I bought my "01 500 auotocat in August. It's in the shop for the 3rd time. This time the shift lever came apart. The dealer is telling me a spring it needs is on back order, the same thing he told me when I dropped it off.......Feb 20th!!!
I'ts really frustrating to sit here watching my neighbor give his kid a ride on his '91 Honda 300, with a gazillion miles, that he says he's NEVER had a problem with.
Thanks for letting me blow a little steam.

Otis
(I wonder if my local Honda dealer has any Rubicons?)

 

Hey I know your feelings.Let me tell you what I did and it worked for me.
I called Arctic Cat and explained what my prob. was and how long I have been waiting, and that the machine you just purchased is in there shop(give location) and ask them if this is how Arctic Cat should be represented.
Tell them to overnight the part to you or the Dealer. This worked for me and I hope it does the same for you. The squeeke wheel will get grease.
Good luck..

 

Well Otis, at least you realize the error of your ways. Get rid of that Arctic Cat now, go down to your local Honda Dealership and beg for mercy. Ride red baby and you wont be wasting your time venting on this forum...

2001 250 EX
Colorado...You wish you lived here

 

What were the other problems that you had? Is there a dealer in princeton? I purchased mine in St.Cloud last Nov. So far I have no complaints at all. Hang in there, AC's a good machine. LOL. P.S. Anywhere to ride around your area?

 

Well I was having the same problem getting parts from one dealer(glad I didn't buy my cat from them). I waited 32 days and they dealer kept saying "All our parts are on back order, it's Arctic Cat's problem, not ours. CHeck back tomorrow".

Well I finialy told them to give me my money back and I went to another dealer. They got the parts over night. IF AC was having a problem, why could this other dealer get parts overnight then??

IT'S THE DEALER. If your dealer sucks, so will your bike. So if you have to sell the cat to get a good dealer, do it. It don't have to be a Honda to be a good bike. A dealer is one of the biggest things about reliablity. They are the ones who check on your bike before it is given to you.

So I recomend you find another dealer and ask them when they can get you the parts. Then if they can get the parts faster go with them.

 

I agree with Boner. The parts problem is the dealer.

I own an Arctic Cat Pantera 580 and order parts when needed through Century Motors in Stillwater, MN. I am constantly surprised when the phone rings and somebody on the other end says, "your parts are in." At times it is within 2 days and I know they are not overnighting the parts. 3 days seems to be about the average. I once asked them how they did it and they said the parts orders were placed daily.

Your dealer's parts department needs a tune-up. Also call Arctic Cat customer service and have your serial number handy when you make the call. That is the first thing they ask for and will not talk to you if you do not give it to them.
Good luck.

 

I got a price from my dealer today on the springs. They are 15.95 for the rear springs and 39.95 for the shocks.

 

"Never had a problem" I seriously doubt it unless he never rides it very hard, not to bash but I have owned allot of atv's and if you ride them , sooner or later they will need a repair. I havew a problem with people who atempt to tell me they have never hada problem.

 

I agree with you totally xe.
Talking to people who own Honda's (more than any other quad) they always stress how they never have a problem. Hang around with them for a few months though, and you notice that tis or that needs to be replaced, the same as on any other quad not created by divine inspiration. The only difference is Honda owners try and keep it quiet.

A good dealer can really make a difference, and a bad dealer can ruin your expirence with a quad. Most people shop around for the lowest price, and never think about service. Some people will make 5-6 hour round trips to save a couple of hundres bucks, but in the long run it never pays off.

 

thenewwfiebullet,
I agree everything breaks down at some time. Nothing is perfect.
I also agree about the service end of the dealership. I was in to my local dealership asking for a write up to take back to my bank. While I was standing there a guy came in to inquire about his quad they had repairing it. He just plainly asked if it was done and they told him "no". He then asked when it would be done. the dealer got real short with him and told him she didn't know. the guy was a little persistant and tried to pin her down on a date. She really got rude and plain flat out told him when it was done she would call him and not to bother calling her until she had notified him it was done. Here I am standing there watching this whole thing as they are in the middle of giving me a write up. I told them I had better think about it a little more and I left without. I went home and called a couple of the other local dealers. I spoke with the general manager at another dealership. He was totally cool. He told me to come up and he would show me around his shop. He also told me about how well qualified his mechanics were and that they could repair anything. Needless to say I am buying my 400 from them.
Price isn't everything. Service is the only thing that keeps you coming back.