If you have owned/riden any of the above post a thread tell us how you do/dont like it, how/where you ride, what has broke,what youve fixed etc. Im absolutley sure this will helop ALOT of people (including me)with their next toy purchase. Can you buy one of thoose 800cc go carts directly from the chinese comanies and assemble it yourself?How much assembly is required? Does anyone seen a rhino vs prowler vs ranger shootout comparison.or a shootout on ANY of these sidexsides. Ive searched for hours and cant find a rhino vs prolwer besides what yamaha-motors.com offers. Is a Suzuki Samuria the same as a GEO tracker and Sidekick? Should i wait for kawi and honda, n any ideas on when they will release a new side by side(pilot/odysey)????
Basically,I want something i can put 2 people in and go just about anywhere and ride it rough.whats my best bet.

Thank you, and this forum could help sooo many people besides myself, so please if you can answer any of my questions n let us know how you like your sidexside or one youve riden.

 

I have owned two of the machines on your list, a Samurai and now a Rhino. Long ago I owned a few Suzuki LJ's they came before the Samurai and were much smaller. My oldest one had a 2-stroke engine even. Great machines.
If Honda makes a UTV it will likely be 3-wheel drive (no locking front axle) with drum brakes but will be as reliable as a rock. I like Honda products myself.
Kawasaki is said to be developing a sportier Mule, I'm not a fan of their products myself.
Mini-trucks are not allowed on trails around here & I don't see that changing.
Go Carts... Might buy one for my 10 year old but would not satisfy me, no 4x4.
Tomcar looks fantastic I must say, but they are $20,000 and you can't even get 4x4 on one.
Ranger is way to big for the trails I ride and has a strut front suspension, very jerky low speed clutch engagment and only has 4x4 when it wants to, the rider has no control over the driveline, it works when it wants to.
RZR, now this thing has potential! 50" wide and very sporty, no struts! Unfortunately it has almost the same drivetrain as the Rangers so it's close, but no cigar. If it had real 4x4 it might give the Rhino some competition. and make it's way into my garage.
Prowler will likely be history in a few more years, if it makes it until then. Accounting for less than 5% of UTV sales in the US per Dealer News Magazine. It has to many negatives to list.
Rhino, best off-roader of the group. Notice I typed off-roader... I would like to see a few small changes like 4 inches narrower to comply with the 50" rule, lose the bump bed, lower the seat height and lower the roll cage height.
08 Rhino will have the engine revamped and add fuel injection and bored to 700cc. The power steeing is on the test models but may or may not make it to the production model. Other changes as well.
For the type of use you describe "I want something i can put 2 people in and go just about anywhere and ride it rough." The Rhino is a cut above the others in my opinion.

I have changed..... everything on mine, ok not quite but I have upgraded many things. Ishock suspension upgrades, high compression piston, agressive cam, reworked the carburetor, performance exhaust, doors, yadda yadda. I changed a lot of stuff. I'm almost done, custom lower rollcage and a custom bed about half the length I'll be satisfied.

I know some get upset when they read that someone else has a different opinion than them. If you disagree please feel free to give your opinion on the subject, but keep your personal attacks to yourself.

 

I would have to disagree, The prowler is the fastest (so far) and has the most ground clearance right out of the box, and will be around for many years and if you were in the market for one you would know how hard they are to get around here, and you have to remember arctic cat is a small company compared to yamaha and polaris who have been making utvs longer. ALL vehicles will break eventually so there isnt a utv that wont need some kind of repairs. I would recommend against those go carts and like prowrench said "everyone has there own opinion" so buy what you want.

 

When a vehicle is used every day in its capacity,thats a job use rather than a rec. use,thats when my ears perk up. I met an owner of a hunting ranch in Alabama,that has a need for several 4X4 trail vehicles(No trucks allowed on the trails). His choice,after tearing up several Rhinos and many Prowlers(Prowlers being less hefty than others)settled on Polaris Rangers both 4 and 6 wheel drive.This camp has steep hills that run down to the Tombigbee River(Which floods at least once a year)The mud is very unforgiveing,and the terrain is tough and thick with overgrown pine plantations.To get his clients to their hunting stands he must really abuse the Rangers.I asked him why he used the Rangers over others,and he said"They are bigger and stronger and will outlast the others,in a commercial operation.He also said that he liked the Rhino as a personal vehicle.

