{"id":8157,"date":"2020-10-07T07:21:28","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T14:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.emanualonline.com\/blog\/?p=8157"},"modified":"2024-06-07T14:22:42","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T19:22:42","slug":"10-best-off-road-dune-buggies-of-all-time-off-roading-encyclopedia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.emanualonline.com\/blog\/10-best-off-road-dune-buggies-of-all-time-off-roading-encyclopedia","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Off-Road Dune Buggies of All Time | Off-Roading Encyclopedia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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While off-road-oriented or even conventional SUVs and pickup trucks will often do the trick to help you traverse rugged and uneven terrain or wiggle out of a sticky situation, they can hardly compare to dedicated off-road vehicles such as dune buggies. Especially when it comes to the high-speed traversal of the said terrain. After all, as their name would suggest, dune buggies were created with sand speeding in mind.<\/p>\n

The first dune buggies date back to the late 1950s when enthusiast California beachgoers started stripping their cars to bare bones and installing larger off-road tires. The trend soon caught up with more and more people, and the dune buggy revolution was ready for its onset. Naturally, dune buggies have evolved immensely over time, but their essence has remained the same, even after so many decades.<\/p>\n

This time we’re looking at 10 of the best dune buggies money can buy. As you can imagine, the list will mostly be populated with modern-day models as they’re effectively more advanced and capable than their ancestors. However, we’ve still found a spot for a classic dune buggy or two.<\/p>\n

\"Meyers<\/p>\n

Meyers Manx<\/h2>\n

I can hardly find a more proper model to start the list of best dune buggies of all time than the original buggy. Although not the first dune buggy ever devised, the Meyers Manx is the model that singlehandedly popularized dune buggies when it came out in the early 1960s. Originally a VW Beetle refit, the modern-day Manx showcases very few visual differences.<\/p>\n

It’s available in several versions, though, with kits ranging from $2,400 for the classic model to $8,727 for the Manxter Dualsport units. The finished car, however, costs a lot more than that, usually in the $30,000 range. Nowadays, power comes from Subaru’s 2.5L Boxter engine cranking up 170 horsepower.<\/p>\n

More details on Meyers Manx’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Yamaha<\/p>\n

Yamaha YXZ1000R SE<\/h2>\n

Although many contemporary dune buggies sport a proper stick shift nowadays, it was the Yamaha YXZ1000R that started the trend. Powered by a 998cc 3-cylinder engine, it generates a healthy 90 horsepower routed to the rear or all four wheels via a 5-speed sequential transmission.<\/p>\n

The YXZ1000R SE weighs only 1,561 pounds and carries Fox shocks both at the front and around the back. The side-by-side costs $20,699, which might seem like a lot for its class but Yamaha’s motorsports reputation is priceless.<\/p>\n

\"Joyner<\/p>\n

Joyner Sand Viper 1100cc EFI<\/h2>\n

Don’t let its petite frame and comparably small engine fool you. The Joyner Sand Viper is as capable on the dunes as the next buggy. Starting at around $11,000, it’s also one of the more affordable options out there. As its name would suggest, it boasts a 1083cc water-cooled 4-cylinder engine with electronic fuel injection that’s good enough for 86 hp and 90 lb-ft of torque.<\/p>\n

For extra fun, all of that power is routed to the rear via a 4-speed manual transmission. The top speed is limited to 70 mph, but that’s still more than plentiful for beginners and veterans alike.<\/p>\n

More details on Joyner’s website.<\/p>\n