this is my first post, i have been reading your forums for a while and like it. i am looking at the 03 AC 400 auto. what do you all think about this machine? would it be good at muddin, hill climb, pullin, and in the muskeg.

i was also looking at the kodiak 400 SE dual range. i no you guys are going to say there different like night and day because of the FIS and soild axle. which one would you pick and why.

go easy on me its my first post.

thanxs.

cya

 

I have a 01 500 auto and it worked ok in the muskeg. with some of the trouble that is surfacing with the auto's i would lean more to the 400 or 500 I manual myself. I am not sure about the Kodiak if it is the one with diff lock then it would be a good option. My 500 pulls good, i used it during moose season to pull out my moose in a trailer and all my gear on the racks. in the mud is where the auto really shines. no worring about being in the right gear at all. just give the gas and it is always in the right "gear". i have not been on any serious hills so i cant comment on that. also the gas mileage is worse with the auto than with the manual. i think you could go 15 or 20 miles further on the manual. this is my opinion feel free to disagree with any or all of it.

 

i thanx you for everything, but i am wondering what is really wrong with the autos??? please let me no thanxs

 

Look at the post abnormal automatic transmission noise. if it hadnt been for my trany having to be repaired i would really be totaly happy with it.

 

In my opinion there is just more maintinance with an automatic than there is with a manual. The belts can burn up, and they arent as efficient because the motor has to rev up more to make it move very fast.

 

i have a 03 500i manual and love it, my buddy has the same bike but in auto and i like mine a lot better. Mine seems to have a little bit more top end and there is SO much more torque, there seems to be a little hestitation on his auto but i can get the front tires to lift up my manual, all personal preference. some say that mudding is better with the auto but i have not had any problems. I throw it in low and use third gear and it climbs right through whatever the autos go through. WARNING!! at first you will probably hate the rocker shifter, but after a couple tanks you will love it. And in winter your boot size makes no difference. Not to mention that the manual is a little cheaper.

 

Hey my cousin just bought an Artic Cat 250, 2003 and he will drive it around for a while and it will die on him and it woud lock up in first gear and he can't get it back into neutral without pushing it backward. Do you know what he needs to do to keep it from doing that. Thanks