For me, snowmobiling is all about hunting down unexplored landscapes and having a thrilling sensation that no other sport can provide. What kind of a snow rider won’t like to discover what remains unmapped by the others?
I’m sure every rider has that urge to unveil the hidden, and so do I. Call me Vespucci! Eh?
Did you think that a one-in-a-million sport like this one could come cheap? Absolutely not! So, let it be said: It is a Gucci sport. Secondly, with this outpacing inflation, it feels even heavier on the pocket.
So wondering how much does a snowmobile cost? The average prices of snowmobiles can range anywhere from $6,000 and go up to $20,000 or even higher. It all depends on whether you buy a new snowmobile or opt for cheap snowmobiles like the used snowmobile options.
What Goes into the Price of a New Snowmobile?
Snowmobile for recreation? Yes! It is a sport itself. A snowmobile is a motor sledge that features crawlers, skis, a steering wheel, and a motor, put together to be ridden on the snow. This vehicle is used for multi purposes like as a recreational sport itself, hunting, transportation, and trapping.
The Ski-Doo is meant to be driven on the snow and doesn’t demand groomed trails to be operated on. What? Exactly! I know you are getting goosebumps already!
The average price of this motorized vehicle falls anywhere around $13,000. However, snowmobile prices vary a lot according to the model. The cheapest adult snowmobiles feature smaller engine size, thus costing around $5,000.
Now that you are here to know the reason behind its cost, let’s dive into this without further ado. All these factors mentioned below add to the price of an average snowmobile.
Tooling
The customer is King. Do you believe it? Do you think a customer is giving away the money for free? No. A customer pays only when the need has been satisfied. That is exactly why manufacturers tend to offer updated models every now and then.
You know people change and so do their needs. Hence, the product also evolves to stay relevant. Two decades ago, it was totally okay for snowmobile riders to be offered an updated design after so many years. However, the user of modern times is not having it. In today’s world, demands for new design and updated tech have gone gaga.
Snowmobiler’s thirst for innovation is sky-high. They seem to demand tech advancement as well as zero changes in the standard features. They have also shown a willingness to pay what they are asking for.
Tooling for 7000 parts-based vehicles demands a big investment. I mean, for the production of shells alone, thousands of dollars are required. By tooling, we mean the cost of manufacturing components and machinery.
As the need of the customer changes, the tooling costs also increase for the production of that specific feature that a customer wants to see next. However, customers don’t want the company to label the product with an unanticipated price tag.
So, there is a heavy chance that a producer is still at loss on tooling costs even if you pay the retail price of the latest model.
Raw Material
A lot of raw material goes into the production of a single snowmobile. These days, materials like rubber, plastic, and metal cost 60 percent more than in the last four years. This drastic cost rise has hampered the production of equipment a great deal.
You know, for a manufacturer, the cost of tooling, prototyping, design, buildings, and administrative costs stays unwavering regardless of how many vehicles a manufacturer builds.
So, a producer must raise prices for profit margins. I mean, we cannot call it greed as the producer is in the business for earning livelihood too.
Moreover, an abrupt increase in the cost of raw materials has also reduced the options list of vendors who used to supply key components. Not just that, the prices of components have also puffed alarmingly high.
Such interruptions in the supply chain played a major role in the snowmobile price hike. If we talk about the USA, the Texas freeze of 2021 tells a lot about how numerous plants went offline for a month and blew up in the faces of manufacturers in the form of sky-high prices of rubber and plastic.
Labor
The cost of manpower isn’t coming slow either. Or did you think robots tend to join parts to make a vehicle? No, chump! There would literally be no new snowmobiles without people.
High-skilled engineers are working together to produce a super functional piece, and so they demand high wages.
Not just that, as factories are mostly located in distant areas, it gets hard for manufacturers to attract employees even after the employer agrees to cover housing expenses.
R&D
Research and development is one important expense. First of all, a consumer is thoroughly studied. Having no doubts about what the customer is looking for, they proceed to the designing part. The idea then matures and reaches the sampling phase.
Everything starts from an idea, and so for this purpose, highly skilled professional engineers are required. Did you think the idea gave birth to itself and matured over time on its own? If yes, I’d like to move to Mars.
Anyway, then these professionals translate that idea into reality through expensive and repetitive prototyping. Just so you know, sampling stands mandatory for risk management. That is exactly why the main cost of R&D is employee wages and sampling expenses.
Finished Parts
No, numpty! Everything is not produced in-house. In-house production of all the necessary components of a product is a non-realistic idea in the first place. Why? Because each and every part of a product requires different machinery and a proper workforce which is not possible for an industry to have.
Hence, manufacturers try to outsource many parts like multifunctional gauges and ECM.
