I have been looking at atvs for a couple weeks and I like the king quad and prairie 700. I have been on several forums trying to learn all I can about the atvs and after looking, sitting, and reading about them, I am worried about future reliability and expences. I have owned 2 AC atvs, 03 400 auto and 03 500 autos and really liked them, I know they run better after a couple hundred miles. Are the manuals the same way? After all the research I have done, I am back to looking at the new 05 model AC.
My question is that I want a locking front diff and is the reason that I just sold my 03 500 cat. I like the new 500/650 cats but feel they are to big/wide for what I need.

I've never rode the manual 400 and would like to know if it gives the 400 more power? I mean is there a big difference between the manual and auto regarding performance? I know the auto has reverse override. Is the reverse a big handicap on the manual 400? I want to run 26" tires and trail ride with the bike so what to you think is better. I like the auto but think I might want a manual if it is better and has better power.

I also found an 04 650 cat that I can get a great deal on but don't want the problems with limp mode and feel that maintaining a V-twin and liquid cooling will require more up keep and more problems down the rode (More moving parts/more to go wrong). What do ya thinK? I really like the Arctic cat atvs and don't think I can leave PRIDE! Thanks!!

 

The 400 manual will out preform the 400 auto hands down and get better milage; I know because I ride with a pair of 400 autos regularly. My '05 400i manual will out accelerate the Grizzly's I ride with until about 40mph. The manual makes alot of difference. When running logging roads with the the bigger engined machines I do just fine until the long straights where they get well above 50+mph. I have seen on this forum where there are some cracked and broken frame problems with the '04 650's. The '05 frame is almost a 100 lbs heavier. As to big and wide the 400 is close enough to the 500/650 that the difference isn't enough to worry about. My 400 is wider and taller than anyothermachine I ride with except the other Cats. Even the 700 Sportsman isn't any bigger. No low range in reverse is a draw back (Suzuki's actually), but that's why I have a winch and ride with others.

 

Thanks for the response! I am going to see what I can get a manual for! If anyone has anything new to add to my question, please inform me! Thanks again!

 

I had a 2001 400ACT manual. The only complaint I had was that when go up long grades I either had to rap it out in 3rd or lug in 4th. the constant shifting back and forth was a pain after a while. I prefer the auto's. Especially with the clutch kits that are out nowadays you can almost tune the clutch to do almost anything.

 

I'd run over my manual to get the insurance money for a automatic. No questions asked and never look back. How always being in the wrong gear, having to pull over to shift and the never ending need for a vice-grip to replace the broken shifter became a better choice - I'll never figure out. If your going to be doing competitive racing and theres some cash prize then that would make up for all the bothersome manual shifting issues - but otherwise I choose the auto every day.

The 650 is twice the machine - and its a cat - what are you worried about?

 

I had an 02 400 auto the thing suck after the first season. I put an outlaw clutch kit in it and had 25" 589 on it. Everytime I would hit even an inch of mud it felt like you just slammed on the brakes. I got rid of it and now own the 04 650 and I got to tell you it kicks some butt. I haven't had any limp mode problems the only thing I have had is some belt slippage, but thanks to this forum thats fixed. I would have to say go with the 650 you will love it.

 

My 2001 250 has never had a shift lever problem. Did have a bad cable but Cat changed that on the newer models. The 2005 400i manual, I've never had a real problem with the shifter unless the operator didn't plan ahead. Manuals are for drivers, autos are for just riders.

 

I disagree Bear, look at the new Corvette, if I am not mistaken the auto actually has a faster 0-60 time then the 6-spd. Or look at snowmobiles, every one of them is an auto and you can't tell me they are all just riders. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

I do see your point though, on my sports car I want a manual. However anything else it better be an auto. IMO

 

Yeah, all that and as far as utilities go, the biggest you can even get a manual in is a 500 AC or Vinson. Unless you want to call ESP on a Honda a manual. I don't understand why they won't put manual transmissions on the big quads. Its like the auto has become some luxury. Before the Grizzly 600, only Polaris even made auto's, and a lot of people veered away from them back then.

 

You are comparing apples and oranges. The cat's auto aren't car tranny's and nothing you do will ever make a ATV tranny lockup like the vette's tranny can.