I have a 2003 Vinson Auto and it has done a great job for me. I use it for work, hunting and trail riding. This is my first quad and I just can't believe what it can do. I have heard great things about the bomb from everyone except the dealers. They all tell me to stay away from them, but this could be from bad past experiences. The Outlander seems like a great machine.

 

Ramg66, I understand your point about the comparison. I chose these 2 bikes based on a couple factors, number one being price. I can get either of them within 4 bills of the other, the outlander being less, of course. Sure I could save money by going with the eiger, but the vinny's got more grunt. If bomb had a 500, I'd be comparing that to the vinny, but they don't. I like the bomb for all the new tech and ideas, I think they put a lot of thought into it. Things like the inboard brakes, lower fuel cell (I know this isn't new idea, but don't see it on too many quads), lightweight chassis (when compared to other irs models.) and the viscolock differential (it steer easier than any other 4x4 I've ridden so far when in 4wd) Another reason I chose these 2 is by trusting my "4ss dyno". I've ridden both and seat of the pants feeling wasn't much different so far. As I mentioned, though, haven't had the vinny in the wide open yet, so I withold final judgement. The outlander4 is a nice bike and I think it performs at a level above other 4oos, imo. Sorry if I've offended you. I appreciate your time in responding, though.

 

GT2; I just bought the Outlander, It out does my expections by a large margin!!!!! If your into powerslides on a backroad by all means get the Vinson, but if you want a very capably off-road bike that probably has the best ride in the bizz, go Outlander. As you have seen the machine is put together very well. It has good ground clearance & it's easy to steer, & while a locker is better this visco lock is the only front diff that works, I put it on the ice with one front tire on the bare beach sand & it simply applied power to the one front tire not spinning, & pushed the guy holding it!!! You would never regret a purchase of one of these.

 

3 Year Warranty, that is very appealing in my book, that in my opinion is a very bold move on the part of Bombardier considering most companies only offer 6 months. I hope these kinds are warranties start to catch on, I mean these thing cost almost as much as a car now so they should have comparable warranties, 6 months is a joke, you get more with a $20 toaster.

 

Well when you add it on to the price its no prob..[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] hehe. I bought my Eiger for $5445 out the door with a 4 1/2 year warranty.....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

The Bomb handles WAY better than the Vinson, and it has lots of power to boot!!!

At the end of a long day You'll be feeling better if you're riding the Bomb!!!!

Overall the bomb is outstanding!!!!!!!!

 

How can you buy a bomb? I have heard the name prenounced so many ways i dont know which one is right!! If French do make the Bombardier i wouldnt support them by buying the ugly damn thing!!

 

Pronounced by the french canadiens as Bom-bar-dee-ay, with primary accent on the -ay and secondary on the -bar-. Any more questions? LOL

Of course americans making fun would say Bom-ber-deer, with emphasis on the deeeeer. hehe

 

GT2: I am at exactly the same point as you. I am leaning towards the Outlander as well. Prices I have been offered include $5099, $5249, and $5300 (nearest dealer). I now ride a 2002 Rancher 4X4 ES. I do not really like autos, but the Outlander auto is well done. I have test ridden the 650 Prairie, Vinson (both trans.), and Outlander 400. I really want IRS because of where I ride, mainly Wayne National Forest in SE Ohio. The trails beat you pretty hard with a rear swingarm, no matter how well that type of rear suspension is done. I also want a bike that I can let others use and the Outlander is very user friendly to a beginner (who has had some basic lessons), but appears to be up to the most technical trails.
My hangups with the Outlander are:
(1) Ugly - if I buy it, I am ordreing the yellow (has grey lower panels) and waiting until June when they produce that color - much less ugly than the Viper red all over
(2) Could always use another 100cc, although it had good low and high range, which is where it would be most of the time on the trails.
(3) A lot of unproven concepts durability-wise (test rides and awards by mags are not all that meaningful)
(4) Some noise out of the sub trans. in rapid deceleration

As for the Vinson, I love the looks and dash (much nicer than Outlander), but in visirting the service departments of several dealers I find quite a few Vinsons with major repairs (2003's, both auto and manual, and not just the 2002 autos). The service guys admitted that they had come across problems with the main bearings - a real show stopper in my book. The Suzukis have a lot of minor (carbs) and some major problems (trans, main bearings). The previous Bombardiers seem to have very good reliability and Rotax reliability is well known - they put them in aircraft (with some upgrades of course such as av. spec. bearings). If the Vinson had rear IRS, I would buy it for sure, although still be a bit nervous about Suzuki reliability. A lot of the muti-brand dealers do seem to not push the Outlander, but an atv pro rider I talk to occasionally at the nearby moto pro shop says that the Rotax is the way to go and he is very negative on Suzuki engines (he rides Hondas).

And if we must discuss cultures-
I spent 8 years in Japan working. I love many things about Japan. Japan is a good friend to the US, and the fools who bash Japan really know nothing about politics or economics, but are just repeating bs some companies put out to cover their tracks for making crap, usually themselves taking jobs overseas or to Mexico while the Japanese build factories here (love those Juarez built Suburbans - thanks GM (Ford is no "better")).
Quebec has a nice culture, I do appreciate it and have always enjoyed visiting Montreal, although right now I would like to see the French just shut up.
But, I am going to buy the best product to suit my needs, not based on where a multi-national is headquartered, because all of these multi-nationals have interests that someone at some point in time might find objectionable. If you really want to get upset at some companies (like all of the textile and shoe firms now), go to China and see some of those factories (I have). Those companies and their agents treat the workers in ways that we in this part of the world cannot imagine (or remember back to the turn of the (19th-20th) century pre-labor laws).

 

Are you serious? the French make it? F*ck them bastards.....and have you noticed that everyone saying good things about the bomb are not americans.....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] just kidding don't mean anything by it, but I have yet to see a bomb or a bomb dealer in the most popular place on Earth California baby....yea[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]