Oh forgot to mention, I bought my Honda Rancher 350 4X4 this last October for $4,299, new, was a 2003 close out.

St Helens Bull

NONE. If it isn't 4WD it aint $hit!

4X4 Rancher manual
4X4 Big Bear manual
4X4 Arctic Cat manual
All of these are pretty much bullet-proof rides.
IMHO.

Have to agree that if you are planning on using ground engaging equiptment plow, harrow, tiller... get the 4x4

ATV pulling power
 

I've 2 Yamahas. 1 a 350 Big Bear 350 with full time 4X4 and the other a Kodiak 400 also a full time 4X4.

Essentially the same except for 2 notable things, the engine and tranny. The engine diff is obvious, but the trannies arn't. The Kodiak has a Hi - Low option.

Now, I married a gal with a small ranch in Nebraska, and I put in feed plots for deer, turkey, quail and phesants, at first I attempted to use the 350 BB to work the ground (it hadn't been tilled for years) and had great difficulty. The wife suggested we try the Kodiak in low :) The diff was obvious, in hi it pulled much better, in low it was awesome.
Our neighbour down the road tried out his 500 2 wd Suzuki and it didn't cut the mustard (ground:( )
It's your choice, but if your'e going to plow, and work dirt the 4X4 with a hi/low gearbox is the ticket. The additional cost will be worth it in the dirt, on the trail and at trade in time.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH A 2WD!!!!!! REPEAT, DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH A 2WD!!!
I bought one and the first ditch that I wanted to cross the damned thing was not even close to the task. Took it back and bought a 4WD model and have not looked back !!!!!!!

P.S. Stay the hell away from auto's. Go for the real gears that you get from honda, arctic cat and other MANUAL trans!!!!!! Belts are nothing but trouble !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honda 4 wheelers suck man. You need a new one real bad. I think u should get a Yamaha they kick ass un like Honda. Sooo get one.

I have a Honda 300 two wheel drive and have never found a ditch I couldnt cross. It has been run hard in some of the roughest country on the east coast since 1996 and the only maintainence has been oil changes and plugs. but then, sometimes its not the bike, its the driver.

I wouldn't bother with a 2wd. If nothing else, a 4wd will be easier to sell some day. Aside from that, a 2wd is liable to have trouble pulling a heavy trailer (and you WILL load that sucker up from time to time). I recently pulled a heavy trailer with my 4wd Yamaha Big Bear 400 and had a hell of a time until I realized I had it in 2wd. Even in 4wd I had some trouble getting up a hill. Of course, all those ruts, tree branches, wash-outs, and patches of loose dirt didn't help!

Point is it takes a whole lot more traction to pull a trailer when the ground is uneven or there's any kind of depression or obstacle like a branch or something the trailer tire has to climb over or out of. It won't take much to make you wish for a 4wd.

A lot depends on what you intend to do with a four wheeler. I have a 4wd honda and use it to pull my trailer and to plow snow and wouldnt want a 2wd for those tasks but I also ride in the mountains and my 2wd is definitely easier to manuver and easier to get unstuck than the other heavier bike. 4wd is definitely a plus if you are selling. I would hate to think how little I would get for the 2wd especially since it shows its battle scars from swamps, rock bars and a couple of roll overs.

2X4???? get at life !!!!

come on down and ride with the big dogs

Hey rubicon, ( or Turd Herder ), don't even go there. I have owned
4X4's ever since they came out. My current count is ;
1 '00' Honda 400 Foreman 4X4 Manual trans
1 '03' Cat 500-i 4X4 manual
1 '03' Honda Rubicon. (which I consider a Manual trans because
it is hydro-static and not a "piece-of crap belt".)

P.S.I have over 7800 mi on the Cat with out a lick of trouble.
I am one of the big dogs. I've been riding these things since
day one. Not to mention, I have also been a MN state Instructor
for ATV Safety for the past 11 years. Keep barking up the the wrong tree !!!!!
I warn my students about peple like you.

edited due to inappropriate content

WAT IN THE WORLD IS THE POINT OF HAVING A 4X2 FOUR WHEELER ARENT THESE THINGS FOR NOT GETTING STUCK