I went to my friends 50th on Saturday. We counted 19 people in the room that all used to sled together. 7 of us still own sleds.   caught up with one guy I went on my very first trip with, the interest is still there, but he said walking into a dealership and seeing the cost is what stops him. Kids are 19 and 17, school costs are there, sleds just not doable right now.   to the point above, it’s not that he needs to keep up to the jonesss, but he is leery of buying someone else’s stuff, doesn’t trust it and can’t stomach buying used and then having an expensive failure.   costs is a big time issue

Exactly. Buy a used sled with all the bugs ironed out. Most sleds feel the same to me from 0-100kms and after that I'm sure not watching a fancy gauge cluster. Fuel and temp work for me. There's also something to said for extended ownership. If my ol' xcsp 700 has a hiccup at all, I know exactly what it is. I'd trust it to go anywhere, anytime before a new sled. Just no comfort or warmth. lol

Problem is people aren't happy with a sled unless they 'keep up with the Jones's' for lack of a better expression. Have to have an 850, 850 turbo, 9r or 900R, big shocks and big gauge, pushing 30k.   I have as much fun on my entry level Sport 600efi Expedition as any other sled, bargain price and has everything you need .   I don't have a trail pass on it ( other sleds) but have spent enough time on the trails with it doing club maintenance that it works just fine and leaves a smile on my face!

Around here I see folks with limited disposable income buying into water toys. Sleds are not even a thought.  I can see myself loosing interest in ownership in the near future while opting for just going north a couple trips a year and renting.  All my kids and their friends seem to have a blast buying old dirt bikes and atv's to fix up but the old sleds at their disposal just sit year after year. 

Trailers loaded and ready. We're heading north somewhere thursday evening. Just not sure where yet. Thinking of staying on ontario side. The forecast shows the rain reaching KL and Rouyn but not cochrane lasarre.  Decisions need to be made soon.