This spring I am buying a quad and don't know what to get. I am thinking 4x4 but what kind in the $6000 range.

 

Oh my gosh, a loaded question if there ever was one!!! Well, you have it posted in the Polaris section, so here's my two cents: I have a sportsman 450 and love it. It will seemingly go through anything, rides great, gets great mileage and will pull most anything within reason. Prior to this I owned a polaris 300 and loved it. I like the 450 better just because it's a 4 stroke and the independent rear suspension. Some guys really love the fuel-injected models because they start easy in the cold. I've had mine out below zero, no problem starting it, however with the carburated models you have to choke them when it's cold. I've never found this to be a problem and didn't want to spend more than a thousand bucks more just for fuel injection. I've also talked to guys who've owned both, the fuelies and the carburated and they've told me that, hands-down, the carburated gets better mileage. The only thing I will caution you, is that if you buy a carburated model and it's going to sit for more than a few weeks, you should turn the gas on off and run the carburator dry. With almost all carburated 4 strokes, if you let them sit with gas in them, they will varnish and the idle jets will become plugged and need to be cleaned. I've taken these things apart before, it aint the hardest thing in the world, but you have to take a whole lot of stuff off just to get at the carb. Other than that, I just turn the key and go whenever I want. The bigger you go, the less maneuverable or "nimble" they are and the less mileage you will get. My brother has a grizzly 700 and loves it, so I'm not trying to discourage you from looking bigger. I use mine for hunting, ice fishing, trail riding and have never been disappointed.

There you have it!!!! Good luck.

 

The Sportsman 500 HO (carb.) is right at the $6000 mark. You can probably get it for cheaper than that. Great quad and comfortable ride. The EFI I have in my X2 gets about 20 on steady 25 mph roads. The 500 HO ATP gets about 18.

 

I think it depends on where you will be riding. I ride mainly in the mountains and do not like a polaris only because of it's lack of "hold back" or engine breaking when going down hill. So far I am leaning towards an Arctic Cat.

 

depends if you want brand new/used if you want a sport 4x4 or the sportsman work houses w/ the best ride.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: TNRider22

I think it depends on where you will be riding. I ride mainly in the mountains and do not like a polaris only because of it's lack of "hold back" or engine breaking when going down hill. So far I am leaning towards an Arctic Cat.</end quote></div>


but i thought some sportsmans had engine breaking?

 

The two that I have ridden do not seem to hold back enough for my comfort, causing me to ride the break alot more, as compared to a Grizzly or Arctic Cat.
My .02 cents worth.

 

did they have the engine breaking? are the others that much better? just wondering cuz i have never ridden one - just know that some sportsman have it

 

Yes the Polaris 600 had it written on the side of the engine.

 

ALL POLARIS SPORTSMANS ECT. EARLY MODEL 400'S HAVE ENGINE BRAKING.
AS FAR AS ATV CHOICES THE POLARIS 450/500 EXCELLENT QUADS FOR THE MONEY BUT I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMEND SOMTHING W/ FUEL INJECTIN LIKE A HONDA 420 THAT SHOULD CLOSE TO YOUR PRICE RANGE ONLY PROBLEM IS THOE IT IS SOLID AXLE SO IF YOU WANT INDEPENDENT GO WITH THE SPORTSMAN. IF POSSABLE I WOULD GET THE 500EFI, IT WOULD DO EVRYTHING YOU WOULD EVER NEED.