 

I have the 800cc GO-Kart,
Not built for a 12 year old...It is faster and more stable than a Stock rhino, with22 inch shocks all around.
IT is not built as well as a Rhino, and support is scetchy. They originally came with weak CV joints, but the makers of gorilla axles are building custom sets for us, there are hop up parts available such as turbo's, weber carb, headers, gearing etc.

You need to decide how you want to use it. They all have their strengths and weaknesses.

I have pictures in my gallery on the 800 gokart and the polaris rzr.
the rzr is what I would buy if I had that much to spend.

Chris

 

Hey Thom,

I have a couple of Quads and two buggies. I have driven more than one Rhino and they deffinetly are fun. But
comparing too the 800cc buggies, the buggy is way more versitile. While following tight trails between 30-40 miles per hour and turning on a 90 degree turn, no problem, a Rhino-flip for sure, Seen it been there. While hitting a 75
foot vertical sand bowl at 30-40 miles per hour, big rush. A rhino flip for sure. And this is a mostly stock buggy. Like Chris says, there are many upgrades available, like a carb upgrade, header or turbo, witch all have a huge increase in power.

anyways thats my opinion,

good luck Joe Hey Chris whats up

 

hey thanks alot everyone, you are all helping for sure!! alot, not all my trais, but alot are semi tight trails...what is the size of a cart compared to a rhino or prowler? Also are these cart just for dunes or can i take them on trails. obviousely i can take them on trails but will it handle the constant smaller bumps compared to one large ramp/jump like you see in the dunes.I really dont care about work capabilities or i definetly would buy a ranger 6x6 but i have a couple tracktors for that so i was purely sport.. also i have seen alot of different types of 800cc carts but they all look like the same engine/frame with a different name..hows that work? it makes me a little nervous that its made in china, cause i wanna ride through some pretty fast n rough trails/gravelbeds



really appreciate everythin, u too cliff

 

also how does a rhino handle with some weight on it...like if i want to put a back seat in it(which i am if i go that route)...can i really put me and my girl friend up from with my little brother in the back and really ride it??? same with the prowler, anyone know how the prowler does with back seat riders?? the rzr obviosely wont have the room...also what out of prowler and rhino will hold a back seat in better...ei more room?

 

i wouldn't even think about spending this kind of money for atv or buggy out of china,so the 800cc buggy out. you need to test ride all the ruvs you're interested in and decide for yourself which one suits your style of driving. for me that was a prowler. i didn't like the ranger because of the bench seat, to slow, gear shift lever coming out of the dash, what i did like is able to select drive mode, 1, 2 ,4 wheel drive. i didn't like the 660 rhino because the width, top speed only about 40 mph, they have roll over, oil burning, and clutch problems, the mule, didn't like steering wheel being almost in the center of the bench seat, no speed, ground clearance. the prowler is the hot rod of them all ,51mph right out of the box, 12 inches of travel, 12 inches of ground clearance, the problems with the cat is not as many dealers, my closest dealer is 60 miles away, hard to find, limited prodution compared with yamaha and polaris, also one other thing is tire selection, the prowler has 14" rims,( ranger,rhino 12") not much to chose from and are expensive .

 

I have owned the Polaris XP since it came out. The only trouble I have had was with the heat issue and it took a year to finally get it fixed. I have ridden it all over Southern Utah. I like the 4X4 system. A switch that I can have the rear end unlocked, locked or all four locked, I completly control it, the best on the market as far as I'm concerned. And I can switch on the fly. I have been in a couple of places where it is too wide but I just drive around. I also have a Rhino and it as a air cleaner problem. It is more sportier than the Ranger. I have had the Ranger in places I wouldn't have thought it would go and never gave me any problem. I have my name down for the new RZR, looks to be fun. By the way we rent them so am familar with several brands. My favorite it the Ranger, have a cab, xm radio and heater, the works. Had it out this last weekend, in sand, mud and rocks, no problem at all.