Hello all. Well I got to use my uncles 400 Auto for the hole day 2 saturdays ago. Just thought I would share my 2 cents.

What I liked:
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-seating positions perfect
-ride quality is very good
-I really liked being high off the ground

Not really thrilled with:
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-sound of engine (very loud reving sound)
-did not like just one brake handle

Over all the atv was a really nice atv. I would like to try that manual 400 so that I could get a feel for the 400's true power. As for the one handle bar brake I'm sure I would get use to not grabbing the brake on the gas side. I would give it 2 thumbs up.

 

The single brake lever does take some getting used to, but I think it's an ok system. There are times I wish the front/rear were seaprated though.

That is a loud engine! When I got my AC375 i thought there was something wrong with it. After you ride one a while you don't notice so much. I haven't got a chance to ride the manual, but I'd bet it's not as noisy - the auto's clutch cover seems to amplify it.

 

I agree with the engine noise point. But the older I get, I expect my hearing to go, and then the engine will be fine - [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

On the one lever brake thing - I'm not sure what the big deal is with individual brakes for the front and rear. When I used to ride motorcycles, I could see the huge advantage to it. And maybe on sport bikes, but even then I'm not sure. On our utes I just don't see the advantage. Maybe I just don't know how to ride or something... We've got over 1100 miles on ours now and have yet to find ourselves in a situation where we slapped ourselves on the forehead and said "Damn, I wish I had individual brake controls"...

My biggest complaint with my unit is the absolutely useless (and weak) foot brake pedal.

 

On the foot brake thing. I did the burnishing thing with the foot brake as well as the hand brake even though it uses the same rear disc and mine works fairly well. I think it may be that the pads need some breaking in with the high heat too. It works in the neighborhood of 5 times better than the manual brake did on my 250. I can even lock up the rears in the gravel.

 

That is a totally different engine then the new 400's.

Still, the engine is louder then my dad's 2000 Cat 500. I too love the single brake lever. Power is fine, but I wish it had more grunt while in high range. In all though, you can't beat them for what they are made for, and the price. However, my next ATV will be the Cat 500, I like liquid cooled and I love the new looks. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Well, I didn't say it was the same, just that it was also loud. However, looking at the specs on the AC website it seems that the 400 uses the same 376cc motor that the 375 did.

 

I have a '05 400 manual with only a bit over 200 miles and riding with the big boys this weekend the only place the 500 auto's beat me was max speed. I stayed up with them until the rev limiter stopped me (54 on the speedo and 52.5 on the GPS). With the ability to down shift and really get the motor up into the power band made a real difference. Even climbing some hills they didn't go anywhere I couldn't (only used 2 wheel drive all day too).

 

Sorry, I took your post as you were thinking it was the same engine. The old Cat 400's were liquid cooled, the new ones are air and oil. One is 376cc, the other is 371cc. Nothing the same about them.

 

own a 2003 400 4x4 auto, and i love it. That thing can take whatever you throw at it. Went riding at rumble on the ridge offroad trails. The group was two bros one a predator 500 modded, the other on a polaris 600, and one on a polaris 500 and my uncle on his honda fl250 odyssey. I was able to hit everything they did and more. Rained so bad that day they had staff on certain trailheads to warn you if u werent on a 4x4. Nasty ruts and mud everywhere, ran circles round the predator on the slick clay, couldnt find any traction, held up bottlenecks for 20 mins trying to get a 15 degree incline. I just love the power on my 650, 400 is my bros now, haha.