I've been looking for a new (and first) ATV. I'm familiar wih them and have ridden many in the past. I'm not hung up on brand or numbers.

While doing my research and shopping around I came across a 2007 AC 700 EFI LE. It was more than I was looking to spend (under $6500), but I love the color and the equipment this machine comes with from the factory. It has the aluminum wheels, 2500# Winch, front and rear bumpers, beautiful Orange/Sunset Red paint, stick stoppers, full underbody armor, 2" reciever hitch, IRS, etc. Some of this equipment I plan on purchasing anyhow, so when I crunch the numbers, the value goes up.

My main question comes down to reliability. Is this atv going to give me years of sevice with basic maintenance (which I do myself)? How about the Suzuki motor in this? The EFI? The tranny? I will be moving in a few months and the nearst AC dealer is 40-50 miles away.

I originally started out looking at the 500 class quads, but I think that another $2000 is money well spent if this is THE quad that will last 10 years or so with proper maintenance. Heck, my buddy still has his 96 Honda 300 4x4 that continues to run with just regular maintenance. I just want a reliable quad that has the backbone to last. I'm not concerned with speed as much as I am reliability. I can work on carbs and the efi issue worries me a little.

Any other suggestions? I'm 6'1" and 250#. The quad will be jack of all trades and will take me hunting, clearing property/preparing food plots, riding, hauling wood, camping, trailers with round bales, etc.

The others I have been comparing it to have been AC 650, Honda Foreman, Kawi BF 650, Polaris 500, Suzuki KQ, and the Yamaha Grizzly 660.

 

Cat's are reliable for the long run. my 500 has been abused for a couple 1000 miles, and besides broken axles and and the really poor back brake i have had no probs with it. Efi is not a new thing, so i wouldnt worry too much. For the money its a great quad, the king is nice also, but i am not very pleased with my brute, it just feels like a jet motor on a lil red wagon

 

any other input?

 

not many folks wanna talk bout cats cause they bought sumthin else and dont get to ride much??? JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

What a co-inky-dink. I too am still riding a '96 Honda with just regular maintenance.
But I also have a '06 500 Cat with the Suzuki motor-tranny combo and I must say that thing is very reliable. Check other boards and you will see that the Suki combo in the 500 is highly regarded even among non-AC fans. (Sorry I don't know squat about the 700.)
And you are correct that you'll get better value for your money buying a quad that has the features that you want rather than buying a quad and then paying to add on those features later on, generally speaking.
AC has come a long way in a short time. I find their reliability about the same as any other brand and better than a lot of other brands.
Good luck.