from the time i owned my 1st polaris sportsman 500 i fell in love with it..it was a 96 and she finally blew the bottom end after 23000 miles yes 23000..thanks molile 1...!!!!! so i have been lookn around for a used sportsman 500ho or bigger and came across a few artic cats.. i have a few guyes i ride with that ride cats and they love em... but they aint gettin through what i get through....look at my profile pics to see the 96...so anyway i found a sportsman 500ho in my buddies atv repair shop that a guy wants to sell Asking $2500 its a 2000 and it will be a fresh motor top to bottom...everything Polaris brand.....plus my wheels and lift snorkles plus the clutch kit will all fit....so does the cats have true 4-wheel drive????? anyproblems with the 2000"s????

 

any-one???

 

It's my understanding that the newer Arctic Cats have a push button locker to fully lock in the front end like Yamaha and Suzuki have. Beyond that I'm not sure. From what I've read here and in other places the Polaris has it beat in ride, has a little less ground clearance, and is heavier. Hope this helps. You might try your question in the Arctic Cat forum to see what they say.

 

The Artic Cat are excelent machines but they have less power (coparing 500 to 500) and do not have the smooth ride of the Polaris. They do have a locking front end and they are very capable off road. If there were not a Polaris available I would certainly buy a Cat. If you buy a Polaris 500 get an 01 or newer! The 01 is the first HO. A huge difference in power over the 2000. You will recognize an HO by decals and steel braded brake lines.

 

IMO -- Doesn't the 23,000 tell it all?

R'