APEowner said:te72 said:I'm not saying any machine is inherently dangerous, but the fact remains that these things are definitely not for everybody. I mean, they have extremely squishy suspension, and yet plenty of them have well over 100hp. You wouldn't put 800hp in a lifted Buick LeSabre, but the same idea is somehow normal on an ATV, in terms of power to weight and height to width ratios.
Not that your point isn't valid but there are plenty of us who'd put 800HP in a lifted Buick LeSabre.
Sometimes I forget what forum I'm on. =P
I rocked a lifted Miata for a couple winters. Surprisingly, handled better than I thought it would, but I didn't dare put the sticky tires on it for those years.
Back in the 1950-1960's in England, there was a Press event basically the driver, car,and team pictures. The Team had barely completed the car but the car was not going to run, just push it out in front of the English Estate for the pictures. After the pictures of the driver & owner in Tweeds and ties, mechanics in coveralls. The press suggested the driver sit in the car for more pictures. After a few more pictures the press suggested they hear the new motor. The driver, absentmindedly, push the start button, the car lurched forward crashed into a near by wall exploded in flames and the driver died. There was no fire extinguisher nearby. The Mechanics had not finished attaching the brakes the throttle, etc. The clutch was not attached and the transmission was placed in gear to keep it from rolling during pictures Tragic! Later in life I trained in accident and incident investigation..
I have always been a big supporter of being safe in any type of vehicle. But, ever since a friend of mine almost died riding his bike, I have been 100% more vocal about it. The only reason he is alive is because he wore his gear, understood his limits, and rode with others. No matter what you are driving, safety is number one on any to-do list.
-Going fast
-Looking good
-Safety third
I would point out that if safety is truly first, then you're not driving or racing anything. Even driving a regular old Miata to church on Sunday morning carries an inherent risk. That's what I like about Mike Rowe's Safety Third stuff. If safety is first, then we ain't ever climbing on a ladder, using any sort of power tool, touching a knife, or anything like that.
So, yeah, be careful. But don't fool yourself that safety is "first" by any stretch.
Also, on the side-by-side thing... I had a chance to drive on in anger last year that was prepped for rallycross and I totally get the appeal. The only reason I haven't run out to get one is that it's such a one-trick pony that is pretty damned expensive and still requires everything I already need for the Neon. If I sold the Neon, I'd have to add cash to get a UTV and then add more cash to prep it. Then I wouldn't be able to get rid of the trailer, so no savings there. It takes up just about as much outdoor parking space as the Neon does but would probably need to be stored indoors, so that actually creates a new problem that I'd need more money to solve. And I wouldn't be able to drive it around town at all. It is one heck of a ride, though. If I had some sort of hobby farm or something where there was already a barn in which to store it and some use for it when I wasn't racing, I'd be considering it more seriously.
In reply to wae :
Then you roll it and you need to replace the cage if you want to rallycross it again and buying a Neon looks like the better option.
Some of those side by sides look a lot of fun, but man they need to sit lower.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:In reply to wae :
buying a Neon looks like the better option
Man, it seems so weird to see those words strung together in that particular order, doesn't it? 
They look like a ton of fun, but I think that's a renter for me, not an owner.
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