For the last couple of months, I was looking into getting an ATV. I had my mind made up on either a Honda or Polaris. So I visited both dealerships here in El Paso, Texas. I loved the looks of the Polaris but was hesitant due to the problems that my brother had with his and all the greasing spots all over the quad. They were also a bit expensive compared to others that I had looked at.

So next, I went to the Honda dealership. My brother also had a Honda and swore by its reliability. The prices were better than the polaris also. So I had pretty much decided on the Honda Rubicon. Well guess what? While I was there, one of the salesmen suggested that I look at the Arctic Cat (never heard of it) and Bombadier. I liked them both so I went home and researched them on the net and looked through a few magizines that a freind had. Turns out that didn't like the Honda or Polaris as much as I thought I did. So I went back and looked at both of them again. Well the Arctic Cat had such a good deal going and due to its big gas tank (which I need in W. Texas), Ground clearance, suspension, ect. I went with the Arctic Cat 300 4x4. I probably shoulda went with the 500 but hey its my first quad and I can always give it to the wife later and get the 500 for myself. Since I've ridden it, these are my impressions.

Likes:
Runs Great!, Love the gearing choices, more power than I expected for a 300, Ran it through a HUGE mud hole after a rare West Texas drenching,...No Problem!, the single lever brake, selectable 2x4 or 4x4, LOVE THE RIDE/SUSPENSION.

Dislikes (or wishes):
wish it had a better high/low/superlow selector (in a different location maybe or with a more graspable ****), dislike the fact it doesn't have a spin off oil filter. wish they would spice up the looks a little more like the bombadier.

Overall:
I work for the U.S. Border Patrol and have lots of freinds that ride off duty and some on. So I've had the opporotunity to "test ride" Polaris, Honda and Yamaha Utility ATV's. I looked at what each had and didn't have and I can say that I am so far VERY happy with my choice of the Cat. Time will tell..

Oh, one other prob, When I open my quad wide open then let off the gas, it sometime backfires, I've heard that this is a jetting prob. I've never worked on an ATV carb so I'll have to take it back to the dealership which currently claims that they dont know what I'm talking about. we'll see..

Suboc
http://www.kingsnake.com/hudspeth
see if you can figure out what I'll be doing with my quad..

 

Suboc:
Hey, congrats on the new 'Cat! Sounds like you really did your homework before selecting, that's great. That way, you know what you got, and what the others had to offer at the same time. I was in the same boat before I bought my 'Cats. Was seriously looking at Polaris and Honda, didn't even know Arctic Cat made atv's. Heard about it on here, then looked at one, and was sold. Couldn't be happier with the choice.

Don't worry about that backfire problem, there's several guys on here who know an easy fix for it, hopefully they'll speak up here pretty quick. If I remember right, it was either the jets, or something about the muffler, but don't know for sure. I do remember most of the dealers didn't know anything about it either, but there are a few guys on here who do know how to fix it.

Best of luck, and hope it works out great for you!

Mike

 

The backfiring thing seems common to me. Just about every quad I ever owned did the same thing. Some more than others. That includes Honda's and Yamahas though.

 

Welcom subdoc:
I also am a new member to the AC family. Bought my AC Oct. 7th and have been extremely happy ever since. I did lots of research and was also sold on the Polaris and Honda until I accidently (maybe it wasn't such an accident) came across an AC. Until my 500 auto had over 100 miles on it it wanted to backfire after a long full acceleration period. After about 125 mi. it just quit doing it. Hope you have the same luck I did. Enjoy your new toy.

shmoky

 

I hope so I rode it today and it backfired around 6 times. I still like it though, just kinda hard to explain when you talk up how much you love your ATV and go riding with a bunch of guys on Polaris's (4) and one guy on a Honda and yours is the only one firing off warning shots. Oh well one of the Polaris's broke down. He was one of the ones ragging so I drove in circles around him while he was trying to figure out what was wrong with his polaris. He wouldn't hear of me towing him back, so he got one of his Polaris boys to do it. I did compliment him on the way back that his Polaris ran so smooth and didn't backfire the whole way back (maybe it would have if it was running). "Trash talkin with an ATV that fires warning shots" maybe it aint so bad...Seriously, I hope it stops. Jason

 

Towing is a funny thing. All I ever really rode with growing up was yamahas and hondas, with the exception of a kawasaki or suzuki once every couple years. The only instances that I can remember towing one quad or another was on account of a dead battery and we towed it from the carport to the garage to where the battery charger was. Thats about it. I've never had anything major on a quad break. Knock on wood.

 

I know 3 guys that got Cat 300 4x4s. Their only complaints were CV boots that weren't overly well protected. A set of stick stoppers cured that, though. I think the new ones are protected better.
2 of the 3 machines backfored as you described. They talked to the dealer who told them the most common cause is an exhaust leak, to check to be sure all the bolts & clamps & such were tight. They checked & one needed a little tightening, and the other quit after a couple hundred miles. We speculate that it was a tiny leak that eventually plugged itself with carbon from the exhaust.

 

Just got a 2000 AC 300 4x4 today. Traded my 1990 Ford Ranger for it. Hopefully I'll get to try it out next week during muzzleloader season.

2000 Honda 400EX
2000 AC 300 4x4

 

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal. Only reason I say that is that I only got like $4500 trade in on my last truck. Also a 1990 model, only it was a Silverado 4x4 with all options. Slick truck, ran great, but had 163,000 miles on it. The AC 300 runs around $4800-$5200 depending on where you get it. A 10 year old Ranger for that? Pretty good swap.

 

In responce to the backfire problem. I changed the filter to a K&N and installed a hotter spark plug on my 500 Man, It has not backfired since, on the smaller quads you might have to rejet. I have a jet kit in my 500 just because I could "hehe"

chuck