I thought hi and low about what machine, how much to spend and what I can and cannot afford, did I want IRS or straight axle... decisions decisions, well I decided the Rubicon, the 2004 was very tempting with the now $700.00 Honda Bucks! my lowest OTD price I found w/GPS was 5299 - (pretty awsome price!)

Well, I decided to wait and opt for the Newly designed 2005 Honda Rubicon New 05 Rubicon Photo

red and yellow colors - this yellow is prety slick! another photo but in Yellow

The new machine will have disc brakes, TraxLok and the Rincon/Rancher Look! My best OTD price is about $6,250 and they're due out in December. I plan on pushing some snow and the gear lever to and from reverse is about the most convenient in the honda line-up. I have heard the trans is better in colder weather than the rincon and the rubicon has different settings of low/hi gear torque.

I believe this machine is worth the extra 950 over the 04 rubicon as I won't need to add the 424 warn locker since it has traxlok.

Hope this machine arrives when they say - December...

Has anybody actually seen the machine? Does anybody have a better line on it's arrival?

Thanks,

Phil

 

This is all I know of it's existance? Honda News Release on the new 2005 Rubicon The dealers know very little if anything...
Phil

 

My decision parallels yours. I'm waiting on mine as well. My dealer told me maybe November but he is quick to remind me that Honda's clock ticks to it's own beat and that he will have little advance notice of its arrival.

 

Whiskey Tango, how much is your dealer selling it for OTD (less sales tax) ?

I say out the door because some have doc, freight, prep and setup fees.

Thanks,


Phil

 

$6250.00, but I bought two machines and made a bunch of referrals.

 

www.abernathyonline (in Alabama) sells the new rubicon for 6,250 also, however a local IL dealer whom I don't altogether trust says they'll sell it to me for 6,264 and give me 50.00 gift certificate to use in the store... Abernathy's is on the level, although I don't want to drive 10+ hours to get there. Who's your dealer? Hopefully the local dealer will come through and we'll do more business.

However, they don't have it yet... they said within about a month or so, they should have the 05 models.

Phil

 

$700 (for Rubi) is a good rebate. I wish Honda would offer a $700. rebate on the '04 Foremans. I'd have another one in the garage. The 04 Rancher ES 4x4 and Recon only have a $150. rebate.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

Coyotechaser,

I had previously bought a used 2004 rancherAT w/40 miles on it used from private party and a great deal, well I put another 43 miles on it and went to a local dealer to check out the plows... at that time I saw the 04 Rubicon which looked very ready for a 54" blade! Shortly thereafter I had the oppurtunity to sell my rancherAT for the same amount as the 04 rubicon would cost, that was my reasoning for selling the rancher AT, after checking out this forum I quickly learned that the rubicon lacked traxlok, I had thought that since the racher AT had it, the foreman had it - I never realized the Rubicon didn't have the options of the s,aller machines... I was still real tempted when Abernathy quoted me 5,199 OTD price for a brand new 2004 red rubicon w/GPS! That ofcourse included the 700.00 rebate.

I came across the 05 rubicon "Honda news" and realized it had The LQQK I wanted and it had the traxlok! Was it worth another 1,000? ummm - you bet!
IMO

Phil

 

Having a selectable 4x4 is worth some extra money. The disc brakes are a bonus with the 2005's.

The 2005 Rubi and Foreman look almost exactly the same now. Except for the shift handle on the Rubi and what's under the plastic. I wonder if this was done so they'd have interchangeable parts. Less cost to produce.

 

Yeah those are sweet lookin