Hey Yama,
Where do you go riding that Griz of yours? I grew up in Molalla and went to high school there till my junior year. I used to live on Sawtail road. The last time I was up there all the logging roads were closed for the most part. All the bypass trails that I used to know have overgrown or been trenched.

 

I've had water up to seat and no slippage at all on the Kodiak. There could be many variables why the Kodiak slipped including going to fast, splashing too much water. Any belt has a possibility of slippage in too deep water, but the advantages of auto clearly outweigh manual drive in my opinion. The griz has to be fast but the looks, size and weight of the Kodiak suit me better. The parking brake is a revolutionary idea on the Kodiak, is it on the griz also? I was posting "no hunting" signs and the park brake was invaluable. I could pull up to a tree on a hill with the bike at a 75 degree angle. I put it in park and it LOCKS all 4 wheels and won't budge. I could step up on the front rack and post the signs high and then back right out. The racks didn't bend at all at 189lbs.

2000 kodiak 4x4 beige
2000 warn winch
Excavators
alum rear skid
98 Ranger ext. cab 4x4 off road, 98 Explorer 4d XLT's

 

The Grizzly parking brake is just a lock for the rear drum hand lever. If its in 4X4 it'll pretty much lock all four. However the Kodiac I believe has it built into the Hi/Lo/Reverse selector like an Auto in a car. I like that idea better but for the extra 600 bucks I picked the Grizzly regardless. Similiar body style and 50% larger engine displacement was all I could see. The bigger the better, isn't that universal?? At least in guys mind Either one is a great choice.