Side x Sides...are they junk?

As it turns colder here in the NE I'm looking to get back into riding. But instead of a dirtbike I was thinking side x side, Artic Cat Wildcat or a RZR. I also thought it would be the better option so my GF could ride along too. I was sold on the Wildcat then I started to research the issues and wow!!! It was difficult to find any forum or article that was positive. Even the RZRs had a lot of negative info. The top complaint with both was customer service and warranty coverage. Then second was obviously mechanical failure in numerous areas. With that said I realize these things arent tanks and will certainly have problems but it seems they are not holding up at all. They show them on advertisements being beat to death, but from what I have read they are hardly durable machines. I'll take all opinions please as I do not want to spend $$$$ on a piece of S&!T!