I NEED SOME HELP FINDING THE QUAD FOR ME. I KNOW I WANT A 4X4 BUT AFTER THAT I NOT SURE. I WANT TO USE THE QUAD FOR TRAIL RIDING AS WELL AS SOME OFF ROADING. I'M NOT SURE IF I NEED A 350CC OR 500CC, WHETHER I WANT MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC OR EVEN AIR/OILED COOLED OR LIQUID COOLED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT AN ARTIC CAT 400CC, A YAMAHA 450 KODIAK AND A VINSON. IF ANYBODY CAN HELP I WOULD BE GRATEFULL.

 

My take on your picks:

Arctic Cat 400 - Has IRS so better ride than the others. Good ground clearance but so do your other choices. Heavier and less power so substantial slower accel and handling than the others. A work quad.

Kodiak 450 - New, but Kodiak 400 has been reliable so should also be. Only one with a diff locker, faster than the CAT, slower than the Vinson. Looks cool. Lightest of the bunch so should handle well.

Vinson - This would be my choice. Fastest and you get to shift on the manual, but I am partial to manuals. Has the most power and low range so should be able to pull as much or more than the others. No locker though. I wish I bought this instead of my Honda.

 

Go test ride everything you can, study the glossy brochures, read the articles, and check out the forums. Definitely take your time and don't let people force in one direction or the other. Use all the info you get and make a logical decision.

 

One model that you might want to look at is a Bombardier Outlaneder. The prices should be as competative since you are in Canada. All reviews of this model are great and the company offer a three year warrenty.I looked at the AC and found them a little sluggish for trail riding. I bought a Honda Recon, a bit smaller than the models you "re looking at but I have no complaints. Ilove it and the Honda reputation for reliability is no myth. Go with what feels the best and you'll have a great time. Good luck!

 

Cats require some break in time for the engines to come alive, generally a 100 miles+. The Outlander would be worth looking at.

Exactly [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I agree with TG1
Ride em all and see what you want. I might want a big bruizer (like my 650) and you might want something light and nimble like a z400 or 250r. All are great quads, but not for the same purpose. A 250r could run circles around me in a tight trail run, but couldn't plow my driveway in the winter, haul my gear up the hillside for deer season, and couldn't do anything in the mud that I have to drive through to get to my friends house. This is why I chose my quad, have a good reason when you choose yours or you will regret the purchase.

 

All of the machines you're looking at are excellent choices. I rode a Big Bear for six years, and it was nothing but reliable, there is no reason the Kodiak wouldn't be the same. Vinson is probably quicker, and definitely stands out in the 'wild looking' department. Both have live axles in the back, which is sportier than the Cat's IRS, but has less ground clearance.

The big Cats (400, 500) are rough ground machines - very high ground clearance, long wheel travel. Not as fast as the sportier quads on trails, but will take you more places, and from my experience, definitely quicker across rough ground. My Cat 500i generally runs 2 gears higher than my Bear across rough ground, and feels a whole lot better doing it. A quad that's high centered on a rock definitely won't catch up to the Cat that cleared the rock. The Cat can pull a heavier load, and carry more on the racks without bottoming out (has anyone actually bottomed out a big Cat?). They're more of a workhorse that can be fun on a trail. Since I use mine on my farm, that was important to me. It may not be to you.

Bottom line: see which of those three quads you can get the best price on, and you'll be happy. Try several dealers. One Cat dealer gave me the list price hardline, as did all the Yamaha dealers when I was looking at a Grizzly. I found a Cat/Suzuki dealer that was most accomodating on the price, and they got my business.

My Cat Pictures

 

After switching with a friend with a new 400 AC I found it to not hold the bumpy trail very good at all. My 500 SP I could ride wide open but his I was all over the trail at 30 mph. Also the tires were not very good. He had 15 miles on it. Just my .02