I have been comparing the Polaris Xplorer 4x4 and the AC 300 4x4 and I like the Arctic Cat. I can't find the MSRP for the cat anywhere though. Also, it isn't a major factor but will a 300 4x4 outrun a Xplorer 4x4.

 

No way an Arctic Cat 300 could out run the 2-stroke 250 Xplorer. 300 is shaft drive (Xplorer= rear chain) and weights alot more. 250 is alot more sportier cause of it's motor, trans, 2wd/4wd on the fly, suspension, and weight. The Arctic Cat is more for slower types of riding with realy rought terain, or more mud.

What type of riding do you do? That will tell you what to buy right away.

 

I do basically all types of riding, I do alot of mud, lots of trail riding in the mountains, and some high speed logging road runs. I don't do a lot of work, but I occasionally pull some logs out for firewood. I am almost positive the Cat is more expensive, but by how much? I ride with a recon, a trailblazer, a trailboss, a wolverine, and a warrior. I don't think either of the two quads I have been looking at will beat any of them on the logging roads but I am not worried about that. I have a limited budget, I want a 4x4 with decent power which is reliable and comfortable. Thanks. Any other suggestions?

 

Go for the Xplorer. The Arctic Cat will just embarrass you cause it will slow the others down. The AC 300 might ride a little better, pull more weight a good bit easier, but for you I think the Xplorer would be beter since there are other chain drive atvs in your group, and since you already own a Polaris.

 

The bike you choose is up to you, but I have no desire for a 300 AC. They are slow and underpowered 300 class bikes. Now thanks to the low range transmission you can get it to pull large objects. I have seen that done. I am not to familiar with the Polaris, but it will be faster than the AC. It will also be better in the mud with its true 4wd system.

 

I would recommend the Xplorer 4x4 out of my personal experience. It does not ride as nice as the cat, but is a whole lot sportier. I have never had any problems out of it. The only slight problem is the owner's manual being wrong about how to adjust the chain, but the dealer showed me how.

The CAT has a whole lot more body roll and was a pain getting that first oil filter off. That has to be the best thing about the Xplorer -not having to change the oil- I use the Polaris Premiun Synthetic Gold injection oil and have not seen any smoke after it gets warmed up and, It just stinks a little. I used to have a Trail Boss 250 and used the Polaris blue oil. That blue oil made the Boss stink and smoke almost all the time.

I have about 400 miles on it so far and have no complaints. The only thing that has had to be replaced on our CAT is the radiator fan. I hope that this helps and would reccomend the Xplorer any day for general riding over the 300 CAT (We used to have a '99 King Quad-- at 1200 miles, brakes, seals and bearings cost us over $800 to replace.)

 

I have a AC 300 4x4 and a Honda 300 4x4. The AC feels a lot slower then the Honda, but it isn't. I have drag raced them many times, and they are dead even. As a matter of fact you would think the AC was the slowest ATV made. I think the plush suspension, and it is a low rpm engine, makes it seem slow. It has great mid range power. It is very easily to lock the front end to have true four-wheel drive. I ride a lot with a Kawasaki 300 4x4 and a AC 500 Auto. Neither machine can out do me in the mud and I will out run both of them on the slow rough trails. The only time the 500 can out run me is on a smooth trail or on a dirt road. I am sure it could beat me in the hills, but we don't have to many hill were we ride. I have just over 2,000 mile on the AC and haven't done anything but change the oil. The brakes still look good. It hasn't been back to the dealer yet. Maybe I just got a good one, I don't know. One other thing the AC 300 only uses shaft drive to the front. The rear is enclosed gear, not shaft drive. MSRP was $5,100 I think I paid $4,400 or $4,500 for it in 98. If you are looking for a sporty machine don't look at an Arctic Cat, they don't make one. They make a good Utility Quad.

A two stroke Explorer 250 will have no problem out running a AC 300 on the road.

 

Thanks guys. I liked them both, I figured the AC couldn't be too much slower and I liked the speedometer and gas gauges on it too. I will have to take a closer look at the Xplorer I guess. Xplorer4x4, do you have any pictures of your Xplorer or know where I can find some. The only pic I have found is on the Polaris site and it is just a side shot. Thanks.

 

Sorry, but I don't have a digital camera, but their is RAMMER, who has a 250 Xplorer4x4.
His pics are @ http://photos.yahoo.com/tedlisa
You might want to also check out ATV Connection's 2000 Polaris model line in the Quad Specs section.

 

Well guess what I have both and can tell you honestly about both of them because I think both are not of my true desires.The explorer 250 4x4 will flat out run the AC 300 easily my wife does it all day long but only from a stopped position we run side by side in the open washes here in Arizona and both quads are almost the same top speed also the explorer whips the AC 300 on dead start hill climbs ,cant even begin to explain how sorry the AC is on that test the AC usully takes a good runway to make enough speed to climb loosely packed inclines.However the explorer is merely a budget 4x4 and that is what you get .The suspension bites, the chain bites, the exaust is horrible(leaks,pops,burns the hell out of your leg)the motor is a budget 2 stroke 25inchs is the biggest tires it will turn remember 2 stokes lack torque and thats what it takes for big tires and mud.Also no gauges,minimal cargo capacity and carrieng 2 stroke oil everywhere also sucks.Now the AC 300 is my choice for trail use because of all the atvs I've ridden which is probly all of them nothing still is more smoother than the 300 with its 4 wheel ifs also remeber the 300 is easily true 4wheel drive with about a half hour of modifications but its all free no need for after market stuff.I personaly cant recommend eaither one of my quads to any other, my father in law is new to the sport and wanted me to recommend him a quad and I shot him over in the magnum direction and he loves it so far.do what ya gotta do but if I could do it all over again I would save another thousand and purchase something in the 400cc 4stroke area like the Prarie 400,or the magnum 425,or foreman 450.Anyway let the bashing begin!