Ok guys ,,give me a hand here because I am in a quandry about what to do. I am selling my 04 Polaris 700 and switching to a Honda. I have looked and looked and called around for advise from dealers and owners and I had one dealer tell me the 06 Rubicons are having a issue with the electronics and he wouldn't advise buying right now so he suggested the Rancher because they have less electronics. A new Rancher ES is $4999.00 from him. I found a used one in the paper and it was a 03 that had 283 miles on it for 3200.00. It does not have anything but electric shift on it and Im not sure if the price is good for an 03. I have had Polarises for years but want to switch due to the Hondas being better on hill sides. The Polaris is much easier due to them never needing to be shifted unless looking for reverse. I don't know wether to go new or older ? The guys info changed from on the phone from 50 hrs and 100 miles to 79hrs and 286 miles when I got there to see it. And I for some reason can't find the plate to show the year on it and I am suspicious it is a 02. Can I get a little advise here from you all if you can?

 

the rancher es for 4,999 is pretty good? or is that an 06? then its resonable. rancher did a pretty big overhaul with its 07 rancher, its now 420 cc (old 350cc), fuel injected, disk front brakes, liquid cooled, selectable 4 wheel drive, (actually don't know if the 06's were?). i got quoted OTD on a 420 4x4 toe shift for 5,322.43 . pretty good price but i have heard of better. also if your worried about electronics there is a forman 500, air cooled front disk braks, selectable four wheel drive 5sp w/ or w/out electronic thumb shift. I am infact inbetween wich one i want. oh the trx500fm was quoted 6,542 OTD by the same dealer as where i priced the 420.

as for polaris and automatic, i have a 500, and its nice not havn't to do anything cept hit the thottle. the rancher and forman its an auto clutch so all you have to do is let off and shift (toe or thumb) which ever u want and isn't to bad at all. the rubi thow has selectable fully auto or thumb shift. i havn't seen to much on the 06's having problems, but i havn't been looking into them as much as some other atv's. i know that problems tend to arise for angle sensors in there trans, a simple swap out is what i hear and it will solve the prob.

if your wanting to go big then check out he rincon, its 680, and fuel inj. and has independant rear suspention like your sp700, its honda top of the line 4x4 now, it also has a 3sp automotive type automatic tranny. hopefully it was some help.

well keep us posted

 

oh yeah as for used, it all depends on how the person drove and maintaned the quad, its a toss up, 1/2 of my quads have been used and only had problems with my yamaha warrior, but it was a yamaha so it prob wasn't the orig owner. haha

bowz

 

Well, as far as the larger size that is why I am mainly selling my 700 due to the ratew it drinks fuel. The 350 and 400 Hondas seem to run all day on a tankfull. I just am not sure which way to go and yes the rancher for 4999. was a 07 but it does not have the back up manual shifter in case the electric goes bad also.

 

If it is an 06 Rancher that is too high. They are trying to get rid of these things because of the new 420 Rancher. Also have not heard of any problem with the Rubicon. And if you are going from a 700, you are not going to be happy on a 350. Check out SouthernHonda for some good prices.

 

Looks like we posted at the same time. All ES models have the back up shifter. They are stored somewhere on the quad. If that one does not have it, then they need to replace it.

 

Hey,,let me ask a question. The Honda Rancher I looked at that was used , the guy said it was a 03 then he mentioned a 02. Do you know what year was the last year that Honda had the reverse on the left hand break with the little red button?

 

Do yourself a huge favor and just shell out the extra money for a new Rancher 420. This is one superb little machine! See my comments here: http://forums.atvconnection.com/mess...did/510974.cfm

And $4,999 is outrageously high for a leftover 350, when you can get a new 420 for a few hundred more. I think he is counting on the fact that you didn't seem to know that the 420 exists........

I say avoid ES......just one more thing to go wrong. Lots of posts on ES problems in here, all the time!

 

I just bought an 01 Rancher with 250 miles for $3000 and I feel good about it. It seemed as though not much changed in the ES from 01 to 06 and to save the money I did I feel I can add extras to this one. It all depends on money but I'd feel OK with that 03.
Buck

 

Sorry, accidental post......