I just bought an Arctic Cat 400 last year. 4x4, auto tranny, more ground clearance and suspension travel than any other 'wheeler. For a little over 4 grand, I don't think you can go wrong with a Cat. I have absolutely no complaints about mine. They all have their pros and cons, so it basically comes down to personal preference. I just use mine to scoot around my 40, a little bit of work and a little bit of muddin'. I checked out all the others, and figured the Cat was the one that best fit what I was looking for.
I know fourother guys that bought Cat's the same time I did. They are all pleased with what they got as well. One guy got the 500 2-seat model, another got a 500 and a 400 for his wife, and the other 2 guys got 400's.
We all got them within a few months of eachother, and none of us have had any problems.

kevin 1
i don't know if you can get one with a new atv now or not. sometimes they run promotions offering extra equipment. I got my wench on the deal i made with the dealer not suzuki.

the rancher 350 4 wheel drive is a fine machine for $4900.

3.5 wheel drive*

With 4 wheel engine braking,light weight ,great fuel efficiency and super reliability.

I drove my uncle's 450 Kodiak this spring and was very impressed. The differential locking feature is excellent. Low range comes in very handy while going down steep hills. A great quad with lots of power and a much lower price than Honda (in prices I have seen around here. not sure if it's the same elsewhere). I don't have a lot of experience with other quads, but this one is IMHO the best mix of power and features without being too heavy or too expensive.

Yeah, I have a Kodiak 450 and love it. Like you said, it has all the goodies for
a decent price.

So I decided on the Honda Rancher 400 AT 4x4 after checking them all out. They list for 5999, but the guy at my local dealer says he'll work with me on the price. What is a good price for that ATV?

Also, and I'm sure I'm opening a can of worms here, what is the deal with the 3.5 wheel drive comments?

The honda quads use a limited slip front differential which does not lock solid.It does not provide quite as much traction as a locking differential but it is easier to steer.I always change my tires out to more aggressive aftermarket tires like gators or mudbugs. Between the better tires and the lighter weight of the honda,my machine sinks less and goes through just as much or more than the overweight polaris machines.The rancher 400AT and the rubicon also provide some the best 4 wheel engine braking available due to their hydrostatic transmission.Since the polaris design requires the rear wheels to slip before the front wheels even engage they only provide two wheel engine braking.