Consumers aren't buying big-ticket items right now.

Polaris is feeling the heat, as in its recent earnings report, the brand stated it saw its profits drop a whopping 82% compared to last year. That's, uh...bad. 

During the call, Polaris' CEO Mike Speetzen stated that one factor, high interest rates, was very much an issue causing distress within the company. Higher interest rates mean it's harder not to be underwater on a purchase, as well as making payments affordable. And that while the Federal Reserve marginally lowering interest rates helped, more would need to be done in order to get people financing these machines again. 

Another big issue that Polaris is facing, though not something that was brought up during the call, was that the entire snowmobile industry felt more pain than usual as last year's snowfall on the East Coast of the United States wasn't something to write home about. Indeed, the lack of snow for the vast majority of the East Coast caused many to not only push off buying a new machine, but even registrations of old machines were down. That's just another blow to the company's profits.

Speetzen did state that one issue Polaris is looking to address is outdated inventory that's now stockpiling on dealership lots. "A healthy dealer network is one of the critical components to our long-term success, which is why we have anchored our current production and shipment plans to our goal of lowering dealer inventory by 15 to 20 percent by the end of the year, and I am encouraged by the progress being made," said Speetzen in a press release ahead of the call. 

Polaris now expects to see about a 20% fall in profits compared to last year. As you'd expect, the company's stock price has tumbled slightly on that news. Likewise, Polaris stated that in order to have a better outlook going forward, the company will be doing certain restructuring plans, stating, "The Company is executing certain corporate restructuring activities across the organization to increase efficiency and focus its business, including the divestitures of the GEM, Taylor-Dunn and Transamerican Auto Parts businesses."

We'll have to wait to see where the chips fall with Polaris, as it figures out how to move forward in this new world. That said, the company does make excellent powersport equipment. But you can't bank just on good engineering. 

https://www.rideapart.com/news/738495/polaris-sales-plunge-snowmobile-utv-atv-third-quarter/

 

1 minute ago, racinfarmer said:

Sweet.  You can leave the RR at the Pinehurst for me to pick up.

Now it's on your imaginary twactor.

2 hours ago, ZR6000RR said:

By your calling me weird, makes me the sanest person you collaborate with, party muncher.

party muncher

Anybody care to translate this brilliant statement into something resembling English??

9 minutes ago, krom said:

party muncher

Anybody care to translate this brilliant statement into something resembling English??

Looks like they made the I saw the factory sticker longer and skinner?? I think it might be French for that? 

8 hours ago, Deephaven said:

Hmm, Khaos 9R is lighter.  Thought AC was promising uber light.

Only posted weight on a stock mountain 9r is a pro rmk with 7s ready to ride at 515 no e start. G8 858 Cat with no e start would be 515, take off atac probably 5-10lbs.

Not to be a Jim but just for realism

20 minutes ago, Palu49 said:

Only posted weight on a stock mountain 9r is a pro rmk with 7s ready to ride at 515 no e start. G8 858 Cat with no e start would be 515, take off atac probably 5-10lbs.

Not to be a Jim but just for realism

Going of my previous mso the 540 pounds isn’t that bad. My 2019rr was 541 shipped. My catalyst shipped was 490. Going off the spec sheet there is about a 60 pounds of gas and oil added. Puts me right in the same range on a catalyst. 

1 hour ago, Palu49 said:

Only posted weight on a stock mountain 9r is a pro rmk with 7s ready to ride at 515 no e start. G8 858 Cat with no e start would be 515, take off atac probably 5-10lbs.

Not to be a Jim but just for realism

Careful.  You could be accused of wearing goggles for speaking truth.

4 hours ago, ZR6000RR said:

By your calling me weird, makes me the sanest person you collaborate with, party muncher.

Sweet, I was hoping to get a sticker like that when I did a tour but didn't see any anywhere.

7 hours ago, mnstang said:

Sweet, I was hoping to get a sticker like that when I did a tour but didn't see any anywhere.

Lady at the front desk gave them out.

10 hours ago, ZR6000RR said:

Are you? That was suspected by your way to long crm2 many letters you call yourself. Are their pronouns hidden in side that stupid waste of space?

is English your second language? 

5 minutes ago, ZR6000RR said:

Lady at the front desk gave them out.

what was on the line?  

4 minutes ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

is English your second language? 

what was on the line?  

858 SP. Are you mental?

Just now, ZR6000RR said:

858 SP. Are you mental?

did they make all of the ones they sold yesterday?  

27 minutes ago, ZR6000RR said:

Lady at the front desk gave them out.

When a grown man is on the reception floor having a meltdown because he didn't get a sticker, you give him a sticker and tell him to gtfo!

Speaking of stickers. I got my second fix (in the mail) for the exploding gas tank debacle. This time it's a sticker that I'm told to place on my sled. At least I didn't have to go to the dealer. Wait a minute, I do have to go to the dealer for my free bottle of magic elixir. Shaking my head.

I

8 hours ago, ZR6000RR said:

Lady at the front desk gave them out.

