Hey all,

Let me give you some back ground first.... I am a Mudder! Love mud, love water, love coming home and washing down my quad. I spend a lot of time on my quad digging. I like the Automatics. I have a Praire 300 4x4 with suprising grunt but since putting on my larger tires I just can't throw mud like I want. I want to look at the A/C 500 4x4 Auto. Is this the way to go? I do a lot of trail riding through the woods at home as well. No major turning. Any thoughts??? I want to know from people who run the A/C's. What do you think -vs- all the other Auto's. I know the feeling of the Polaris and Kawasaki? Tell me more.

 

Forrest,
I cant speak on behalf of owning a AC,however,I have witness a few in the mud at my local riding area.In my opionion,nothing stock beats a Polaris 4x4 in the serious mud.The AC does well from what I have witnessed,however,you did ask about the ACs performance in mud vs the other 4x4 quads.I've seen ACs stuck in serious mud with only ONE front wheel spinning,thats not good for hardcore mudding.Honda Foremans are even worse.I have also seen the same hole conquered with a stock true 4x4 Polaris or a simaler quad with a front end locker.Locker kits steer very hard though.

Some of the guys say there is a way to lock the ACs front end,I dont know.If mudding with a automatic quad is your bag,than purhaps you will want something like the Polaris Xplorer or Sportsman HO.I have owned both,the Sportsman and the Xplorer,and to date,have never been out done in the mud yet.====Bill

 

I don't own an auto, but I can say that my auto is down right AWESOME in the mud and water. When I had my factory tires I was out mudding 450's with Vampires.

I think if you get the auto the first thing you will want to do is snorkel the Transmission vents to make sure u don't get your belt wet.

 

i had a ac 500 auto,liked it very much,but it was loud when you pick up speed.it got a good work out as i cut wood and pull a trailer that will hold about 2,500lbs.i have to be careful not to break the trailer.i traded for a ac500 2001 manual tranny, thought i needed lower gears over the belt drive.it is still a question!

 

How do you Like your 2001 Manual so far? Does it have more power than the auto? Is it faster? Have you tested the front differential?

 

boner, i like the manual,but i also like the auto because i didn' have to shift.the manual is better on gas quicker on the trottle,defintly more noticable power.for some reason this machine steers easier.both were part-time frontends.gas milage 15 for the auto@25for the manual,trails only,no hard riding.

 

MAN!!! THATs a BIG difference in gas mileage.