Outsourcing proves beneficial as it reduces work cycles and improves productivity, but it also comes at hefty shipping costs.
Marketing
Marketing cost is what goes into the advertisement and promotion of a product. Again, for manufacturers, the marketing cost stays the same no matter how much volume is of production.
So, if the industry fails to keep intact the supply chain, the production volume reduces, and the company fails to gain potential profit, even then, marketing, administrative, and other costs mentioned earlier stay the same.
As almost every year a company is presenting newer models, the need for advertisement arises to show off new features and attract and retain customers. We can say, innovation and marketing are imperative to reduce customer churn rate and gain profit.
Transportation
What else factors into an average price is the cost of transportation also. No matter where on earth the skimobile has been produced, it has to be shipped to selling points at the same average cost.
You know, transportation has also gotten expensive since the diesel fuel cost has reached new heights. So, the companies charge you extra if the fuel gets expensive.
Dealer Markup
MSRP refers to the ‘manufacturer’s suggested retail price’, while a dealer markup is what a dealer adds to jack up the actual price of a product. You might be wondering that a dealer must be earning gold with the price of snowmobiles ranging from $13,000 to $25,000 or so, aren’t you?
To your surprise, it is surely not the case, as the dealers only keep a small margin. He would be making the most money out of services and components. Truth be told, a dealer markup might rest anywhere between $500 to $1500.
Warranty
Well, it might come as a surprise to you when I tell you that the cost of the snowmobile includes the warranty in the retail price. So, you are not getting it for free, instead paying for it already.
The producer already predicts the warranty cost based on previous models’ fail points and warranty liabilities, then the suggested figure is baked into the retail price of a snowmobile.
New Snowmobile: Pros and Cons
First thing first, before you commit yourself to buy a new or used snowmobile, give yourself a budget. Because a new vehicle can cost you about $13,000 to $19,000, whereas a used snowmobile might be around $3,000 to $8,000. Quite a difference, isn’t it? Keep in mind the added cost of the snowmobile oil too!
Now that you have set a budget, educate yourself on different types of snowmobiles and figure out your type. Whether you want a trail snowmobile because you are just a beginner? A race snowmobile? Or touring or hybrid snowmobile? Figure out what suits you best.
When you are done deciding, learn about the pros and cons of buying a new one or a pre-loved sled. Let’s start with the pros and cons of new snowmobiles, shall we?
So, the biggest pro for buying a sled straight outta the production line is that you will be free from spending time in the garage before you hit trails for a ride. I mean, nothing needs fixing, right? Secondly, if you happen to break anything, you are getting a warranty from your dealer for a free quick fix.
To conclude, when you are buying a new piece, you are actually paying for comfort and peace of mind.
Now, if we talk about the greatest con of buying a new sled, it is the expensive cost you have to pay. But wait! You can get a loan and pay over the decided time period?
Used Snowmobiles: Pros and Cons
The biggest pro for buying used sleds is the cheap cost. It will be costing you significantly less. While you are saving a decent amount of money, you are also spending a lot of time finding a reliable source. Mind it! A lot of homework goes into buying second-hand machines.
The Cheapest and Expensive Snowmobile Options
Let’s talk about some of the cheapest and the most expensive snowmobiles. So, what is the cheapest snowmobile? Well, youth snowmobiles usually cost the lowest. These youth sleds feature small-sized engines, 120-200cc mostly. It will be costing you about four to five thousand dollars.
Now let’s talk about some Gucci sleds. Unveiling to you the Godzilla of snowmobiles: Yamaha SIDEWINDER SRX LE. However, some people think otherwise and consider the Arctic Cat ZR Thundercat as the most expensive snowmobile, as it costs more than $18000.
Below, I have assembled a chart that presents different engine ranges and the money they can cost you.
| Model(CC) | Average Price (US Dollar) |
|---|---|
| 120 | $3000 to $3500 |
| 200 | $4000 to $5000 |
| 400 to 600 | $6000 to $10,000 |
| 600 to 900 | $12,000 to $15,000 |
| 1000 to 1200 | $15,000 to $19,000 |
Why Are the Prices Rising Faster than Normal?
As discussed earlier, there are various factors behind the drastic snowmobile price hike. While manufacturers are facing issues in accommodating higher bids and getting their hands on cheap commodities, the customer is stuck with paying a high price for the finished good.
Final Thoughts
While it surely is exciting for a rider to get their hands on a brand new snowmobile, let me state one thing loud and clear, besides buying a new sled, you are expected to spend a lot on the remaining gear as well – your clothing and other necessary accessories. Also, add in a significant amount for a sled deck or a trailer for transportation purposes.
However, a used machine has its pros and cons too. Besides buying a new or used sled, renting is also a good deal to consider.No matter what your pick is, it should be up and running!
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