OK...
I have been going nuts trying to find out which ATV to get but hands down Honda wins!
They run forever, are built like tanks and I love the shift buttons (now I can wear sandals going down the street to the beach)
I started my search looking for a 2X4 utility as thats what I ride mostly and I like that you can pop up the wheels on most of them (the old 300 Quad utility Suzuki for example) but the only 2X4 Honda makes is just a 329.
Sure I know you can switch the Rancher AT into 2X4 but its just the added weight which bothers me.
Mainly I just am going to be riding trails and very tame mudding so I really don't even see a need to ever have 4X4.
BUT I just don't think 329 is enough power.
What do you all think?

I'm pretty close to running down to the dealer and having them get me a Yellow Rancher AT GPScape (they don't have any Yellow in stock)

I don't want a Yamaha as I don't like their gearing, the Suzuki just doesnt do it for me, the Artic Cats and Polaris machines are just too heavy.

 

The 2X4 Rancher is actually a pretty peppy machine! It has higher gearing than the 4X4's, which gives it a good top speed. You aren't doing any work or riding real though stuff, so a lot of "power" isn't really necessary. Avoid any unnecessary weight, whenever possible.

You didn't mention any snow riding. If you are going to ride in winter, a 4X4 might be in order???

 

Very little winter riding and by the time I hit the trails in the winter they will already be packed down from the snowmobiles.
Am I better off buying the 2X4?
Theres only about 60 pds between the AT GPScape and the 2X4 ES and I thought the extra 60 cc would easily compensate for that but I dont know about the gearing at all.

Is a Rancher AT in 2X4 mode going to get dusted by the 2X4 ES?
I bet the 4X4 would help for hill climbing.

Please let me know what you all think, this is my first 4 Wheeler and I am tearing my head out trying to get the best I can for what I want.
I own a cottage in a gated 20000 acre resort (18000 raw acres of trails and all)
I wont be towing with this thing. Mud, trails, hills, racing with friends, just being general idiots, possibly for use during deer hunting.

 

All that 60 lb difference is pretty much in the front end, where it doesn't do you any good! And, much of those extra cc's will get used hauling the extra weight and powering a less efficient auto transmission.

On the other hand, the AT is selectable 2wd/4wd, and you can (theoretically) have the best of both worlds. What do your friends ride??? Do they say they need/wish they had 4X4's???????

 

Thats the thing, all of my friends have these older Suzuki 300 Quad Utilitys.
None of them have 4X4, all of their machines are 300's and their biggest complaint is engine size.
None have ever rode 4X4 and the only time they say they could have used them is climbing a couple small hills out on the property which they are still able to climb it just takes a huge running start.

 

I think then, you would be happy with the 2X4 Rancher. It is pretty sporty for a utility. They are relatively inexpensive, reliable, and easy to maintain.

 

Which will win in a straight away race?

AT 400 CC 4X4 Rancher driven in 2 wheel mode

or

ES 329 CC 2X4 Rancher

and will it be close or a blow out?

 

my dealer says that the 400 at is slightly slower than the 350 es. The tranny of the at robs a lot of power he says. As for the 4wd, I was once a believer in 2wd only. I now own 4wd. I use the 4wd very rarely. When I do use it, I am glad I spent the money. I think if you drove both the es and the at, you would be writing a check fot the at. Go to a dealer that has test drives. 4 wheelers cost too much to buy without driving. Use the dealer locator at hondamotorcycle.com to find one.

 

I heard there will be a 2X4 AT, but it isn't out yet.

 

I have a 2003 Honda Rancher Es 350 4x4, and I love it. Before I brought mine in Feb. of this year, I did the same thing you are doing. Trying to find out what was best for me, and were I ride, and what kind of rideing. And then I was going through all the name brands,and etc. Then I finally made up my mine I always rode on hondas, and yama. I just love how the hondas rode, so thats when I got a honda. I do alot of trail ride, and alittle mud ride. So thats when I said the 4x4 would be best and worth the money. Now I can ride with me friends. I have only been stuck one time and could not get out. had to call my brother with a 4x4 truck. you can look at the pic if you like I need to add new pic. I have add lots of more goods to the atv. The page is

http://photos.yahoo.com/jacobcoates24