Well, after wrestling with the Suzuki dealer and coming to the realization that he is not gonna stay too far from $5699 for the Z400, I am gonna look at the Honda 400ex. My sons have a 100xr and 80xr dirt bikes that have performed flawlessly for 2 years while receiving less than kind treatment. Am I gonna be expected to pay MSRP for the 400ex? Any tips on dealing with the Honda dealer would be appreciated!! I feel like I was "being judged worthy" to buy the Suzuki.
Thanks!!!!!!!!

 

JimT, with all the new sport quads on the market, you should be able to deal on ANY of them. My dad just bought a new Predator and didn't pay MSRP for it. In my neck of the woods new '02 400EX's are going for $5399 and '03's are $5699. I love my 400EX. Mine is an '02 with an FMF Powerbomb header and White Brother's silencer, jetted, and a Uni-Filter. I have suprised quite a few Z-400 and even Raptor owners with my bike. Hope this helps!

 

Around here, I have seen 400EX's for $1,300 below MSRP!! Pick a dealer that is Honda only (not also a Suzuki dealer). Tell him you are going to take you business elsewhere and buy the fabulous new Z400 unless he cuts you a real good deal (MSRP is the SAME on both bikes). The EX is a great ride. Handling is superb, and it sets the standard for reliability. And, especially if you are a trail rider, it has all the power you will ever need.

 

My dealer pulled the same stuff with me. I was set on the z- 400 and I wouldent even looked at the 400ex. They wouldnt budge on the z-400 even with me waveing cash in front of them. I wanted a sport bike with reverse. As I was walking out the door, the dealer said just look at the 400ex. I did and it looked kind of weired with the 2 front lights and I thouht thiers no way I am buying this. He said let me go check on a price. Both 400's were seting side by side and they both had the same price on the tag. I thought thier is no way I am buying a quad with out reverse for the same price. When he came back he said I can knock $1000 off the price. That got me by suprise. Still I was not going to pay that for something I did'nt want. So he said let me get the manager and I thought I dont have to listen to this crap! The manager came over and said this is all I can do, $1000 off, the $100 dock fee off, a $159 Fulmer helmet tossed in, and 4 year warenty on it. Sounded good, except what about the reverse? He said that even with reverse I will never use it, he doesent use his. So after they talked me out of the reverse I test drove it and it moved like I wanted it too. I decided the deal was to good to pass up so I bought it. Since then a friend has bought a raptor and another friend has bought a z-400. The raptor reverse went out and was'nt covered by warenty, so he rides with out it. The z-400 reverse is to hard to use so he took it off. I dont even know I dont have reverse. You learn to compinsate.
The 400ex is bullet proof. both have had slight problems with thiers, and my honda keeps going.
I have riden it harder, faster, and stupider than both of them and its a tought proven machine!
All 3 are great bikes but I payed alot less for a equal bike.
the Honda deal right now is way to good to pass up.
BULLET PROOF!!!

 

Thanks to all for replying.
Yeah, I am gonna go the a Honda dealer tomorrow and I figure if I can get the ex for about $4500 OTD, it would be a good deal.

 

If you can get the 400ex out the door for $4500, your'e getting a great deal!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

I have two Z's and the reverse is not hard, at all. Good luck with your purchase, ex's have an excellent record for reliability. I have heard many places selling 400ex's for less than 300ex msrp cause they're tryin to move them so they can ship honda's new flagship sport quad (or so the rumors say)

 

$4,500 for a new EX is killer.... I'd do it

 

Just think if you buy the 400 ex it will get rid of their stock so I can buy their Big Boy if it ever get here. God I hope their Flagship Bike is worht the wait. I am holding off on buying another quad just to see what they are up to. Honda can't keep getting beat in the sport market can they?

 

I got mine for $4699 or $5200 OTD. I guess you can't avoid sales tax here in good old Pennsylvania. The good news is I've just added about $500 for the trails here in PA. That's right, sales tax from ATVs and ATV accessories goes right to the ATV/Snowmobile fund, not to improve highways like the rest of the sales tax goes for. Nice huh?

An interesting note: Around December 2nd there seemed to be a price war going on at the local Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha (Track N Trail) dealer. The 400EX was $4699, the LTZ 400 was $4999, and the Raptor was $5399.