P500 Honda Pioneer 500, 2017 Gear Improvements!

[Montecresto]

I agree, not my grass I worry about because I don't drive on it. But I have a mile of gravel roads on my ranch that I meticulously maintain and I hate that my P5 is constantly breaking the gravel loose which then washes in the rain causing increased maintenance efforts. My PoPo that people love to hate doesn't do that, like a car, it has one wheel drive mode. At least Honda has that on its other brands.

 

[Admin]

 

[trigger]

I agree, not my grass I worry about because I don't drive on it. But I have a mile of gravel roads on my ranch that I meticulously maintain and I hate that my P5 is constantly breaking the gravel loose which then washes in the rain causing increased maintenance efforts. My PoPo that people love to hate doesn't do that, like a car, it has one wheel drive mode. At least Honda has that on its other brands.

I run on some grass, just straight through the yard though, so that doesn't really bother me.
Monte's right, it does do a number on the gravel in my driveway. That's where I load and unload. Just dragged it again 2 wks ago.
It would turn tighter/easier in turf mode too...adding to its already nimble characteristics. Better mpg maybe?

 

[gatorguy]

I want to throw something out there re: the low P5 top speed-

Since the P5 is more a workhorse like the Kubota RTV, TS gator etc, 40 mph is like a god send. What I really like is that I can go 25 just idling along in 5th compared to being WFO on a Kubota. We have an RTV-1120X on the ranch you need ear muffs at 25 mph. I know 40 is nothing compared to RZRs and the like but compared to other "utility" SXSs its like light speed.

 

[Montecresto]

I want to throw something out there re: the low P5 top speed-

Since the P5 is more a workhorse like the Kubota RTV, TS gator etc, 40 mph is like a god send. What I really like is that I can go 25 just idling along in 5th compared to being WFO on a Kubota. We have an RTV-1120X on the ranch you need ear muffs at 25 mph. I know 40 is nothing compared to RZRs and the like but compared to other "utility" SXSs its like light speed.

I could not agree with you more. That's my favorite speed in 5th, so long as it's relatively flat. Besides, I'd hate to see the poor soul that wrecked a SxS (short as it is on protection when compared to modern vehicles) at 60 mph.

 

[gatorguy]

I was a little worried about the low top-end of the P500 when I was researching before I bought mine. We have had 6 Honda fourwheelers over the years and none of them had a speedo. I grabbed my GPS and drove through the woods and realized I'm normally cruising around 25 mph. Once I realized how easily the P5 does that speed I was sold. There's a guy down the road from me with a Kawasaki Mule and I can hear him coming a long way before he gets to my property because that thing is wound up something fierce going 25.

 

[HondaTech]

I was just skimming through the parts fish for 2017 model and can't for the life of me figure out how the auto trans will work. I consider myself very mechanically inclined but I don't see anything different between the '17 and the '15-'16 models. I was expecting the dct from the Rubicon but don't see anything resembling that. In fact the engine is pretty much the same as last two years. I'd love to see how Honda shifts this thing in auto mode without using the dct, I mean there is no valve body, solenoids or anything. HMMM.....

 

[rocmar]

What is this turf mode?

It's a button you push
so you crawl on the
lawn...golfcart mode

 

[sthomp54]

I was just skimming through the parts fish for 2017 model and can't for the life of me figure out how the auto trans will work. I consider myself very mechanically inclined but I don't see anything different between the '17 and the '15-'16 models. I was expecting the dct from the Rubicon but don't see anything resembling that. In fact the engine is pretty much the same as last two years. I'd love to see how Honda shifts this thing in auto mode without using the dct, I mean there is no valve body, solenoids or anything. HMMM.....

Thats interesting. You gotta think its not gonna be real smooth. They must be using the throttle position, rpm, speed, gear indicator, etc to have some sort rudimentary automatic mode.

 

[JTW]

Thats interesting. You gotta think its not gonna be real smooth. They must be using the throttle position, rpm, speed, gear indicator, etc to have some sort rudimentary automatic mode.

I hope it's not a turd!

 

[JTW]

I was just skimming through the parts fish for 2017 model and can't for the life of me figure out how the auto trans will work. I consider myself very mechanically inclined but I don't see anything different between the '17 and the '15-'16 models. I was expecting the dct from the Rubicon but don't see anything resembling that. In fact the engine is pretty much the same as last two years. I'd love to see how Honda shifts this thing in auto mode without using the dct, I mean there is no valve body, solenoids or anything. HMMM.....

Maybe that's what's taking so long to get them out.. They haven't figured it out either!

 

[sthomp54]

I hope it's not a turd!

Well worst case you just flip it to manual and it will be the same as a 2016 (or close)

 

[Montecresto]

I hope it's not a turd!

How much longer before you get to bring it home??

 

[JTW]

How much longer before you get to bring it home??

They keep saying it should be anytime.. The salesman "assured" me it would be in before the end of the month.. I'm not holding my breath!

 

[JTW]

Well worst case you just flip it to manual and it will be the same as a 2016 (or close)

No.. It better work and work well!!

 

[Montecresto]

They keep saying it should be anytime.. The salesman "assured" me it would be in before the end of the month.. I'm not holding my breath!

I'm growing impatient myself just wanting to know if it's an improvement over the first two production years.

 

[Montecresto]

No.. It better work and work well!!

You mean you think their stringing him along?

 

[JTW]

dealers get notice at least a week or two in advance of the expected shipping date, then again when the unit is shipped.

My understand is that they've been notified.. But waiting on the actual ship date.

 

[JTW]

You mean you think their stringing him along?

I'm sure they are to some degree.. The issues is the Honda is the closest thing that's out there to what I want. The wolverine would be great if I just trail rode. But that's just not the case.

 

[HondaTech]

Late October/ Early November is the earliest we'll see any '17 models. Honda pushed atv/sxs delivery back because of production issues.

 

[rlutech]

I was just skimming through the parts fish for 2017 model and can't for the life of me figure out how the auto trans will work. I consider myself very mechanically inclined but I don't see anything different between the '17 and the '15-'16 models. I was expecting the dct from the Rubicon but don't see anything resembling that. In fact the engine is pretty much the same as last two years. I'd love to see how Honda shifts this thing in auto mode without using the dct, I mean there is no valve body, solenoids or anything. HMMM.....

The '15-'16 P500's probably have all the hardware required to make it shift automatically. They probably just had to create a shift program for the "auto mode".