I'm wanting to purchase a new quad for hunting/mowing/plowing/trail riding. Which would be a better value? I can get the Forman with a $600 discount or a Rancher with a $300 discount.

 

For sport type riding I choose the Rancher (lighter, smaller, more agile). For more utilitarian stuff (where you need more power), I would choose the 450.

 

I went through the same situation about a month ago. Do I get the lighter weight, better gas mileage, more ground clearence, and less expensive Rancher? Or do i get the more powerfull (30%), "larger feeling", "trax lock", quad shocks, low range capable, workhorse Foreman?? These are both awesome machines but for me the foreman just was what i wanted. I am six foot three 210 pounds and sitting on the rancher just felt too small. The foreman just felt more comfortable. The trax lock is sweet too. I came from riding a 2wd sport quad so being able to whip donuts is pretty important to me. So in conclusion if you are not going to work your quad, i mean work it hard, and you feel comfortable sitting on the rancher it is the machine for you. But if the rancher is just a little under sized, and you like lots of power, i mean like "house pulling power" then the foreman is what you want. any other questions e mail me at jasfire2001@yahoo.com. what ever you get ride it hard and put it back in the barn wet(unless its a polaris then u will have to grease the f#@# sh@#@# out of it first).

 

Unless you are stuck on Honda you should look at the '03 Arctic Cat 400, with seven models available, or the '03 AC 500 with four models available to choose from. Much more bang for the buck, very reliable, better ride the list goes on and on. If I can help more let me know or go to the AC forum, lots of helpful folks there. Good Luck [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]