Well i'm caught between the AC 500i manual and the Traxter XT, why these 2, because they are the 2 best
working,
durable,
basic,
best on fuel,
reliable,
take a beating,

quads you can get, the only thing they are slower, okay they do 10mph less then the fastest big bore, big deal. They can go all day on one tank of gas. Ask a 700 SP owner how long he can go on one tank or any other big bore, Not far.
I do far trips and even with my old reliable 600 grizzly, it still sucks fuel and I have to bring a 5 gallon of gass all the time and in the back of my head I worry about my belt. I got 4800 km's on it and i've pulled worked that machine really hard and i've never had a problem. I started thinking last year though when my buddy's 2001 500 HO blew his belt up 60 miles from know where, the geared AC had to towe him home and it made me start thinking, this could be me. I don't want to worry about gas and having to carry another belt.

What really helped me was, my friend with the 2000 AC 500 manual,is the one that is looked to pull anytime someone breaks down now or needs to be pulled, we all look to him to do the job as he is the only one with manual and no one wants to pull with automatic machines as it is strenuous on the clutches and belt. Even though dealers say there better then geared machines I am starting to really see they are Not, I would of baught a 500 Grizzly manual if they had one, but they don't and even then the AC and Traxter are really over built for strength and that is what I want, no computer and electric 4*4 crap to go wrong with, right or wrong.
Basic designs are the way to go when you want a machine to last 10-15 years without problems. Look at the old Honda's Big reds are still kicking around and there old basic 300 4*4 too. Then new hondas, well that can be debated.

 

yam8, I would test drive them both to see which one you like the best. By the way isn't the Traxter xt an auto??? I think the 500i ac has the best clearance 12" and best suspension travel of 10" front and back, this is a big plus when you need it and you can't beat the ride and if you find the ride to soft you can ajust it in front and in back.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]