Ok I know that you all get this question 1,000's of times.... sorry I am going to ask it again...

I recently purchased a quad for my son, and everyone here helped me pick that one...

Now its MY turn...

I am ignorant about ATV's so help me out...
I am looking for something I can use on my horse farm, haul hay, pull small utility wagon, farm chores, etc.. durring the week, and then on the weekend , I want something to go trail riding with, and just general riding with my son, nothing "extreme".... but want something that can handle a wide variety of situations...
Price is a MAJOR consideration .... have to get the most for the least amount of arms and legs.....
Here is what I have found so far....

Bruin 4x4 auto 350? 4599.00
Big bear 400 4x4 semi 4750.00
Big bear 2x4 semi 3900.00
Yamaha Kodiak 2x4 400 4250.00

Honda Recon 250 4x2 3299.00
rancher s 2x4 3699.00
rancher es 2x4 3899.00
rancher es 4x4 4799.00

Ozark 3395.00
if you had to pick one of these, listed above which one..??
any sugestions of other brands.?
I would like 4x4, but dont know if it is cost effective..... can you guys tell me which 4x4 is better
and which 2x4 is better..??
should I get a 2x4 or 4x4, I suppose it would be nice, but would I be better to go with a Better 2x4 than a marginal 4x4, since money is a factor..?????
confused...LOL....
Again I appreciate ANYONE who can give me some honest advice..
thanks
Deb

 

From your list, I'd say the Rancher 350 except for the fact that they come in a fulltime 4x4. What is your top price that you can afford to pay including all cost? Do you only want to buy new?

 

I would prefer to stay in or near the $ 4700 dollar range, less is better..

I would like 4x4 but, maybe a good 2x4 with more options is better.??

Do you know anything about the Bruin, Big bear, and kodiak..???

Thanks
Deb

 

What happen to johnson2002? Hillsdale? Osseo?

 

My dad lives on 80 acres of horse farm , and has a 350 rancher es 2 x 4. It's a great quad but he wishes he would have got the 4 x 4 for the extra work sometime. I would say the rancher 4 x 4but I would consider a quad where you can switch out of 4 wheel drive, so it turns better

 

The price of the 250s is tempting and they are fun to ride but really aren't much of a workhorse. You got some nice ones listed except for the one I would call the most obvious for what your looking for------ Suzuki Eiger 400 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

The eiger is a real nice quad and you switch out the 4 x 4

 

Coyotechaser....
I am from Osseo, or Hillsdale ..LOL...HIllsdale is the bigger town, (hickville size)
and Osseo is a one stop sign town... so Yes the addy is Osseo, the Phone is Hillsdale..haha
so I suppose I am "somewhere in the middle"..
I tried to log on at home, and forgot the password, so it logged my on different...
I dont use that one much, unless I just cant get to the computer at work...

Well now that you have that straight... Help my pick a ATV...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
DEb

 

the best 4x4 i feel is the bruin. it has a high tow capacity for work and has 4x4 select for play. it has all teh features youll need for a great price
the best 2x4 is the ozark.

i really dont know where id be wihtout 4x4. i think it is definently worth it. but i live in a differnt area as u. but overall i would have to pic the bruin 4x4.

 

*2 WHEEL DRIVE CHOICES*: RETAIL PRICES-
Arctic Cat 250 $3299.00
Yamaha Bruin $3999.00
Yamaha Big Bear $4399.00
Yamaha Beartracker $3299.00
Honda Recon $3299.00
Honda Recon ES $3499.00
Honda 250ex $3499.00
Honda 300ex $4499.00
Honda Rancher $3899.00
Honda Rancher ES $4099.00
Bomb. Rally $3199.00
Bomb. Outlander 330 $4699.00
Suzuki Ozark $3499.00
Suzuki Z250 $3899.00
Suzuki Eiger (manual) $4349.00
Suzuki Eiger (auto) $4499.00
Kawasaki Bayou $3999.00
Kawasaki Mojave $4099.00
Polaris Trail Blazer $3399.00
Polaris Trail Boss $3699.00
Polaris Magnum 330 $4399.00
Yamaha Kodiak 400 $4599.00
*4 WHEEL DRIVE CHOICES*: RETAIL PRICES-
ArcticCat 250 $4399.00
ArcticCat 300 $4999.00
Yamaha Bruin $4999.00 to $5299.00
Yamaha Wolverine $5199.00 (fulltime)
Yamaha Big Bear $5199.00
Honda Rancher $4899.00 (fulltime)
Honda Rancher ES $5099.00 (fulltime)
Bomb. Outlander 330 $5499.00
Suzuki Eiger (manual) $5149.00
Suzuki Eiger (auto) $5299.00
Yamaha Kodiak 400 $5499.00 to $5799.00
Kawasaki Bayou $4999.00 (fulltime)
Polaris Magnum 330 $5199.00

So, there you go. You really need to pick what would work best for you. If you were going to buy a 2 wheel drive utility for around 4700.00. This allows you to get a better model but without 4x4. My top 4 picks would be the 2x4 Kodiak 400, Rancher, Eiger or Outlander 330. Each of them seem to be decent but the Rancher and Kodiak have been around a little longer. It also depends on if you would rather a manual or auto. I would lean toward the Rancher 350 because of a lower price, new style, reliable, handles good, and I like to shift.

The retail prices for the 4x4's are all over $4700.00 except the AC 250 4x4. So it would depend on which dealer is willing to go down on the OTD price. The Rancher 350 comes closer with a retail of $4899.00. I don't know too much about the Bruin but would consider it. The Eiger 4x4 would also be worth considering. When I was looking around I got a OTD price of about $4900.00 for the manual Eiger without hardly trying. So $4700. might not be out of reach. The Rancher is a fulltime 4x4 but it is a good fulltime 4x4. The Warn 424 could be added later to be selectable. Some dealers around here were installing the 424's on new Ranchers as a sales incentive. So you might be able to get a dealer to throw one in with the deal. Again, it depends on if you want an auto or semi-auto (manual). I would pick between the Eiger and Rancher and lean toward the Rancher. This is your decision so good luck.