Am in the process of buying another atv. Already have a polaris 335, but have replaced the clutch pulley, u-joints and other small bugs on this atv. I have 1 friend telling me to go with the Kawasaki Prairie 400, another has the arctic cat 500 and both have had very little trouble with each. Really like the Pol 500 HO, but this forum looks like a good place to get some opinions. Also, looking for a web site that would compare these models with specs and ratings.

 

WELL JUST TO GIVE YOU MY 2 CENTS MY FRIEND HAS A 500 ARTIC CAT AND THE NEW 400 ONE ALSO AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH IT IT HAD GOOD PULLING POWER WE ALWAYS LOOKED FOR HIM TO PULL US OUT OF THE MUD BUT AS FAR AS COMFORD MY 2 POLARIS S HAVE FAR BETTER COMFORD AND POWER HAVENT TRYED PULLING WITH THE NEW ONE 2003 500 HO BUT IM SURE IT WILL PULL AWESOME A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A 500 HO AND HASNT HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL JUST GREASE AND GO BUT THE NEW 500 HO HAS VERY LITTLE GREASE ZERKS AND KAWASKI WELL I HAVE RIDEN THEM INCLUDING 650 WITCH IS A VERY POWERFULL MACHINE BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR POWER WELL KAWASKI MAY BE YOUR ANSWER IF ITS THE 650 YOUR LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DRAWBACKS ARE STRAIGHT AXLE REAR ENDS NOT INDEPENDT WHERE THEY SLOW DOWN I GLIDE OVER WITH EASE SO I ALWAYS CATCH THEM IN THE ROUGHT STUFF AND I ALSO LIKE THE POLARIS LOCKING DIFF IN THE FRONT REALLY SEAMS TO HELP IN THE ROUGHT SPOTS SOMETIME IT GETTS ME IN WORST TROUBLE HEHEHEHEHE THEY ARE ALL GOOD ITS JUST WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR RIDE THEM ALL AND SEE MAYBE THAT WILL HELP YOU GOOD LUCK

 

Appreciate the info muddy, need as much clearance as possible also, mainly use this in mud checking sprinklers and chasing cattle around some pretty rough pastures where clearance is needed. This is probly gonna knock out the kawaasaki as clearance is lowest of them all. Also saw in another thread 500 HO`s are selling for around $57-5900, the deakler I talked to was around $6500 so if I go that way gonna have to do some dealin!

 

I dont drink, but someone get me a beer and an Optomitrist after reading this one[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

Never buy a polaris! Junk!

 

Another well informed opinion from one of the pillars of society.

We own 5 Polaris, not even one is junk. Whaddyaknow.

 

We have (5) 500 HOs in the family (2000 to 2002 models) and they are all top-notch machines. I highly recomend the 500 HO. Incredible mudder!

 

Going strickly by clearance, the IRS Cat's have 12" of it, tops in the industry. Put oversized tires on for more.

That said, I bet either Polaris or AC will fill the bill for you. Buy the one that you think will make you happiest.