Sweet 

8 hours ago, Tripleflipper said:

Speaking of stickers. I got my second fix (in the mail) for the exploding gas tank debacle. This time it's a sticker that I'm told to place on my sled. At least I didn't have to go to the dealer. Wait a minute, I do have to go to the dealer for my free bottle of magic elixir. Shaking my head.

I

Polaris is a hot mess right now. 

1 minute ago, ZR6000RR said:

Polaris is a hot mess right now. 

Just like the grinding gears in my Sportsman, LMAO

3 minutes ago, Tripleflipper said:

Just like the grinding gears in my Sportsman, LMAO

And shorting wiring harnesses on almost every Sportsman since 2019, at least.

48 minutes ago, ZR6000RR said:

Polaris is a hot mess right now. 

At least they are a hot mess.

Does Textron even have a meaningful 5 year plan for Cat?

6 minutes ago, racinfarmer said:

At least they are a hot mess.

Does Textron even have a meaningful 5 year plan for Cat?

Do you? Cat actually does. The hate for Textron is funny, coming from a non farming, non racer, who calls himself the racing farmer.

15 minutes ago, ZR6000RR said:

Do you? Cat actually does. The hate for Textron is funny, coming from a non farming, non racer, who calls himself the racing farmer.

Again, does Textron have a workable 5 year plan that actually involves investing in Cat?

7 minutes ago, racinfarmer said:

Again, does Textron have a workable 5 year plan that actually involves investing in Cat?

Yes. Ask them. Fucking idiot!

24 minutes ago, racinfarmer said:

Again, does Textron have a workable 5 year plan that actually involves investing in Cat?

@jjimwit says that they yamahaha deal was extended 3 more years, so according to him textron has shelved the new dirt/snow engines (they want to use the same engines in both product lines) for that long.  Hopefully they won't be on the same shelf as the composite skid, turbo and Di, snow bike, xx turbo, 4xx etc.

Whats the record for longest use of a chassis in the snowmobile industry, the wedge?

Any of you fucks old enough to remember how long that was around?  3 more years of 998 means the procross will be old enough to get a drivers license before they put it out to pasture

 

Edited October 31, 2024Oct 31 by krom

5 minutes ago, krom said:

@jjimwit says that they yamahaha deal was extended 3 more years, so according to him textron has shelved the new dirt/snow engines (they want to use the same engines in both product lines) for that long.  Hopefully they could be on the same shelf as the composite skid, turbo and Di, snow bike, xx turbo, 4xx etc.

Whats the record for longest use of a chassis in the snowmobile industry, the wedge?

Any of you fucks old enough to remember how long that was around?  3 more years of 998 means the procross will be old enough to get a drivers license before they put it out to pasture

 

I think the IQ would be.  05-???  Isn't the Polaris sno-x sled just an IQ with updated bodywork, basically?

IMO, the best thing that could happen to Cat right now is to be bought by a company that is willing to invest in revamping the entire company within the next 5-8 years. 

Company, building, equipment, line-up, dealer network, PG&A supply chain, etc.

Could Argo's parent company stomach it?  Yamaha?  Honda?  CF Moto?  Someone else?

5 minutes ago, racinfarmer said:

I think the IQ would be.  05-???  Isn't the Polaris sno-x sled just an IQ with updated bodywork, basically?

IMO, the best thing that could happen to Cat right now is to be bought by a company that is willing to invest in revamping the entire company within the next 5-8 years. 

Company, building, equipment, line-up, dealer network, PG&A supply chain, etc.

Could Argo's parent company stomach it?  Yamaha?  Honda?  CF Moto?  Someone else?

Argo has offered more than once.  At this point I don't know whats left to buy besides the factory and line.  The name is still worth something to sledders, but nothing at all what it was worth in '18.  The intellectual property is old and hasn't been developed in years.

On the dirt side, the name and dealer network is almost worthless now, even a lot of sledders don't realize AC builds quads and sxs.

BRP doesn't even list AC in their new owner survey when asking about other brands you considered, but they do list hisun

Edited October 31, 2024Oct 31 by krom

1 hour ago, krom said:

Argo has offered more than once.  At this point I don't know whats left to buy besides the factory and line.  The name is still worth something to sledders, but nothing at all what it was worth in '18.  The intellectual property is old and hasn't been developed in years.

On the dirt side, the name and dealer network is almost worthless now, even a lot of sledders don't realize AC builds quads and sxs.

BRP doesn't even list AC in their new owner survey when asking about other brands you considered, but they do list hisun

From my view, the problem any bigger name company (Kawi, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, etc) has with acquiring Cat is what the hell do they do with the dealer network.

You can't be ditching your dealers on either side and you can't just plop a couple dealers in the same area.  Someone is going to get the short end of the stick somewhere along the line.

If someone like Argo were to end up with them, their dealer network and model line appears like it could work out.  Argo dealers sell Cat, Cat dealers sell Argo.  Cat sells sleds, ATV's, and SxS, Argo sells those 6 and 8 wheeled things and their Samsquach, maybe Argo becomes the commercial dirt brand as well.  You keep Motorfist around, etc.