Hooligan

Any year YFZ is good if you can do a few modifications, like (for example) the oil mod for an 04'.

I asked the guys on yfzcentral (good...great place for yfz specific/tech info) about replacing pistons/rings every 15-20 hours, which I heard somewhere, and it more or less turns out to be BS. Maybe if you are a pro racer with nothing stock on your machine, but not for us average riders and racers. One dude had an 04 and his internals "have never seen the light of the outside world".

Of course, every year there are advancements that ultimately lead to better quads. I have an 07 and love it. I do routine maintenance, did a few mods, and just run the p!ss out of it.

I'm not pushing you away by any means but check this site out. The ATV Zone

Almost everyone on there is from that area of the country.

Yep, most of them ride RAC land near the former Rausch Creek track. TONS of coal trails and piles to play on. What part of NY are you from? I used to ride a state forest down past Harrisburg, but it's really not that great for us sport quad guys.