I am very close to making a purchase on a AC 500i manual. I heard that maybe they are not fast enought, powerfull enought ect... What I need to know is this is all bull$itt! Well???? Thanks

 

If you want torque, get one. If you want top-end speed dont. If you do alot of tight trail riding the 400i and 500i are awesome, hillclimbing theyre awesome, mudding theyre awsome. Top-end speed they are not.
I can also tell you the manual shift models run better than the autos, in my opinion. I dont think you would be disappointed in it, Either model will run around 54mph.

 

Like he said, they are not the best on top end. They will run all day with 450 hondas and most other 500's, but won't out accelerate the Sportsmans and Rubicons. They will get smoked by the 600+ quad too of course.

Now in the sense of power, they are by no means short on that. Pulling power is tremendous, and they are not hindered in the slightest by 27" tires.

Take into consideration of what you will do with it. In woods trails, the AC is going to go right behind everything else. In dirt road full throttle racing, its not going to win. Which do you do the most? If I'm with a group, we are normally going 15mph tops through the woods, and most of the time slower than that. When I had my AC, the guys I rode with had 450's and Big Bear 400's, so I basically had the fastest of the bunch, as well as the best riding and biggest. If I rode with sportsmans or 650's or something bigger, I guess it would be different.

Its basically just a preference. I got my 660 because I was wanting an independant quad with differential lock. It came out about the time I was looking, and I jumped at it because it also offered speed. Of course, for me, I like to have a big fast 4x4 so folks will comment on it. I never really race anyone or get in any actual competition with it though. Its just what satisfies me. Ask yourself the same question. What will satisfy you. The last thing you want to do is to buy a quad and then want a different one two months later. That would have been me if I had bought the 500HO back in November 2000 and then watched as the Prairie and Grizzly were released soon thereafter.

 

Thanks guys for the replies. I have made up my mine, I will be buying the 500i manual.