I'm happy with my 99 yamaha kodiak.If your going to have oppurtunity to ride in steep incline areas I would recommend a quad that you shift so as not to accidently roll it over.An automatic could apply to much power and could possibly flip backwards.
possible but more controlable if manualy shifted.I can put mine in 1st gear and run full throttle with out worring about goosing the throttle or going any faster .With the auto if you feel it loosing power and goose the throttle which could cause it to rear up is what I'm referring to.Just my Opinion as I ridin both types and was able to get front wheels off the ground easier with the auto.
that is just completely not true. u are 10 times as likely to flip with a manual transmission. the automatice transmission doesnt have the sudden jerk of the wheeler like a manual does because u dont need to shift. the jerk is what flips u. i can stop on a steep hill with an aute trans and then ride right up it but if u have a manual u better plan on putting some sand bags on the front rack or ur goin over. [this is with a clutch wheeler]. if u have an auto clutch/manual shift you still will flip if u try to shift up or even down when going up a hill. seen it happen thousands of times. that is why everyone i ride with all have auto wheelers.
anyway ill throw in a vote for the polaris sportsman 500 H.O. regardless of what people have said they are the meanest out there. not too big but not too small. it has a pull start and electric where the bigger sportsman models dont. polaris makes the most durable wheelers. JMO which i have come to after riding all the brands out there.
if u decide not to get a sportsman make sure u get a wheeler with on demand TRUE 4wheel drive. not the 3 1/2 wheel drive most quote on quote 4wheel drive wheelers have.