Hello There,

Well after finally determining what I was going to use the atv for, I decided to go with a sport utility in the 500 cc range. Main uses are plowing snow, hauling sod and top soil short distances, hunting and four wheeling along some old logging trails in western Ontario with some buddies.

The models I've looking into are all automatics, the following models: Suzuki Vinson, Arctic Cat 500i or 500ACT and Polaris Sportsman 500. I plan on financing a new model but if a mint atv crosses my path then I would consider used. Am I looking along the right models and which would you suggest of the three. I've decided that I don't want the Kawasaki or Honda so please don't suggest them. I like the Polaris but I'm not to fond of the clunking noise the trans makes when the secondary clutch engages.

Cost, dependability, stability, durability, maintenance free as possible, and proven automatic transmission are all factors I've been considering. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
M2

 

If I were buying now it would be Vinson Manual. It will do everything you mentioned with ease and is the fastest best handling lightest of the bunch. Also it comes in manual, no belts!

 

Yeah, The Vinson is the one I've been leaning towards but in the automatic model. My wife would probably use it from time to time and she's not one for shifting, though she could probably leave it in 3rd gear and never have to shift.

Thanks.

 

I'd say the Vinson too

 

Since you used the word "Sport" I'd lean to either the Vinson or Polaris if I were you. I love the Cat's, but "Sport" isn't a word that's easily applied to them. If you think you will need a lot of ground clearance, though, the Cat's the way to go (500i as 12", Vinson has 9.9, SP500HO has 11.25).

 

I would pick the Vinson, I had to settle for the Eiger because of money, but I think you will be happier with the Vinson (of the 3), the red ones are beautiful.

 

Anyone else? Your input is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Good idea to get your priorities set before you buy - I went through the same process last spring, and setting my priorities before I went looking saved me a lot of trouble.

I've had a Cat 500i since last spring, and just love it. Can't speak for the transmission, as mine is a manual (I drag stuff on my farm with the Cat, just don't trust those belt thingies for that sort of use), but can say that I've hauled a lot of trees off of fencerows with it, and lately it's been hauling quite a bit of firewood. It has a lot of pulling power. Also has bags of ground clearance, though in all fairness, the SP500 has just about the same. I looked closely at the Vinson, but decided that I'd rather have rough ground capability over more power.

Stability? Absolutely. It's taller than most quads, but it's also wider. I wouldn't hesitate to ride it anywhere a quad has already been, and might try a few places other quads can't go. I've been running it over trails I cut for a 350 big bear, and the only problem I've had was on very tight turns, the Cat doesn't turn quite as sharply as the bear.

Maintenance? All I've done is change the oil, nothing unexpected has happened. Well, I did add a winch after getting stuck crossing a very steep hillside, but that was my own foolishness.

Cost? I paid $5800 OTD for mine, after some hard bargaining. Added a winch for $400, and recently paid $380 for the off road trailer.

I wouldn't call the Cat scary fast, but it's no slug either, and I rarely use full throttle anyway. For my uses, I'll trade peak power for that great low end grunt, always power on tap, never has bogged down. Handling seems a bit loose at first, until you learn to set the springs at mid setting, and use a little body english - all IRS quads benefit from leaning in on fast turns.

Personally, I'd go with a brand new model. When I set out to look last spring, I thought about a slightly used model, but found that used quads weren't much cheaper than new, and you never know how someone treated it. Most people don't buy quads to drive slowly in their back yards...

More on my experience with the cat:
My Cat Page

 

Polaris 500 Sportsman is tried and true.The noise in the tranny is normal and you dont notice it after a while.Great machines.

 

vinson 500