I didn't get a chance to read through all the comments but just wanted to give you my take. I live in southern Idaho too and compare my style of driving to be similar as you describe. I had a 2015 700-4 and really enjoyed the machine. I really only had 2 problems with it. I never had a problem with it making it up anything I wanted, heck I even hauled a whole cow elk in the back with 3 very cramped large adults in the front up a super steep snow cover hill, but I was always nervous trying to make it back down a hill/mountain. The machine would hold 1st gear and try to keep a reasonable speed but many times it was over 10-12 which was a little more then I would like to go. I was constantly on the brakes and would usually apply the hand brake to help with the speed. I have a steep hill just outside of town that I always wanted to go look from and I'm sure it would have made it up fine, I just dreaded to come back down. My second complaint was the locked rear differential. We live in a small town and use are machine alot in town. The pavement just tore up the tires and made me fill like you were going to break something while turning. In 2018 we upgraded to the 1000-5 and have been so much happier. The extra gearing and high/low subtrans has been exactly what I wanted. I don't have any trouble going up or DOWN the hill I was talking about and the turf mode is great in our little town. A friend of mine picked one up 6 months before I did and he's pushing 4500 miles. He's finally starting to look for new tires and he drives it everyday around town. The extra gearing allows for a much quieter ride. The 700 shifts into 3rd about 18mph so anything over that has the engine reved pretty high. It will do 45 but it is screaming. I usually take my 1000 down the highway at 40 at it is barely hitting 4000 rpm. It is just a much more enjoyable ride. If I wanted to do this with the 700 I would limit it to 30 because I didn't like the high engine rpm. If you are questioning the difference, I would definetly take a serious look at the 1000. Where in SE Idaho are you? I live in Richfield which North of Twin Falls. Hope you can find what you want.
There is noticeable increase in leg room, because the seat sits taller and the extra width gives more room on the sides. It is a little cramped with 3 people up front but when it 's just 2 you have alot of room. The biggest notice is belly room behind the steering wheel. The friend that I ride with was set on a 700 until he tried to drive mine. He is a little heavier set and just had trouble sliding in and behind the steering wheel. He tried a 1000 in the show room and said that's the one for me. Mine was a 2015 and so the newer ones are actually harder to enter because of the bigger safety bar by your hip. Just my 2 cents.
I thought the new safety bar would be a pain, but I actually don't even notice it. The 700 is tight on knee room, though. I'm 6'1" and about 270, and I fit fine...but much bigger than that, and it'd be an issue.
Thank you for the info. I bet Moab will be a blast. That is on the list of places to ride once I get a ride ... Haha.
Those were awesome pictures! Looks like an amazing place to ride.@ByronM just did the silverton ride with his 700. Maybe he can chime in as well.
Wow, thank you for sharing that. I am assuming the 700-4 will do probably 90-95% of what I need it to, but that 5-10% is what has me worried. I mean, why pay all that money for something that can't do all it needs to?
Then I think the answer is obvious.
Perhaps I am in denial...
Yes...the 1000 sells much better. I saw maybe 2-3 700's over the course of the next year after I bought mine. I started seeing 1000's almost immediately.
