I am planning on purchasing two four wheelers for my wife and I in the near future. I like high performance riding and do lots of trails and stuff. Don't see too many dunes and don't MX. I was thinking of one of the scramblers for my wife since it is auto and was thinking of the 400ex for me since is lighter and you can shift. I also like the ability to modify as much as I want to with not too many problems finding parts. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

It's very simple. How big are you? If you are 510 or under, then consider the Honda, if you are bigger than that, you'll like the size of the Scrambler.

I'm partial as all get-out, but I never owned even ONE polaris before 1999.

I've run motoX, raced street bikes, gocarts, snowmobiles and ridden hard most of my 39 years.

Why exactly would anyone want to shift? Automatic means you are always in the peak powerband, and you can stand, lean, sit, whatever as you accelerate.

Test ride these machines, then decide.

My Scrambler is by far my favorite machine I've ever had, except my Durango.

 

The Scramblers are very nice machines.. and so is the 400EX... If you consider reverse as something you want.. then the 400EX is out...
I agree on the 5' 10" and under thing.. if you are over that, you will feel cramped on the 400EX..
If you are willing to wait a month or two for your machine..(I KNOW thats hard to do..but...) Polaris is coming out with a Scrambler 500 (the High Output 4-stroke 500cc) that is 2WD only. If you don't ride deep mud or extremely rough terrain where you absolutely need the 4WD.. then that may be the way to go...
I talked to the local Polaris dealership owner just today about the Scrambler 500 2WD and he has ordered two of them.. they are due in in about 4-6 weeks..
All the Scrambler H.O. 500 4x4 high performance parts will interchange to the 2x4...
Good Luck in your decision...

 

LIKE I ALWAYS SAY...GO RID'EM.

My preference is 400/500/EX. Yours may be different after riding them. I like 2-stroke power and mods and I prefer the size of the 400+500 over the EX.

I've been a clutcher all my life and I'm considering an auto now. I like more forgiving PVT after seeing how it makes tuff shifting spots look so easy and effortless. If I buy will I be happy? WHO KNOWS?? My motto is try it before you knock it.

 

Toysoldier, I'm with the other posters. I believe you should definitely try all the machines.
I ride a 99 Sport 400 and love it. Where I ride one must have reverse or just won't be able to ride some of the times. Don't forget that if you choose the 400EX you won't have reverse. Of course the EX it's not as heavy as Polaris, but sometimes you really have to carry your quad if you don't have that amazing thing "reverse".
In Portugal Honda didn't start to sell the 2000 400EX yet, and I think the main reason is the GD absence of reverse. Don't take me wrong, the 400EX is a GREAT quad, but not for where I ride. Neither the Banshee or the DS 650.
So considering this, the Sport / Scrambler 400 is as far as I may go.
Take a good look to where you will ride and after trying all the machines make your decision.

JNB_Sport400

 

Test ride, test ride, test ride.

Thant being said, my pick is the either of the Polaris over the 400EX (big suprise in the Polaris forum), and of the two Polaris, the 400 over the 500. I love riding with 400ex guys and watching them grunt and groan as the tug them out of the brush after missing a turn, while I just shift into reverse.

Usually they miss that turn because thay are busy shifting, I just have to steer. I like the comfy ride of the Polaris, I've ridden a 400ex, and at 6 feet tall it feels smallish and cramped. The reason I'd take the 400 over the 500 is mods. From the factory, the two quads are pretty close to the same as far as top end, but 2 strokes are easier and cheaper to wring the most performance from. I know a guy with a '00 SC500 who is selling to get the SC400 for just that reason.

Final reason for choosing the Polaris - on demand 4x4! I cannot tell you the number of times I've had to strap up a non 4x4, stuck in the muck I just ran through.

Now go test ride, and let us know what you pick.