Hello all
As I am finding out there is much to consider when buying a new ATV. I am looking for a 500 4x4 not-automatic. Used for plowing and hunting and whatever. I want a "machine" not just a 4 wheeler. I have looked at the Artic Cat specs and it looks good. Mind you so do alot of the other 500's. Does anyone have any 2002/2003 500 models that can give me any insite?

Thanks
Trev

 

Another ATV you might want to consider would be the Vinson Manual. It is a 500cc 5 speed. Seeing that you only want 500 manual your options are pretty limited. The Vinson is getting great reviews so far.

Good luck.

 

Hey thanks for the info. The more I price them the more I am also considering the 400 series as well. Great set of pictures you have too. How do you find your 4 wheeler for plowing?

Thanks
Trev

 

When it comes to plowing it has more that enough power. Auto's rule for plowing. Your always in the right gear. The only complaint I have is the front suspension. I have to set it up to the hardest setting so that the nose is not so low. But I guess that pretty minor. Another thing that really helps is that my front tires are studded.

Is there a reason why you are staying away from auto's?

 

Well for the extra price I can just about put on my plow. I have driven many before and I don't mind the manual drives. But then again I have not yet driven an auto!!!! I am sure if I drove one I would be sold for sure. The machine have changed so much in the past 5/6 years its hard to keep up.

Trev

 

I'm not telling you what to do but I would definitely try an auto before making you decision. I've driven different makes and models of auto's and think there great. The only one that I really didn't like was the 400i cat. The engine made alot of noise. The polaris, yamaha and suzuki worked great. If I was to buy a new atv tommorrow I'd go with the 450 yamaha. Test drive a few atv's and let us know what your thoughts were.

Oh....Bye the way welcome to ATV Connection.

 

It doesn't look to bad at all. It is relatively cheep, and the spec's look not too bad as well. Ahh decision desicions, if only I won the lottery haha well that wouldn't make things that much easier really. Thanks for all of your input, I will certainly let you know what I am going to get and also when I do, I will let you all know what I think.

Thanks
Trev

 

Go for the vinson! You will love it.

 

There seems to be an endless loop of great 4 wheelers out there. I am sure whichever one i decide on will be great. The problem is getting one that has issues. I don't care if it is the fastest ( or I would have bought a sport machine ) I don't care if it can haul %10 more than others ( if it hauls my lard a$$ around thats great ) I just don't want the thing to be in the shop more than in the bush. The Vinson does looks great too and I am considering it as well. Thanks for your post

Thanks trev

 

FWIW: I've had an Arctic Cat 500i manual tranny on my farm for about a year - 500+ miles, dragged some heavy trees, hauled a lot of firewood, pulled a mower, and it has yet to even backfire, let alone anything more serious. Very trouble free, and a real workhorse. I can load the racks down, and the suspension doesn't sag much - I've yet to bottom this machine out, and my farm is rough as a cob. Plus, it rides very smooth, and crawls over just about anything. One of the handiest implements I've ever bought for the farm, and a lot more fun than a tractor. I looked at the Vinson, as it also has the manual tranny - sharp looking machine, but it was more sport than work oriented, didn't have the IRS and ground clearance I wanted.

Get the 500 if you can - the engine has bags of low end grunt. Feels a lot like a Harley, pulls good at pretty much any engine speed.

One thing to be careful of: stick with a dealer that sells quads/bikes as their main business. Cat will give a dealership to just about any power equipment dealer, and service after the sale may not be so good at Joe's Chain Saw World. The bike/quad dealerships will give you a much better price - the smaller Cat dealers were list price only, while a local Suzuki/Cat dealer pushed my 500i out the door for $5800.