I've been waiting for the question and I'm just not seeing it, but I want to know how the Kodiak compares to the Arctic Cats.
MSRP:
2001 Kodiak - $6199
2001 AC 400 - $5499
2001 AC 500 Auto - $6599

AC owners can't say enough good things about them. Yes they are more utility than speed and I understand that. That is why I'm looking for more suggestions. So far I see Polaris as expensive and semi-dependable. Honda expensive and dependable - a lot less features. AC as dependable, inexpensive, but a little slow and Yamaha - I don't know. It seems like I'm seeing more frustration than happiness from Kodiak owners.

I only need a 400 and I'll be doing mostly utility type stuff, but I'd also like do some fast trail riding. Any insight is appreciated.

 

Have had my '00 Kodiak for 1 yr now and after about 500 miles no problems except for the rear brake wore out and a couple of the dash lights are burned out. Not much deep mud where I ride but I run it thru a creek with water just below the front rack and the belt has never slipped.
You want a higher performance mud slogger and don't mind a few maintenance problems go with a Polaris 4x4. All the A.C. guys seem tickled with their rides & alot of guys use them for work. I ride with my brother-in-law on his Honda Foreman 450 and our two quads seem pretty evenly matched and he has had no problems at all with his except he drowned it a few times in way too deep water.
good luck
By the way-if you go with a Kodiak you should be able to get one for more like $5600-5700. Most of the dealers I went to came down off the tag price 400-500 right off the bat. So shop around.

 

I'm a little disapointed with my Kodiak. The rear brake pads last about 2-3 months. The choke freezes, and is rendered useless in the winter. The Dunlops that come on it are a bad joke. My front lights burned out already. If you even get near a creek, the belt is useless till it dries. If you sneeze on the front bumber, it folds, I'm on my 3rd one, at $190.00 a pop.

 

Mine has about 1000 HARD WV miles on it. I've had it in water/mud up to seat and never a slip. I've abused it and only prob is a bad headlight bulb and rear brake pad at 700 miles. If I couldn't take mine near water, I wouldn't own it. There is something wrong with the bike if there's belt slippage.