet up to the Ranger, and the lack of factory power steering at this time makes some of us look at aftermarket systems. I wish it also had a larger fuel tank. The Ranger is not as powerful, though it has a higher top speed. The chassis design and construction is antiquated by comparison and it had a number of squeaks and rattles v. the Gator. It also may be a slightly better off-roader due to its lower weight and smaller size and should be considered more highly if one uses his/her machine more equal between work and play. It has better brakes and a more comfortable layout in the interior. The warranty of the Ranger is inferior to that of the Gator and with these type machines this could come into play for the average owner. For me personally, the ability to pull big loads with ease, have a machine that I can count on with good support and company backing and a more torquey powertrain with some fun added in was a better choice than a machine more intended for 50/50 use. That said, these priorities may not be at the top for all, so ranking them in one's mind would determine which machine fits the bill better for a potential owner.


John M

 

[sunnyside360]

John, thanks for taking the time to summarize and post your thoughts. I'm on my second Ranger (2011 800 XP/LE) but had test driven the 825i prior to buying. The JD dealer was going to give me a substantial price discount. It was a tuff call but decided to go with the Ranger this time around. However, I will definitely consider the 825i again next time around. The JD dealer recently told me Deere is coming out with improvements and features.

Good luck with your new SXS.

 

[mw333]

Will the sport muffler make the gator louder or quieter?

 

[jcmseven]

At idle and full throttle I perceive that it is more quiet. In the mid-range it is louder.

John M