I recently bought a Honda Pioneer used for $4500. Engine is shot, it cranks but there is metal in filter and I'm told a crate engine is about the same price as a rebuild. I'm curious what you would do- pay to get the new engine for about 6.5k, or sell it and just buy something else? I believe these usually sell around 10k used, so I'd hope I could get my investment back with a new engine but there is certainly no guarantee of that. 

 

If buy something else (used), what do you recommend? My goals are to have a bed for utility, be able to drive my young kids (3&6) or grandparents around my property more safely than my 4 wheeler, and be able to generally just have fun on my property. Not doing heavy mudding or long trail rides, more just utility type stuff. I don't need 1000cc, but would like at least 700 because I intend to pull an atv gravel grader thing on my driveway occasionally with it. 

In 2017 we decided to go the side by side route instead of four wheelers for convenience and safety.  I wanted two seats and a dump bed.  The only thing that fit the bill was a Kawasaki 4010 Trans4x4.  It gets used most every day and has been super reliable for 8 years now.

I am told Honda ATV's/UTV's are super reliable and darn near bullet proof. Sad that your engine is shot. If it were me, I would take it to your local Honda dealer and get pricing for an engine re-build. Then shop around on FB marketplace or Craigslist...might be able to find a used engine that you could swap in for less $$. 

 

First step is getting it checked out by Honda dealer. 

 

Wife's ex-hubby had Yamaha ATV's...that he loaned to us to take their boys to Colorado years back. They ran great and served him well for years. We decided to get ATV's shortly thereafter...looked at Honda, Yamaha, Polaris and Can Am. Went with used Polaris 550 ATV's...found some good deals used. 

 

Polaris are pretty popular with Ranchers / Famers in Nebraska...lots of dealers around. 

 

Buddy of mine had a John Deere Gator UTV for many years...he really loved it. So much that he dropped $35k on a new XUV Premium Cab with heat and AC. I'm told it is pretty sweet ride. 

 

Good luck!

2 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I am told Honda ATV's/UTV's are super reliable and darn near bullet proof. Sad that your engine is shot. If it were me, I would take it to your local Honda dealer and get pricing for an engine re-build. Then shop around on FB marketplace or Craigslist...might be able to find a used engine that you could swap in for less $$. 

 

First step is getting it checked out by Honda dealer. 

 

Wife's ex-hubby had Yamaha ATV's...that he loaned to us to take their boys to Colorado years back. They ran great and served him well for years. We decided to get ATV's shortly thereafter...looked at Honda, Yamaha, Polaris and Can Am. Went with used Polaris 550 ATV's...found some good deals used. 

 

Polaris are pretty popular with Ranchers / Famers in Nebraska...lots of dealers around. 

 

Buddy of mine had a John Deere Gator UTV for many years...he really loved it. So much that he dropped $35k on a new XUV Premium Cab with heat and AC. I'm told it is pretty sweet ride. 

 

Good luck!

I've been doing those things. It seems there are very few pioneer 1000's around, and I haven't been able to find anything with an engine I could grab but have certainly been trying. 6.5k is the estimate I was given but they're still working on a final quote, they said apparently this engine is really complex and rebuild would cost similar to new crate engine. Other brands evidently are way easier to do that on than Honda, but as you said they haven't worked on many Hondas because they rarely break. 

Timely topic.  I’ve been looking around at them for a few weeks because my daughter has a 300 acre farm and runs a horse boarding business and some of the land is in hay production.  She has many times commented on how handy one of these units would help.  She has a Kioti DK40SE tractor for moving big round bales, brushhogging, pulling honey wagons, and general farm work. She rents out the hay fields but would really like something like a Kawasaki Mule to use.  Man-0-Man are they proud of those things! I’ve scoured marketplace and kept an eye on auctions but they are extremely popular.  

3 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

So much that he dropped $35k on a new XUV Premium Cab with heat and AC.

 

Holy cow.  AC in a side by side?  35 grand?

 

That's as much as I paid for a new SUV last year lol

My only hesitation is if the engine blew what else wasn’t taken care of? You could get the engine rebuilt or drop a new one in but, find you need 3k in other stuff that is shot. 

if a new engine is the same or close to a rebuild I would get the new engine. Metal shavings are bad news, obviously, but like Susky said what else did that metal get into that may seem ok but could/would fail not long after. I'd buy the new engine and if you are like me, keep the shot one to tinker on or tear apart and learn. Might be able to put a few bucks into it and recoup some money selling it. 

A couple years ago when shopping for a utility side by side, I'd decided on Honda.  Only local dealer was Kawasaki, so I ended up with a Mule and could not be happier with it.  There are faster UTV's, more rugged UTVs, more comfortable UTVs... but that Mule is very good in all respects.  

8 hours ago, Choporoz said:

A couple years ago when shopping for a utility side by side, I'd decided on Honda.  Only local dealer was Kawasaki, so I ended up with a Mule and could not be happier with it.  There are faster UTV's, more rugged UTVs, more comfortable UTVs... but that Mule is very good in all respects.  

My dad has a mule and I put it through the paces this weekend clearing trails, logging timber, etc. in the NC foothills and I was quite impressed!