Buying in '17 vs '18.......

[Q. Arrius]

I've decided to order a '17 LTX LE in red, although the black and orange is more intriguing. I just can't pass up the better shocks. I've spent a ton on money converting and up-grading my Apex SE to ride semi decent....and now understand the difference in shocks and the poor handling of base packages.

After reading the pricing threads, as well as making a couple of phone calls....it appears dealers are willing to negotiate this current Spring. That said, one dealer I've used insisted, "....'dem LEs are very hard to get, we gotta move on dis. We got'z to know today....ooohh I don't know..." Full retail + double set-up fee + $700 for the extra 2 years on the warranty! I'm sure freight and document fees on top of that too. Bunch of knuckleheads.

So here are my predictions and thoughts, and reasoning behind not waiting for the Anniversary '18s:

1. Dealers are pretty eager to fill their order quota, due to lack of sales from a bad snow year. Spring checking is a pretty much turn-key operation, and therefore they'll willing to go below msrp....and get their quota filled.

2. If the 1st year package proves reliable with little issue....demand will jump next year. Dealers will be less willing to drop below msrp due to demand. I'm not saying the msrp will increase....simply that the selling price will be right there.

3. I believe the Anniversary models will command a premium over and above a normal model year. I believe the popularity will increase for the S/W and prices will stabilize, but Viper sales will suffer....and prices on Vipers will stay lower. What additional features could they add for an Anniversary model? Maybe colors?

4. I'm not sure if the Spring Check on the S/W will be as generous, where as the incentives for Vipers will be increased.

I believe there is a lot of riders like myself, who sat on the fence about the Viper. The two issues which kept me away from the Viper was the reliability of the package (starter) and the lack of power. Going aftermarket turbo and the issues and effort of that option left too many uncertainties. The S/W seems to address both problems, and the Mitsubishi ECU gives me a lot more confidence. I believe the risk is still there with a first year model....but what the hell, I'm willing to gamble.

Am I off on my reasoning? I've never Spring Checked before....I've never even ordered anything new! I sure hope this thing has the testing and engineering behind it.

Q. Arrius

 

[buyrite01]

Lets look at the facts. Cat frame been out now for 5 years and now even better with these new shocks. Yamaha motor has been in the works for around 5 years and yamaha knows how to make a good engine!

 

[nadekeys]

One thing I heard fox is working on since their introduction is a remote adjustability system for the QS3 shocks. If they add that to the 18's and I spring order a 17 I'll be kicking myself. I've loved the ability to remotely adjust my rear suspension on my apex ltx gt. Otherwise I agree with your points and this is why I'm leaning towards pulling the trigger on an LTX LE in blue. Seems like there will be a ton of those sleds on the trails next year!

 

[murdered141]

I've decided to order a '17 LTX LE in red, although the black and orange is more intriguing. I just can't pass up the better shocks. I've spent a ton on money converting and up-grading my Apex SE to ride semi decent....and now understand the difference in shocks and the poor handling of base packages.

After reading the pricing threads, as well as making a couple of phone calls....it appears dealers are willing to negotiate this current Spring. That said, one dealer I've used insisted, "....'dem LEs are very hard to get, we gotta move on dis. We got'z to know today....ooohh I don't know..." Full retail + double set-up fee + $700 for the extra 2 years on the warranty! I'm sure freight and document fees on top of that too. Bunch of knuckleheads.

So here are my predictions and thoughts, and reasoning behind not waiting for the Anniversary '18s:

1. Dealers are pretty eager to fill their order quota, due to lack of sales from a bad snow year. Spring checking is a pretty much turn-key operation, and therefore they'll willing to go below msrp....and get their quota filled.

2. If the 1st year package proves reliable with little issue....demand will jump next year. Dealers will be less willing to drop below msrp due to demand. I'm not saying the msrp will increase....simply that the selling price will be right there.

3. I believe the Anniversary models will command a premium over and above a normal model year. I believe the popularity will increase for the S/W and prices will stabilize, but Viper sales will suffer....and prices on Vipers will stay lower. What additional features could they add for an Anniversary model? Maybe colors?

4. I'm not sure if the Spring Check on the S/W will be as generous, where as the incentives for Vipers will be increased.

I believe there is a lot of riders like myself, who sat on the fence about the Viper. The two issues which kept me away from the Viper was the reliability of the package (starter) and the lack of power. Going aftermarket turbo and the issues and effort of that option left too many uncertainties. The S/W seems to address both problems, and the Mitsubishi ECU gives me a lot more confidence. I believe the risk is still there with a first year model....but what the hell, I'm willing to gamble.

Am I off on my reasoning? I've never Spring Checked before....I've never even ordered anything new! I sure hope this thing has the testing and engineering behind it.

Q. Arrius

You do make a few good points, I have a 15' viper ltx dx, so getting 7-7.5k on trade is out of the question for me, that's 9-10k to upgrade, I would be better off getting a turbo for 3k, first year anything is always a gamble, plus it's nice see what everyone is saying about the sled after a full season of riding, I for one bleed blue but don't see a color combo that I absolutely have to have, Yamaha dealers always have plenty of leftover sleds every year, with that said I will be looking for a 2018 leftover, by then most of the hype should be over and prices should me more reasonable.

 

[Keith Schmitz]

You do make a few good points, I have a 15' viper ltx dx, so getting 7-7.5k on trade is out of the question for me, that's 9-10k to upgrade, I would be better off getting a turbo for 3k, first year anything is always a gamble, plus it's nice see what everyone is saying about the sled after a full season of riding, I for one bleed blue but don't see a color combo that I absolutely have to have, Yamaha dealers always have plenty of leftover sleds every year, with that said I will be looking for a 2018 leftover, by then most of the hype should be over and prices should me more reasonable.

I just bought an RTX-SE...2 more years of warrant was only $250, so I pulled the trigger. I don't believe the prices will ever be more reasonable, look at the Apex, that price has only gone up, with limited changes. Just my opinion, doesn't make it right

 

[murdered141]

I just bought an RTX-SE...2 more years of warrant was only $250, so I pulled the trigger. I don't believe the prices will ever be more reasonable, look at the Apex, that price has only gone up, with limited changes. Just my opinion, doesn't make it right

Not talking about msrp, I am referring to leftover sleds once the market has already been flooded with them.

 

[Keith Schmitz]

Not talking about msrp, I am referring to leftover sleds once the market has already been flooded with them.

No worries. I'm saying, I don't think the market will be flooded. They are expensive sleds, that I don't think dealers will "over order", buy leaps and bounds.

 

[super_rash]

I too am on the fence for 2017 or 2018. I am pretty sure there will be a few adjustments on the clutch, engine, ecu, and suspension setups.. most of these suspensions are new or very recent, and the Yamaha motor is not the same so chassis may handle differently then with the 1100T. I will probably wait till after xmas so that some will have tried the sleds to see if there aren't too many problems and see how the aftermarket will handle the new ECU and performance. I am really uncertain how the shock packages will compare, Yamaha having a long history for way too stiff suspension setups..so i myself will wait until next year..

 

[Dr. FeeLGooD]

When my piggybank is full, I get a new sled. Good thing I only have 10,000 miles on my Nytro. It might be awhile.