I can get a Kawi 650 for about $100 more than an AC 500, both with Winches installed. I'm gonna be in the woods most of the time. Mud, trails, and hunting. Sell me one way or the other.

 

i would deff go for the ac 500 i seen it move and u will never get stuck if u do sue me

 

There's pro's and cons to both. If I was buying a Kawi, it would be the 700 Prairie, seems to have the best clutching out of all of them, and the intakes are nice and high. For a Cat, 500 and up, they're all good

 

Here are the things that are pushing me towards the CAT. Although I haven't riden a 3 or 4 wheeler in 17 years.
-Storage spaces in the tank.
-2" receiver hitch.
-MRP system.
-The way the warn winch and controls mount. May be the same as Kawi, I'm not sure.
-2 year warranty program going on right now.
-IRS. Hopefully things have changed, but I bent the axles on my old 3-wheeler twice.

And the Kawi
-POWER
-SPEED

 

The IRS should be enough to sell u on the AC but the other things u mentioned are nice too.

 

How about a 6.5 gallon gas tank, which will give you MUCH greater range than the Kawi. It also has a smoother ride and won't beat you up as much. If you carry gear, it will carry more. It also carries heavier loads with more competence than most machines, if not all of them. The big advantage to the Kawi is sheer power, but if that is so important, get a Cat 650.

I think you'd be smiling ear to ear with either one. It depends mostly on which machine matches best to how you will use it.

 

is the 500 ac an automatic? if so they have the awesome duramatic tranny and clutch system and well kawi's is below par in my book, i know everyone must be getting sick of me complaining about my kawi tranny and clutching by now but i hate it if it had the duramatic in my machine it would be perfect for my needs. and well sometimes woods means you need more ground clearence for going over them logs and that is where the cat shines. and it seems the kawi has a lil sportier feel to it and it sits lower to the ground so if you like a smaller machine in dimensions the kawi is for you but if you want a big machine that can basically push anything over and is rugged then the cat is for you

 

I like Arctic Cat more than Kawasaki for sure, but in this case, I'd be taking that 650 Kawi over just the 500 AC. Doesn't have the IRS, but its got everything else. If it were 650 vs 650, I'd go AC, but I'll take the Prairie or Brute Force 650 or whatever they call it now over a 500 of anyones make any day. That quad won every shootout until something bigger came along.

 

Its an auto. Thanks for all ya'lls comments.

 

I pick up the new Kawi this Saturday. Right or wrong, I'm sure I'll have fun.