Polaris Slingshot is a tragicomically bad turd

[Soup DeVille]

FWIW apparently neither does Polaris

Polaris makes high quality snowmobiles. Whatever problems there are with the slingshot; it doesn't seem to be a company wide problem. It may just be the results of them diverging too far from their core business.

[hotrodalex]

Polaris makes high quality snowmobiles. Whatever problems there are with the slingshot; it doesn't seem to be a company wide problem. It may just be the results of them diverging too far from their core business.

Or cost cutting to meet the highest price they think they can sell this for.

[AutobahnSHO]

Toys are ridiculously expensive, this included. When I compare the parts and labor needed, this should be priced under a Versa.

[SVT666]

Toys are ridiculously expensive, this included. When I compare the parts and labor needed, this should be priced under a Versa.

Only if the quality is as bad as they say.  If it was a quality product, it's priced about right.

[AutobahnSHO]

Only if the quality is as bad as they say.  If it was a quality product, it's priced about right.

Sorry, when someone can buy a fully engineered car for $15k this makes no sense. Polaris is BRZ priced but far less product.

[hotrodalex]

Far less volume, too.

And it's a lot more product than other vehicles in the ATV-world, meaning it's going to be priced above them. And 95% of those cost more than a Versa.

[SVT666]

Sorry, when someone can buy a fully engineered car for $15k this makes no sense. Polaris is BRZ priced but far less product.

Engineering and tooling costs are spread over less units with the Slingshot.  Also, can a Versa handle like a track car?

[MX793]

Sorry, when someone can buy a fully engineered car for $15k this makes no sense. Polaris is BRZ priced but far less product.

Economies of scale...  There's a lot of money tied up in design and tooling (NRE) that gets absorbed in the product price.  The more you sell, the less that NRE is per unit.  Your typical 15k car will sell hundreds of thousands of units.  Your average recreational vehicle will sell maybe tens of thousands over its life.  And it doesn't cost an order of magnitude less to develop a toy like this.

[AutobahnSHO]

And it doesn't cost an order of magnitude less to develop a toy like this.

What? That's why they are making money, they don't have to adhere to all the car rules.

[12,000 RPM]

What? That's why they are making money, they don't have to adhere to all the car rules.

Yep

Maybe Polaris is strapped for cash but this thing is not much more complicated than a motorcycle and they make all new ones of those for as cheap as $4K new. Polaris didn't even develop the engine for this. They have other vehicles that are more complex and less expensive that aren't POS. Theres no excuse

[hotrodalex]

Of course they're making money, cuz it's priced to make money. Any lower and it probably wouldn't be worth it for them.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Its a 2000 dollar tube frame with probably the cheapest 4 cylinder motor on the market,  all wrapped in about 1300 dollars worth of plastic.

Im sure polaris is making obscene amounts of money off of each of these.

[SVT666]

That is far too simplistic.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

That is far too simplistic.

[SVT666]

Roll your eyes all you want, it isn't that simplistic.

[MX793]

What? That's why they are making money, they don't have to adhere to all the car rules.

I'm sure it costs less to develop (no crash testing, for example), but it's probably on the order of 1/2 to 1/4 rather than 1/10 or 1/20, but they will sell maybe 1/20 as many units as your typical economy car.

[AutobahnSHO]

Its a 2000 dollar tube frame with probably the cheapest 4 cylinder motor on the market,  all wrapped in about 1300 dollars worth of plastic.

Im sure polaris is making obscene amounts of money off of each of these.

+1

You forgot that their "engineers" had to figure out how to make a half-car, which probably burned a lot of dough making prototypes that were absolute garbage.

[AutobahnSHO]

I'm sure it costs less to develop (no crash testing, for example), but it's probably on the order of 1/2 to 1/4 rather than 1/10 or 1/20, but they will sell maybe 1/20 as many units as your typical economy car.

But the manufacturing is way way less too.

Used ATVs cost more than cheap used cars. Motorcycles too. I get it.    Supply and demand, "gotta have it" factor, etc....

The "value" just isn't there in toys.  I mean tell me a brand-new $25k car is worth "the same" as this brand-new $25k thing.

[MX793]

But the manufacturing is way way less too.

Used ATVs cost more than cheap used cars. Motorcycles too. I get it.    Supply and demand, "gotta have it" factor, etc....

The "value" just isn't there in toys.  I mean tell me a brand-new $25k car is worth "the same" as this brand-new $25k thing.

Material cost, maybe.  Labor is likely higher since I doubt they have the same level of automation.  Show me a largely hand-assembled car that costs <20k.

How much does it cost to get a fully assembled FFR Cobra?  Hint:  it's more than double the price of this.

[AutobahnSHO]

Material cost, maybe.  Labor is likely higher since I doubt they have the same level of automation.  Show me a largely hand-assembled car that costs <20k.

How much does it cost to get a fully assembled FFR Cobra?  Hint:  it's more than double the price of this.

And it's like triple/quadruple the car.

[MX793]

And it's like triple/quadruple the car.

Welded steel tube frame, plastic/fiberglass tub...  The kit alone is $20k without paint, wheels, and power train.  Or the labor to put it together.  Oh, and no factory warranty.

[Payman]

"I got a free Slingshot shirt when I bought mine. Went to put it on and there was a hole in it.

Quality control looks to be a little off with the clothing too."

[Payman]

Their main (only) defense over there is that cars get recalled all the time. What they fail (refuse) to realize is that new cars typically have one or two minor flaws or recall issues... like the transmission issue on my Focus (fixed). No singular modern car has ever had the sheer number of issues the Slingshot has.

[hotrodalex]

Im sure polaris is making obscene amounts of money off of each of these.

As a whole, Polaris has a 10% profit margin.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

As a whole, Polaris has a 10% profit margin.

As a whole, well that's nice.

Cuz I'm sure they aren't making alot on a 20+K for wheeler with a bargain basement 4 banger vs all the 6-10K dollar four wheelers that make up the bulk of their atv sales. Yup, 10% all around.

[Soup DeVille]

Actually, you can spend 15-20 grand on one of their ATVs easily.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Actually, you can spend 15-20 grand on one of their ATVs easily.

You mean a side by side? I'm sure most of their 4 wheelers(traditional style) sold are around 8-10K

[hotrodalex]

On the other hand, their cheaper models are their bread and butter and have little R&D, probably more sales to spread out fixed costs, etc. As a brand new model that's quite a bit different than their other stuff, I doubt their profit margin is huge.