I am thinking about buying a 99 500 Cat 4x4and was wondering what other owners thoughts were on this machine? also does this machine have a limited slip front axle. I cant find any reviews that go back to 99 so any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

The diff is a limited slip I belive. The old machines are low on power but are solid machines. It will steer hard since it's a full time 4x4 and the limited slip front. There is a member her with the name tricat that knows allot about the older machines, hopfully he'll chime in.

 

i say if its not beat to crap buy it you'll love it, if it doesnt have a winch get one, it makes the front end look a lot nicer, too much of the wire mesh for my taste otherwise

 

I had a 99 500. Its not low on power. Its low on speed maybe, but definitely NOT low on power. Top speed on a GPS is maybe 52mph. Low end torque is amazing. Can't say for sure, but my AC500 felt like it would outpull my Grizzly 660. Maybe its the auto tranny or something, but the AC didn't seem to lug down as much with 27" tires in high range.

Has a limited slip front end. Good in mud, not as good in loose hillclimbs. Machine is the most stable of any I have ridden on sidehills and uneven terrain. Including my 660 with aftermarket rims and tires. The 99 model steers pretty heavy unless you have 8" front tires. It came stock with 26x10.5-12 tires all around. Titan 495's. They didn't help the steering any, which is why 99 is the only year they were offered with that quad. Good solid machine. Only problem I had was a rear driveshaft bearing went out, and the same thing happened to my uncle's 98 454. That wasn't too bad. Had it for 3 years and 2000 miles. It was a solid machine. Still have pics in my yahoo photos of it, and I found a site that sells gorilla axles and they had even used one of my pics on their website.

99 AC500 was a tank. Very very solid.

 

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, computer problems.

Can't really add much to Andy's reply. He hit the nail on the head. The old cats are TANKS and GREAT Quads!!

I have ridden the new ones and they are nice but they don't have much over my old 454! IMO. So I keep ridding it. Plus it's PAID FOR!!
I have upgraded to a new style fuel tank and put a King Quad front diff in, 26X9.5 front and 26X12 Rear outlaw radials and she is one AWSOME machine!! Both my 97 and 98 have been trouble free!!! And I am NOT just feeding you a line.

The newer machines have allot of fancy stuff but when it comes to brute strength, theirs nothing like an OLD CAT!!

And PLEASE let us know what you decided.

 

many "Thanks" to everyone for their replys concerning the 99 500 cat, with endorsements like this I believe I will buy it, This is the type of "Real World " usage that a buyer really wants read. By all means if more readers have thoughts-Pass them on.
Thanks
ELG1