Another quick question, with the Suzuki can you shift to 4X4 on the fly or do you have to stop and then switch?

Chris

 

Almost all quads, 2004 and newer, can be shifted on the fly to 4wd.
If you can, get some seat time on both, before buying. They are different enough, that this will help you decide. Have you tried the auto versions, or not interested?

 

the only problems I have with my polaris quads are the fuel pump went out on my 700 EFI within 11 miles. another problem polaris has is with them being automatic the automatic clutch has some noise issues at low speeds getting on and off the gas. other than that I have had no other problems with my polaris

 

Actually i've decided to go with the auto version, I've done a prince comparison/breakdown here are the results
.
The Sportsman 500 is the cheapest no extras out the door price, add a winch, plow and camo and it becomes the most expensive by almost $100. Financing is also a issue 4.99 for 24 months then 17.99%.

The Vinson 500 has a higher base price but camo is not extra, winch $69 and plow it comes in slightly cheaper overall price
.
The Eiger 400 with camo, winch and plow comes in $1000 cheaper than the above.

Suzuki has financing 5.99 for 36 months then 17.99% which I like better. The plan is to pay it off before it hit's the higher rate which would be eaiser to do on 36 months.

As it stands now i'm leaning towards the Eiger, I agree with an earlier post that it's the biggest bang for the buck. And i think it will more than satisfy my needs.

 

I also have a 2003 eiger and have to say I like it a lot, doesn't do anything better than the others but it does do everything well!
I bought mine because of the bang for the buck $4500 with winch, $5085 with warn 54" plow, and a windshield out the door.
I bought it next door in Montana "no tax!"

We have a ranch and use our atvs every day of the week, had a yamaha kodiak and put a pile of miles "like 10,000" on it in the 90s it was a great machine! Then we made the mistake of buying a 2000 polaris 500 ho, after one year we were more than happy to get rid of it! The thing had all kinds of stupid problems, I'm sure they are building them better now.

After that Polaris we bought a new Honda rubicon, this is one hell of a machine and most folks out here run them. I've seen a couple with 10,000 + miles on them.

I've went atv shopping with two of my friends this year "different times" and we went to every dealership to look for the best bang for the buck.
They both ended up buying the Arctic cat 400 for many reasons
these were some of the reasons

Price around $5,000 on sale
independent susp. front and rear.
ground clearance, as much as any of the big cc machines. And allot more than my eiger!
disc brakes all around
full gauges
choice of auto or manual
There are a bunch of good machines out there you'll just have to drive them!
One thing I like about my eiger is that I can easily go twice as far on a tank of gas compared to our rubicon and my friends 700 efi polaris "that thing is a GAS HOG!" I think he gets like 45-50 miles per tank.
I've heard of some problems with the vinsons tranny, you may want to search out that topic.
The hondas seem to be bullet proof, that new 450 rancher really is a nice machine "makes mine look like a bulky tank!

Well good luck!

 

With the eiger, it is not recommended that you shift on the fly. You should stop or slow down enough not to put a load on the tranny, then flip the switch in or out of 4x4. Great machine for the trails. The '05 went thru a cosmetic change, front end looks different (more like the vinson or a grizzly imo). Eiger suits my needs - durable, quick, good gas mileage, dependable, fun. Good luck.
joe.

 

I think your mistaken on the eiger, you can shift it into 4x4 on the fly as long as your not agressively spinning the tires. However you can't shift from high to low or back to high without stopping.

 

Let me just say I think you are making the right decision by going with Suzuki. IMO they make the best quads for the money. The Eiger can do anything and everything you want to do and has won many shoot outs in it's class. I own a Vinson and they have won every shoot out in it's class since they came out and are often compaired with the larger quads. I can tell you that you get this 500 can and will go anywhere the big monster 700s will. I think the extra $1000 is worth it but you will be happy with the Eiger too. The best part of the Vinson is that it's very sporty so it's like getting the utility part for free.

 

Outrage----------HAMMER+NAIL+HIT+HEAD OF NAIL= YOU SAID IT BROTHER


Has anyone noticed that alot of the 400 class shootouts latley have been leaving out the eiger? And I'm not refering just about the one that was removed for an electrical short, seems to me the only way it can't win is when it is not included.

 

Unless it is competing against a bombardier outlander.