I cant say everything about the Viking is perfect... but Yamaha has un-matched reliability in the atv/utv market, IMO.....My previous Yamaha ATV just would not die.. and I mean that.. that is what made me get one...My brothers 09 Ranger 700XP with approx. 3500 miles on it has had more ball joints, bearings, bushings replaced in it than anyone that hasn't owned one would believe, and he doesn't beat it,,.. Again I think in certain areas the Ranger outperforms my Viking (this is from my experience),.For me it came down to reliability. But I would buy my buggy again just for the sake of it being a Yamaha and they are Bulletproof.