Well I have a Rincon with an auto. + 3 speed ES. Personally I prefer the CVT auto. trannies period, just my preference. Some people are dyed in the wool manual only, anything else is childs play. You might have a little more reliability with the 5 speed manual over the ES, IF the ES shorts out or stops working then what? I think Honda has an external shifter in a tool kit to get you home but who knows how well that works.

 

How have you not seen the flood of posts about ES problems???? They are undergoing a recall for the angle sensors, so that may solve the issue eventually, but they have had more than their share of problems over the years. In any case, I just prefer to shift with my foot............

 

Extras? Do you mean like a winch or something? The price you see is the price you pay OTD. I bought 2 there.

 

Oh please lets not get a debate on ES vs S started. There aren't many dealers like Southern Honda so $4500 might not be that bad of a price for your area. If your content with it, thats all that matters. But I would at least get him to throw in the extended warranty. If not a rode trip could be a good thing. If you were to buy from Southern you could break it in at Windrock in Oliver springs Tennessee. Over 200mi of awesome trails. Make a vacation out of it.