Is 1500 too much?

[Charlie Tango]

I saw a 1996 Yamaha 250cc 2wd with front and back racks for $1500.00  It shows ten years worth of wear on it, but apears to run ok.  Is 1500 a fair price?

[Graybeard]

Sounds high to me. I bought a '98 several years ago and only paid $850 for it back then. That had to be at least 5-6 years ago. The one you're looking at is two years older and almost twice as much. I'd not pay that for it. You can get a new one for not much over $3000 if you haggle.

[markc]

Well, for one showing the amount of wear you are describing, it would be too much for me to pay.   I work my RUV's atv's etc pretty hard, but aside from scratches from the woods and a few small dings, they look fine after a good pressure wash, even after years of use.  I guess it would depend on what you mean in ten years worth of wear.  If the racks are dented or bent, then I might pass on it.  If it is just some scratches and wear on painted surfaces, then look further and see if there is anything not aligned correctly in the front end.  Are both front tires pointed in the same direction?  Is there any smoke at start-up or after warm up?  I would looks for things that might show that the motor and drivetrain were not maintained.  Any oil leaks? Scaratches and such can be fixed, or ignored, but I wouldn't spend money on one that is going to need a major engine overhaul right off the bat. 

[old geezer]

NADA shows a range of $9-1200 for a '96 Wolverine in good shape.  Follow Mark's advise.  If you want to go farther, does it start and idle easily when cold.  Take it for a ride and shift thru all the gears, including reverse.  What condition are the tires, any dry rot and decent tread.  Pop the airbox lid if you can and check for evidence of mud or excessive oil in the bottom of the box.

Buying one that old is always a crapshoot, but some turn out to be excellent buys.  My neighbor just bought a Honda about that age, and it looks rough, but runs like a sewing machine.

Good luck.

[Wynn]

I just paid $1400 for a 96 Polaris Sportsman 400. Other than a few scratches, it looks and runs great. It is 4WD, auto transmission and seems it spent most of its life sitting in a garage. I drained/changed the gas tank and coolant, put in a new plug and some fresh injection oil and ran it all weekend. I looked around for nearly 6 months to find this deal but it was worth it. Patience can pay off.