Farms and Farm Machinery – September 2019

54 TradeFarmMachinery.com.au THETRACTORYOUWANTISNOWEASIERTOFIND

FFM-HH-5120367-CS-375

TEST REVIEW

There are CV guards front and rear. Yes, they might have made

them alloy, but that would have cost more. Also, believe it or

not, not every farmer wants CV guards that can clog with mud

and cow poo and other perverse formulations. That’s what

we’re told anyway, though we don’t know whether to believe it.

Anything that prevents a dirty big hole being ripped in a CV boot

is probably a good thing, whether the guard is made of plastic,

steel or the latest clever algorithm. And anyway, if you don’t like

the look of the guard you can always remove it.

PRICING

One thing we have to talk about here is the retail price Argo

has pinned to this machine. We’re loathe to discuss this thorny

topic. Why, because no matter what you say you’ll offend

someone. Everyone has a valid opinion on pricing and deserves

to be heard. Buyers want value for money and distributors

and dealers have to make a buck. No well-made ATV is what

you’d call cheap. On the other hand, prices go up and down as

distributors work the market with cashback incentives and end-

of-financial-year deals. For example, as 2018 crash-landed, the

price of a Polaris Ute was $10,000 and a Sportsman 500, $7,000.

By way of returning fire, Argo is now offering a $500 cashback

incentive on all Xplorer models and with that you get a limited

two-year warranty and a free Warn winch.

The best that can be said for ATV pricing is that to one man

$12,300 might seem a big bundle, and to another, merely the

price he has to pay for what he wants. My next-door neighbour

has a new Lexis 4x4 and his wife a nice BMW wagon. I have a 12

year-old Holden Rodeo 4x4 and had to wait until the end of the

financial year to get that.

Argo Xplorer XR500LE

Engine Single cylinder 4-stroke

Displacement 503cc

Fuel delivery Injection

Output 29kW (39hp)

TRANSMISSION

Type V-Belt CVT

Drive system Selectable 2WD/4WD

RUNNING GEAR

Front brake 200mm hyd’ disc

Rear brake 180mm hyd’ disc

Hand and foot

brake

All four wheels

Front tyres AT26 x 8.14

Rear tyres AT26 x 10.14

DIMENSIONS

Ground

clearance

305mm (12in)

Towing capacity 590kg

Fuel capacity 18 litres

Price $12,318