ive decided to treat myself to a new atv. it will be used for everything. trails,mud,pulling small trailer,sand,hunting ect. ive narrowed it down to 3 models,rated in order.
1)can am renegade 500
2)polaris scrambler 500
3)yamaha wolverine 450

i know these bridge the gap between untility and sport quad. i also know that people will say get one or the other. ive got 2 scramblers that have worked well and i see no reason the newer models wont do the same thing. as for the can am im on the fence a little between the 500 and 800. given the small price increase would it be worth getting the 800?

im open to all opinions.

 

Sound like you need more of a utility machine that a sport 4x4. A ute with true 4x4 low range and no chain drive would be better suited for what you are looking for! As far as the difference between a 500 and 800 it is night and day. You might be impressed to see what a utility with IRS does for the riding experience.

 

Wow- the can am rene is way out of league here!
The rene 500 has an IRS, the other 2 are both SRA's
The rene 500 is really built for performance riding, not really something you'd want to bolt a wagon or a plow to (though I'm sure you could) IMHO...

These 3 atv's are so different from one another- you should ride them at least once before deciding. I have a feeling once you ride each one, you'll have a better idea on what you're looking for.

I would say a better selection would be (based on what you plan on using it for)

1- Polaris Sportsman 500
2- Can-Am Outlander 500 or 650
3- Honda Rincon 680

As far as the Renegade 500 or 800 - well, ummm.... Huge difference in power- The rene 800 is a fire breathing monster that'll pull the front end up with ease. I would NOT use a rene 800 for hunting, plowing or farm work If you test drive one, you'll see what I mean- (bring some clean underwear with you!)

 

Have you considered the Rancher 420? Good all around quad, nimble and light on the trails with enough grunt for most.

 

Of the 3 the Renegade is the fastest with the most torque. It has a more comfortable ride due to the IRS but may not be as nice power sliding as an SRA. You can get racks for a Renegade if you want. Not as big as a dedicated utility machine but they are available. Scrambler has the strongest frame but lowest ground clearance and is in the middle of this pack performance-wise. Wolverine is a GOOD all around machine but the Renegade is that much better. It will put a smile on your face. Only thing I changed on my son's Renegade is to get a frame insert as the Renegade/Outlander frames are on the weak side. Either the insert or a good set of skid plates will help that out. I also just bought fender flares for my son for Christmas. Renegade (really all three) have sport type plastics that won't protect you from the filth. My son comes home covered with whatever we've ridden on or through. With the 500 you have to keep some weight on the front end in turns as the engine lightens the front end up under acceleration. The 800 will make the quad almost unsteerable in a corner if under acceleration and you aren't putting your weight forward. You really have to keep an eye on the 800 as it can get away from you bigtime. Just some random thoughts. Oh, and my son's Renegade gets about 30 miles per gallon doing mixed riding. It's a great quad. I like the Scramber and Wolverine also but my nod goes to the Renegade 500.

 

Take a look at a polaris sportsman 550, there a great all around machine that will do just about anything you need it to do.

 

I think you should take a long, hard look at AC.