I think everything is personal preference. I just got back from Hot Springs ORV park and had my nearly stock 700-4 deluxe on a badge of honor trail behind 15 jeeps. The trail was called Snake and is considered one of the easiest Badge of Honor trails but recent rains had a lot of washed out areas exposing tough. steep, rocky areas. We just happened to be there at the time the Fun Run was going on and got behind them. I am glad I did because there were some tough areas that the jeeps had to be spotted and they did the same for me. When you are behind a bunch of nice jeeps and they start having to be spotted and spinning tires and there is no exit, it can make you a bit apprehensive. I made it all the way though that trail. I wish I had pics but my wife said she was hanging on so hard her arm was sore so she couldn't take any pics 😕 Some of their guys were taking pics so am hoping I will be able to find some of them posted one day. The 700 was impressive. All that I need. Plus it is the right size to fit on my 10 foot trailer. I have watched videos of others on Snake and recognize the spots that were problematic but they looked simple and not near what they were when we went through there. Even the jeep guys said it was a lot tougher and would classify those areas as a 3 or maybe even a 4 in some areas. There are a lot of nice SxS out there but for me the 700-4 is it. Depending on what you do it may not be for you. You can always get yourself into situations where you would like more ground clearance or more power. I think that is why they make turbo SxS with TONS of horsepower and people put HUGE tires on so many of them. I heard several at the Fun Run saying they needed more and the next step may have an LS motor in it. I do have a small lift kit on mine but could have used more ground clearance. Going down steep hills caused the front to nose down lessening the ground clearance causing me to bottom out at times. Front shocks do seem to be a bit soft. I can fix that. The pioneer is a utility vehicle and is why they make the talon. To me it depends on the tasks needed performed to shape your SxS choice. I have a friend with a Yamaha Wolverine rmax4. That's a nice ride too. A lot out there. Sorry for the length of this but good luck in your decision.
