Originally Posted by
Rock Doctor
Hey Max, can you enlighten us on this comment? It's not that I doubt you, it's just that I can't think of anyplace that a Frontier will go that a Responce or Conquest won't. I also don't know of anything that a Frontier will do that the older models can't do. About the only differences I can think of between the two's abilities is that the Frontier has slightly more centerline clearance under the tub, and the older Conquests and Responces are built out of stronger body material. I think they are all good machines, but in no way does one blow the others away.
RD
I agree they are all good machines and each one fills a different need. I'm glad someone asked for details because I have had many experiences where performance was greatly different between the vehicles. The tires and lower body make the biggest difference, followed closely by the transmission. The Conquest and Response came standard with the 22" Runamuk tires with no factory option for a more aggressive tread. We had no luck with the Argos outfitted with the Runamuk tires. It's difficult to even drive out of a pond with any kind of steep bank with those tires. I've had to turn the vehicle around in the water and back out. Even then it's a 50/50 shot if you'll make it or not. Embarrassing for an amphibious vehicle, to say the least. I have climbed the steepest pond banks you can possibly climb with the Avenger and it just blasts right out. Upgrading the Conquest to the 24" Argo tire helps a lot but you still have the lower body problem to stick the vehicle.
Look at the lower body of the Conquest, on each side there is a vertical ledge in front of the chain wells. That design catches mud and ruts and stops it cold. Now look at the Avenger and Frontier. The body flows smoothly all the way under the vehicle and the axles are pushed all the way out to the edge, so the tires catch land before the body hits.
Then you have the transmission. When the Avenger came out in 2004, I was disappointed to find Argo built a whole new transmission and it was still a differential (not true AWD). I hated it until I tried it, then I wouldn't drive anything else. First thing you'll notice is how quiet it is at all speeds. Many Response/Conquests I've drive have a trans that is louder than the engine and I'm not exaggerating. Then you get the Avenger in the mud and when you stay on the throttle, all wheels spin. Driver input is rarely needed when you keep the throttle up while it's nearly impossible to keep all eight turning on a Conquest. Try this easy test: raise a Conquest and Avenger completely off the ground. Put the Conquest in high and give it some throttle. More often than not, just a difference in resistance from the chains and bearings will cause only one side of wheels to spin. Hit the throttle and one side spins wildly while the other is in neutral. Now do the same with the Avenger and hit the throttle. All eight spin and it's very hard to stop one side. Sure it's still a differential (that's how it steers) but it keeps all eight spinning a LOT better than the old trans. Combine that 'feature' with the improved shifter, better brakes/steering, and silent gears and it's a winner.
I could go on and on describing real world situations I've been in with both vehicles but that would take all night. All the Argos are well built and each model does it's own thing well. In today's market, the '04 Conquest will sell first over the '08 Avenger simply because the Avenger is double the price. The Conquest will take you almost anywhere you need to go. As my nickname implies, I'm a Max man at the end of the day so my standard for off-road performance is high. 
Everybody dies, but not everybody lives.
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