Update; I decided on selling my Ranger 500 (which I never really bonded with) then ordering a new Mule Pro MX EPS in green. Cleaned up the Polaris, put it on Craigslist Tuesday and it sold the next day. Then was informed the green MX now wouldn't be in until the end of November. When I told them I can't be w/o a side by side for month or more they said I could have the red Pro EPS LE (which comes with roof and allow wheels) for only $200 more. Well I had my mind set on the green, didn't really like the red, and didn't care about alloy wheels, but they ended up discounting the LE more (over $1,000 off MSRP) plus a free windshield (and no fees), so I'm now the proud owner of a new Mule Pro MX LE.
So far there's a lot I really like over the Ranger.... it 700cc liquid cooled single runs better, smoother, and quieter, and the Pro MS rides even smoother than the Ranger, which itself rode well. I know it's a small thing but it just sounds nicer. Drive shafts, U-joints, and the entire suspension components are more substantial looking. Has lots of storage, tie downs in the bed plus the side rails. And a true 4wd with independently selectable 4wd, hi-low range, and diff lock. The Ranger's diff had to be locked before it could go in 4wd which I never liked, plus in 4wd the front wheels didn't pull at all unless the rears were slipping, which made for squirrelly handling under some slippery conditions.
The MX has two independent sets of high/low beam headlights one halogen the others LED, tilt wheel, power steering, power outlet, and as mentioned the LE version includes the roof. I haven't run it to top speed but it's said to be 45 which is plenty fast for me, most of the time I'm on trails in low range anyway. For anyone looking for a midsize side-by-side I'd at least look at Kawa's new Pro MX series.
