JUST WONDERING Y'ALLS OPINION (YEA I FROM TEXAS) ON THE A/C 400 REVIEW. IT SEEMED TO HAVE ALL THE RIGHT COMPONENTS, BUT DIDN'T GET THE OVERALL RATING I FIGURED IT WOULD. IS IT BECAUSE IT IS UNDERPOWERED FOR THE SIZE OF THE MACHINE BEING THE SAME FRAME AS THE 500. AND DO YOU THINK THE 500 WOULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. IT ALSO GOT KNOCKED FOR THE ENGINE SOUND (MUFFLER I GUESS) SOUNDS PRETTY TRIVIAL TO ME. ANYWAY JUST ASKING FOR OPINIONS, I KNOW EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE.

THANKS
BIG CAT DADDY

 

NO WAY!!! The 500 is far more suoerior than the 400. There is no comparison. Go and test drive the 400 and 500,then ask yourself the same questions. They are as different as the 300 and 400 AC and you miust remeber that the 03 500s are packed with more power!!

 

ATVTV never does have much good to say about any Cat, but it seems real strange to me that if you look real close some times you can see in the background a old Cat 454 that is used for the camera bike.

 

l almost bpoght the 03 400 I like the IR suspension, Then I test drove and I think The weight needs to come down a bit, other than that it was a fun machine, I purchased a kodiak 450 instead and love it. I can outrun most of the 500cc machines and hang with all the big bores and also do alot better in tight quarters. I still like AC though.

 

the only problems i know of with the yamaha is you cant get it wet. I see it all the time with my buddies 03 450. But when i say mud and water I mean deep nasty sticky mud and above headlight water. So everytime we would hit water the kodiak had to be turned over and drained. the belt gets wet and it cant move for a while. And yess I have seen the stock Kodiak outrun the 500 AC but it is no cpmparison in the mud. The grizzly is the only comp for the 500 AC and then the ground clearance beats that of the grizz.

 

What is ATVTV?

 

If you dunk any automatic in water deeper than its transmission intake, its going to slip the belt. Pretty much means don't go rack deep if you drive an automatic. Thats why I stay my *** out of the deep end. That goes for any automatic too. If you get it over the seat on a manual, you're going to get water in the air box anyway unless you are snorkelled. Submarining quads is something I've never gotten into. A good way to screw up a nice bike.

 

Mountainclimber atvtv is atv television on the outdoor channel, ch 606 on direct tv. They also have a website with show schedules @ www.atvtv.com.

And for the rest of your comments thanks a lot. I'm going to buy the A/C 500 MANUAL but was a little concerned after seeing the comparision even though it was the 400 on the show. any additional reccommendation would be greatly appreciated. and thanks again for y all's comments.

 

Definately go with the 500 (At least it has some power). I just sold my 03 400 due to the lack of power (speed). Plenty of low end grunt (for farming) but no top end (I know this is a utility machine, but come on, whoever ownes one knows what I am talking about). Felt like you had to hold the throttle in all the way for about a minute or more just to get it up to cruising speed (not top speed, that takes longer)!! And then on long trail rides you have to use so much throttle just to keep up with all the other riders, that you run out of gas much more quickly. Even my Sportsman 500HO gets better mileage. The Arctic Cat sales guys bragged to me when I bought it about the long range the AC has with its huge gas tank. I dont think 50 miles is good before having to switching to RES. Too many other issues as well. Rear axle seal had to be replaced first week. Came from the factory with a disconnected speedometer light, cable was too short. Brakes for the rear sucked! Brake master cylinder had to be replaced. Engine is very loud, probably because you have to rev it so hard to get it and keep it moving. Ergonomically the bike is not to par with some others and the body roll at higher speeds is not comfortable for inexperienced riders or even some experienced (had complaints from a couple of buddies, whom all are very experienced ATV'ers). All in all could be a good bike, but still needs refinement. I'm not trying to get a testoserone battle going, but feel that if someone wants an honest opinion, they are going to get it from me!!

Ken

AC PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WE SAY!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

Yea it would be nice if evry owner of a atv was completly satisfied.
Just last year when we all atrted ridding again I had bought my 02 300 4x4 AC. It was stock just had intensions of using it for hunting. Well when we did start ridding I was ticked!!! Every ones expectations where high only being around some of the older cats. they all awwed at my bike and couldnt wait to see it in action. Well to make a long story straight everyone was soon shaking there heards. they constantly had to wait up on me and then let me go first in all the holes. I could not gain momentum to climb comming from a downhill into a ditch then up the other side. the 300 just is not geared for that. It is not made for speed! It is made to get down right nasty. And it will. After i put a highlifter kit and some aggresive mud tires on it,it started to show what it was made of. people then turned there attention to how great to would pull it the sloppiest of mud holes. It wouldnt blast through them but it would bog with the best of them. It does take some good shifting to make it do what it does,and it does take a little abuse to get it to shine, but when you haul azz across the field dont expect to keep up with even the 300 honda. But i will place my 300 cat against anybodies honda yamaha polaris or suzuki anyday