Hey guys im new here and this is my first post... whithin the next month or so i plan on buying a new atv and i've narrowed it down to the sportsman 800 and arctic cat 700, i don't have too much experience with any of this atv's and was wondering if you guys can help me out. So hopefully you guys can give me honset first hand advice. A couple of things i would like to know is how the power compares, how the polaris awd works, how the comfort compares, how the handeling compares, etc.

Right now i can get them both for about 7500$ (cdn) and dealer support is very good from both manufacturers. (arctic cat is even willing to give me a free winch)I'm looking for something with decent power and handles good in tight trails but can open up in the straight aways because the trails i ride on have a litttle of everything.

May also consider other models as long as they are around this price range:7000-8200.

 

ive got the arctic cat 700 and can say that the polaris 800 i rode is a more comfy ride,the power to me feels about the same but with the polaris obviously having a little more. The inline twin 800 has got some power but it felt like it took more gas going up hills than the single cylinder 700, the cat feels like it had the torque needed. Polaris is faster no doubt and the plushest suspension. Ive got 28" tires on my 700 so handling is not as good,but im used to it so i dont notice much bump steer. Cat does have power steering also now. I think a 6 ply tire on any atv makes them handle better due to less tire roll,thats my opinion. My friend and i ran our bikes in the bighorn mountains in Wyoming (he lives there) and with the same tires (swamplites) the cat surprisingly did alot better in 14" of snow. i dont know if its the ground clearance,the full diff lock(i had it on,very steep and deep snow with deep drifts. regular 4wd would not make it),or what but he did say that he has never seen a machine run that well in the conditions we rode. I had passed him and was waiting for about 2 minutes. He had to back up and get a run at it several times. At this point we switched and after our ride he told me what he liked as well as me and he said when he turned the cat on off camber situations,it went that way, where as the polaris kinda slides on off camber trails. Them were his words, i didn't notice. So,to answer your questions, the polaris may be your best bet overall. Id try both before buying though,you may like something the other has or don't have. I bought the cat just because it had features i wanted on an atv knowing it wasn't as smooth and fast. good luck and sorry for the long post.

 

^^^ very good post. the polaris has a true awd system and does a very plush ride for sure. the 800's can be hard on fuel when you play hard on it. they also run a hotter then singles throwing alot of heat onthe right side.

 

The only thing I can add is that the Sportsman 800 (If it is 2005 and after) has a very nice storage bin under the front rack where you can store a ton of stuff.

 

If you bump up to the 850 XP then there wont even bee a compairison the XP chassie is miles better than the old one.

 

XP 850 is the way to go and I bet you could get one for $8,200 (may take some shopping).

 

Hey guys thanks for all the good info. i went to polaris and i can get the 850 xp for about $9000 (cdn), which is really good compared to the honda 680 which is $11000 and the yamaha 700 at $11700.

 

Man the 850 is a piece of junk, just look at the pics from west va in my post LOL.

J/K it has served me well so far as did the 800ho i had before, i dont think you could go wrong with either, as for artic cat, ive never had one so i cant comment on it.

the grizzly 700 is another solid machine that i would look hard into. it doesnt have any kind of wow factor like the 850 but it does hold up well.