Whitetail, I just wanted to say I'm glad you decided to stick with an American company (even though some of the "parts" are not American) Wee need to keep as many bucks in the USA as we can.

Chris

00 Explorer 400

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I live in Northwest Arkansas and there are two dealers within a 70 mile radius of each other. Here's my story. One is 10 miles away and is owned by a friend of mine's dad. It is a tractor dealership. I knew I could get a good deal there. The other is 60 miles away and is a boat place. I went to the boat place to test drive the 99 500 last october. They had this big dirtpile out back that you could drive on to test stability and stuff like that. Off Cambers and short steep inclines mainly. I drove it and loved it. The guy told me $6850 with winch installed (it was $100 extra during last years promo). They charged $50 to install the winch and the butthole said they wouldn't let you have a winch unless they installed it. Well, I hadn't planned on buying from them anyway, not to mention that the MSRP on that bike was $6450 at the time.

I called up my buddy and he said he could get me one at their cost plus whatever freight they had to pay. I don't know totally for sure if I got it at cost or not but it was an unbeatable deal. I paid $5450 plus $100 for the winch out the door. I called them a week earlier not saying who I was to see what they really got for them. They said $5900 or $6000 with the winch. I figure I did ok.

Thats why I figure $5600 is a good price. If the Automatic is only 200 more than that, and it happens to be the one you want, you should get it. If I were buying, I would get the regular 500, but thats not because of the money. I would get it if it were the more expensive of the two. I like a manual better. This is me though. Like I said, whichever one suits you best, you seem to have a good price on either.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Whitetail,
Its hard to shift when someones legs are right next to your foot on the gear shifter.
I ride double all the time and its a pain shifting gears.

 

BenA. was right, but I find that when you ride double you have to sit father up that normal. With you sitting farther up on the seat it makes it very uncomfortable to shift.

Try sitting in a chair, with your legs farther back than normal, then try to rock your foot back with your heel touching the floor and your toe off the ground. Thats the fealing of shifting with a passenger.

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Arctic Cat 500, Not your average Kitty, The New King Of the Jungle

 

Good point's; that was something I didn't think of.

Last night, after a couple Johnny Walker Black's, I told my wife what I was going to do (asked permission) and she was all for it (well... not entirely!). I should have my AC 500, either auto or manual, next week. YEAH...YEAH...YEAH!!!

 

Good for you whitetail!
i remember how excited i was when i got my brand new AC home

 

Whitetail, I guess it is a little harder to shift the manual than on other manual bikes with a conventional shifter, but its not a major problem or anything. The difference is like the location of the cassette player on a 88-94 chevrolet silverado. Its a little out of the way compared to the location of some cassette players, and you have to reach over a bit more to put in a tape while driving, bu all and all, its not what you would call a problem.

The biggest difference about manual shift bikes and automatics is that the ease of operation will go to the autos, while the durability and gear control goes to the manual. There is no automatic made that can crawl down a steep hill as slowly and predictably as a manual tranny in first gear. Doesn't matter about low range either, because a manual in low will have better engine braking than an auto in low. Belts do slip from time to time, and wear out as well. They don't do it as quickly or as often it seems nowdays, but it is something that can happen. Neither will ever happen with a manual shift. Its like - you figure with the automatic it may happen, but you don't count on it ever doing it. With the manual, its not something that even applies. Thats about the only major differences in how they perform. The manual is a more reliable version, though I figure the automatic is pretty well put together. I just didn't care for the automatic when I got mine. Of course, the only automatics were polarises, praries, and grizzlies at that time. You may like the automatic better yourself. Its just personal preference really. I don't think you could get either one, and later wish you hadn't.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

AUTO vs. MANUAL shift, it is not just ease of use. The engine breaking down hill may not be as good with the auto, but, the test they did here on the connection said that the Auto Suzi. was better than any thing so far. Now the two major advantages I see in having an auto, would be in mud and climbing hills. An auto should keep you in the power band regardless of the situation ie... Enter the mud in too high a gear on a standard and your gonna loose momentum if you try to down shift, climbing a hill is the same way you would have to stop on the hill to down shift if needed. The auto should self adjust for these situations. Also, shifting with two riders is a problem on ANY manual shift (mine Kawi. 300 4x4). I will say that from what I READ it is hard to be in the wrong gear for the Cat 500, because of the awsome power. I personally plan to buy an AC 500 but am undecided on auto or manual shift. I will look closely at the water proofing of the auto. I have not considered auto's in the past, but the "Cat is a Whole Different Animal" ie... Constant contact belt- less wear and hesitation, bearing on the outside of clutch - less noise. Good luck whatever you get, don't be too quick to decide...RIDE 'EM

 

Too Late !!! I bought my Arctic Cat 500 MANUAL shift yesterday! I've got to pick it up on Saturday.

Now I have two more questions:
1. Do these atv's come with an owners manual? The saleswoman said she couldn't find one in her file and didn't think they came with one. Dosen't sound right.

2. I need a trailer. Is there anything specifically I should be looking for.

 

The owners manual is under the seat. Pick It up and look on the botom side of the seat.



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Arctic Cat 500, Not your average Kitty, The New King Of the Jungle