Buying a used snow mobile can be a pleasant experience, but there are a few things to keep in mind when making the decision. Don't stop at the first snowmobile that you see and purchase it. It pays off to spend half an hour studying the market and getting a feel for the prices and brands. If you are an informed buyer, your chances of getting stiffed by a seller are far lower. Another great idea is to bring a friend along. If your friend knows a thing or two about snowmobiles, that's even better. Two minds are always better than one, and your friend might play the role of the objective voice, if you get over enthusiastic about a certain offer.
When visiting a snowmobile seller ask him or her to leave the machine cold - not to start it up and allow it to get heated. This will ensure a rigorous testing of the snowmobile's starting capacity. Warmed up engines will start right away, but cold ones, especially if they have certain malfunctions, will give you a hard time when starting from cold. It also helps if the owner lets you test the snowmobile. In this case you should have your own gear and not borrow it from the owner.
You might think that buying from individual owners is risky - you are right, but dealerships are not far from this truth as well. Some snowmobile dealerships will buy the sleds as trade-ins and polish them up to increase their value. However, a little "make up" does not justify some of the huge price increases. You should find a competent mechanic, if possible, who will have a look the snowmobile before you purchase it and find any major flaws. Since a work hour on a sled is around $40 - $50, you will want to get the snowmobile that has the lowest chances of needing repairs.
