I currently have a 1993 Honda 4trax 300 and love it. But want the ground clearance and "independent rear suspension" as well more horse power, with liquid cooling. I have found a new leftover 2003 Arctic Cat 500 for a decent price. Anybody help me out with "pros and cons", recommend, not recommend? Not to familiar with Cat ATVs, done some research about the machine, like what I have learned, just want to hear from some owners. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Its a great machine with plenty of power and reliability. It is not fancy by todays standards (to its credit) just a good workhorse of a machine. IT has standard gauges, manual 2wd-4wd shifter not fancy, but reliable. Brakes are good, suspension is good, tires are ok. 2003 AC's do have an axel issue I would recomend a extended warrenty because of this problem. In 2004 they redesigned the axels to make them stronger. For price and versitility Arctic Cats are hard to beat.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

hey diktok, did you get your new axles put in ?

 

I have an 03 500 and it is a great maching. I have mostly used it for hunting. I have climbed over a lot of rocks, logs and stumps and it has been a wonderful ATV. I am more than pleased with its performance. I have beat on that machine and I have not had any trouble. Go for it you will be happy with with a 500 manual.

 

I have a 03 500 manual and i love. 550 miles and no problems at all. The dunlop tires are quite useless whenever the going gets a bit muddy though, i plan on getting a set of gators this summer and that should fix tht problem.

 

I saw an 03 today that somebody bought, put 85 miles on, and traded for a 650. Brand new pretty much, and they want $4900 for it. Makes me wish I was needing a quad.

 

Excellent machine.. Get it if you can. When Ac built this one they had off road branded in their minds. Il ove mine and would in no way trade it for the 650. The onlu reason i would even consider the 650 is for the locking in and out diff. Which now you can add to the 500.

my 2 cents worth.

good luck
cat

 

No Fireman they are not here yet. I hope they come tomorrow. They were ordered on Friday morning and went out UPS two day delivery, but with the weekend and shipping to Fairbanks I hope I see them tomorrow.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

Thanks a bunch to the responses, I am going Friday to work the deal. just talking on the phone, he quoted me a price of $5550.00, still in the crate(03 500M), so will be another week until I can pick it up(when I can get back down to the daler on my day off). After shopping around, this sounds to be a good deal. Any ccomments on that? Thanks again to all that responded. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Happy Quading!

 

Guess what, after talking with the dealer, wheeling and dealing, for a cash sale, he came to terms on a 2004 AC 500 Manual with the MRP for just $265.00 more than the deal on the 2003 500. I was ahh struck, picking it up this Thursday. We are to get 6-10 inches of snow here in the central part of Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Wish I had it now! I will have to plow with my Honda 300 FOURTRAX for the last time. Can you say "excited"? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]