Hey guys. I'm thinking about picking up a 400 this weekend. I'm really torn between which transmission to go with. I really like the manual, but I've never ridden one with auto. Which do you guys think is best?
Also, what's a good price on a new one. I've seen prices from around 5300 to 5900?

I appreciate any thoughts or opinions before I make the purchase. Right now I ride a 2001 300 4x4, which I really enjoy .

 

I bought a 07 400 LE a few months back and man do I love it. I got the automatic trans and really like not having to shift but I do alot of rock crawling and hill climbing. I did need to put on new tires after about 50 miles though. That sucked! My wife got a 07 500 and I truly like my 400 better. She does have a little more power though. Good luck with your purchase.

 

thanks for the info. I appreciate it. Rockcrawling is what I do most and I was worried about the auto not working out.

 

manual shift is the better of the 2, if shifting isnt a prob. u should be able to pick up a 07 manual 400 for 5k or less. i paid 5200 for an auto

 

Crpto if you love shifting gear's get the manual , that's what i was going to get on Feb. 7th, 2006 but the dealer didn't have a 400 manual shift left when i desided to buy a new quad !

In fact she only had 3 2006 400's left in stock i had three color's to to pick from Lime Green , Dark Green or Red so i got Dark Green ; i didn't trust a belt driven clutch untill my Dealer told me she hadn't had one of the 400 Auto's brought in with a belt or clutch issue since she started selling them in 2001 and i had known her so long i bought one !

She told me i would love the Auto because i'm a bilateral amputee (both leg's off just below the knee's ) from an automobile accident in march 1975 , she knew that on my first 2 atv's i had to mount a home made hand shifter to ride a manual ; she even gave me a week test drive to deside !

It took a week to get use to a higher rev engine rpms when going slow but this ensures you're in the right power band and it helped in seating the ring's so i'm glade i kelp it , because after a hard day's ride it would take a toll on me ; even though i could shift gear's without any problem but when i was up shifting or down shifting i would have to remove my left hand from the handle bar's when shifting and it can be dangerous in the rough terrain where i ride with only one hand on the bar's !

And i didn't know the engine was a Suzuki untill i ask the Dealer how tough the Arctic Cat engine's were she told me it was powered by a 376cc Suzuki engine with Suzuki's Duramatic Belt Driven Clutch tranny , that cinched the deal for me ; having a good machine and a good Dealer you can trust make's all the difference in the world to me so i wouldn't go back to a manual again ! ........

 

i agree williebee, a good machine and dealer is the key. i bought my daughter an 07 400 auto, and i put more miles on it than her. i have an 07 750 brute with a 2" lift, and 28" tires, and the lil cat goes where i go, and a few times, i couldnt follow . the cats , to me, are one of the best quads on the market. either trans will be be fine. just regular service, and it will keep going and going

 

You guys are great. I appreciate your input! Maybe I will go with the auto.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Mobilized 1

I did need to put on new tires after about 50 miles though. That sucked! .</end quote></div>


50 Miles!? Holy crap! What kind of tires wear out in 50 miles?

 

Not wore out as much as tore up ,they were junk real thin light weight junk. Rocks and sticks will tear a tire like that up real fast. They sould not have ever been put on that quad to begin with. But now I have real tough heavs six ply tires with rim protecting sidewalls. No other tire I saw would be a better all around rock and mud tire that will also protect your rim. Man just talking about rock crawling puts me in the mood!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Crypto

thanks for the info. I appreciate it. Rockcrawling is what I do most and I was worried about the auto not working out.</end quote></div>

The auto goes above and beyond for rock crawling! I would not use anything else. The control with the auto in low range is fantastic. Especially on the 400 cause when I'm done getting mine up the hill of rocks then I get to drive up the wifes 500 it does well but I'll take the 400 anyday.