I am considering whether to buy a 2001 Rubicon and get the $300 Honda bucks deal or wait for the 2002 model (& pay $300 bucks more.) It appears from the Honda website that there are no changes to the Rubicon except for the addition of yellow as a color choice.
Does anyone know any good reasons to wait for the 2002 model? Also, does anyone know why Honda chose to put their new Traxlock 2wd/4wd switch on the ES model and not on the new Rubicon? Can anyone tell me the drawbacks to the fulltime 4wd on the Rubicon (versus a 2wd/4wd switch)? It seems to steer very well to me. . . .

Thanks for your help.

 

The resale would be a little higher on a year newer model. Other than that, I'd say that if you don't want the yellow one, go for the 2001 and quit waiting. "Every day above ground, is a bonus"! Especially when you're riding a Rubicon...

 

When I was shopping around for a new quad, the honda dealers wouldn't budge on the price of the rubicon. They said that the only way they would go down in price would be if I would pre-order a rubican. I guess that their reasoning is that there aren't many new '01 rubicons left for sale now and they can get full msrp for them. But by pre-paying and waiting for the next shipment in the fall, they can just add one more rubicon on the order and sell it at a lower price. Crazy, huh? So I could have gotten a '02 cheaper than a '01 if I pre-ordered and waited!

 

my area dealers also played that game, so i called one and got a quote of $6,600 after bucks and then called another and another until I got them to match each others prices and I paid $6,299 out the door. Just say, Hey another dealer offered less but I want to buy it here- when they match the price call the other dealer and let them know until you get bottom prices

 

My best deal so far is $6349 out the door with the Honda bucks. I've got to drive about 2 hours to pick it up, but since my local dealer won't budge off MSRP, it's worth it!

What do you Rubicon owners think of the full-time 4WD?

Thanks again.

 

ELKHUNTER, I would prefer a 4WD/2WD option and will be anxious to see how High Lifter's Unlocker works out. However, the Rubicon had too many things going for it to let something that minor affect my buying decision. It is a very refined ATV and you'll love it. BTW, dealer cost on the Ruby is $6047. You might throw that out at them and turn the situation around by asking the sales mngr. "how much do you have to make on the front end of this deal to gain a good customer and keep me from buying from the Polaris store"?

 

The reason they probably put it on the 450 first was because it doesn't have the new differential on it. The Rancher and Rubicon do.

 

I would like a 2wd option, but i can still throw my rubi sideways on gravel!

 

The honda dealers in my area absolutely suck. They will lie straight to your face. I went in and started negotiating, and the lowest they would go was 6699 including the 300 bonus bucks. I told them I could get it for 6499, and the salesperson said that is rediculous because the dealer cost is above 6499. He even showed the "dealer cost binder". He thought for sure that I was making up the 6499 price, that he proceded to the phone book and asked me for the name of the dealer who is selling it for 6499. I then got up and left that store, never to do business there again. The other dealer in my area was similar and also wouldn't budge on the price. So I went and bought a Prairie 650 instead.