I was about to sell my 1998 500 Cat to get a 2000 auto untill I started reading some of these post in here. The owners of the auto 500 seems to be having quite a few problems with their machines. I'm comparing that information with the problems that I've had with my machine (NONE). I have 500 hard miles on mine, with 27" Vampires and a lift and never had one problem. I also have two friends that have the same year models and they have never had any problems with theirs either. It seems like the newer models are not getting any better to me. Don't get me wrong I think Arctic-Cat makes a great machine or I would not have bought one. After a lot of researching with owners and different dealers the Cat was my choice and I should say a very good one. I live in Alaska and snow plow with mine all winter, I'm talking we got about 8 1/2 feet of snow this year so its used very much. We hunt in the mountains pulling 500lb meat trailers up the mountains never had a lack of power. I guess what I'm trying to say is it has been a great machine with NO PROBLEMS AT ALL! It has proven itself to me.

Take care!

 

A 98 with 500 miles,,,you have been taking great care of it.
Most AutoTrans will have problems, it's due to the belt-drive, The new Honda tranny is diffrent lets see how it holds up.
Myself, I love the manual trannys, esp when in the mud and pulling loads because their is nothing to slip.

 

I Just bought a 500 Auto Cat yesterday. My son just traded in his Trailblazer325 Polaris on a
425 Expedition 5-speed. We kept my 325 Magnum 2x4 for my wife. Well last night one thing led to another and the next thing you know it was time to Drag Race! Purely in the interest of science of course. Well, I really expected the 5-speed to beat the AutoCat, especially with a 65 lb. 12
year old aboard (I'm 210) but the AutoCat romped
on the Expedition repeatedly, and with me on the
Expedition, and my superior shifting ability (HA)
the AutoCat creamed. We put the well-worn 325
magnum against the Expedition and the Expedition
naturally won, but by surprisingly little. Now
these are new machines and they will get faster,
so I would expect that margine to increase, but not between the EXP. and the AutoCat. Point, Automatic transmissions Do get the power to the ground. Silly Later Fourlix

 

So far I haven't had any troubles with my 00 500 auto cat. But I will be sure to find out more when college is over. I love to drive wide open, putting the atv (or anything for that matter) to the max. And so far the auto cat has impressed me. And if it ever rains I will have the chance to ride through some mud and really test it out. And if it acts the same in mud as it does is snow I will still be pulling my buddies out.