I am looking to buy a new fourwheeler and have a interest in the new Arctic Cat 500 4x4 with standard tranny. All I will use this unit for is to hunt and do a few chores around the house and the camp. My question is "How dependable are these Arctic Cat's are they a good choice?" I would greatly appreciate any responses and any advice. Good riding and good hunting!!!

 

I have a 2005 500 auto and it has been very reliable. Needs a little more power in my opinion, but more reliable than my Kawasaki or Polaris was. The manual will help with the power issue I'm sure. You will be happy with it if ya get one.

 

I have owned 2. A 300 4x4 and a 400 4x4. Both of them were ridden very hard for years with no mechanical failures. I am going to sell my 400 and either buy a 500 manual or the new 650h1, I havent made up my mind yet. I would say AC's are very dependable, and there have more ground clearance, suspension travel, towing cap. ect. ect. than other brands. Buy a Cat.

 

I would love to have the new 700, but its too rich for my blood, will have to make due with my old 2005.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

id have no proplems with mine and I beat the heck out of it. Just change your oil and keep your filter clean. I love the manual.

 

Ive got a 05 400i and I LOVE it. Its an auto, but I'm lazy and I prefer it. I tell this story all the time about quality of the Cat... Last year i was on a Sunday ride (lazy slow day), and was going up a hill. I got some speed going and the trail which was unfamiliar to me zigged to the left. I didnt have time to make the turn and left the trail onto a steep part of the hill. Before i could do a thing it rolled (ANY machine would have) downhill. I couldnt go anywhere but with it and landed right below it as it rolled over me. Thank God the handle bars landed on one side and my box on the other. I took the padded part of the seat across the back and layed there and watched as my brand new AC rolled down the hill over and over and over. About 5 rolls I think (no less). Anyway it landed upside down. When I caught my breath and assured my buddies I was ok to stand up (looked pretty bad) we checked it out. I broke the bead on the 2 downhill tires, but could find no other damage. We rolled it back over onto its wheels and let it sit for a few minutes whjile I checked everything else out. My box (aftermarket) blew apart and my handlebars were a LITTLE out of straight (barely), but that was IT. OK I had a couple of nicks on my front and back racks (nicks!), but nothing else. No cracked plastic, no bent anything. Anyway, after about 3-5 minues of sitting there, I thought I might as well turn it over and see if it starts. I really didnt expect it to. I hit the starter, it cranked twice, and fired. Ran like a champ. Needless to say, both my quad and me had guardian angels looking out for us that day. I dont think I'll ever buy another brand of quad. It ALWAYS starts, no matter the weather (I live in Montana). It cranks more on some mornings, but always starts. Ive got well over 1000 miles on it now 1300 I think, and no problems. And I've ridden it pretty hard through all KINDS of terrain. Mountains, high desert, streams, mud (deep), everything. I've drug Elk, Deer, and Antelope with it, and several other quads too (I wont mention any names, COUhondaGH, COUpolarisGH). Anyway, as you can tell....Im happy.