Bertam,

I thought you were done venting? heh heh heh

 

I can't speak for the 2002's or the 2003's and for that matter IRS but I ride with 11 others who own Cat's. Everyone seems pretty happy although the newer ones seem to have more problems (ie, the recall's, boot tears, tranny is out on my friends 2003 400i that is being replaced by the dealer who lent her a 500i Auto in the meantime). I have to admit I get a little frustrated because Scottie's 98 454 can beat the crap out of me on the pavement although I think some of that has to do with the skill of the driver. On the trail speed doesn't matter and I go wherever I want to go. My stepson complains that he wants a Warrior but I point out to him that he has pulled his buddies Warrior out of the mud too many times to count plus pulling him back to camp after he has flipped it 3 times and it was not rideable (it has cost his parents a bit of change to fix it too). I doubt he would want to drag a deer out of the woods with a Warrior either.I love my Cat's, they rock!

Oh and by the way this "Forum Rookie" is too busy riding to spend much time on the computer shooting the bull.

 

I've owned my 2001 500 auto since December 10, 2000 and I have yet to have a problem. The only thing that doesn't work is my speedometer...but maybe that is due to flipping the cat end over end. That has a tendency to do break stuff. I've only read a couple of replies and one that caught me eye was one about the 500i mistreating its owner. I usually follow a rule of thumb when buying a new product. Let it age a year or two before buying it. That way the product can be truly tested and tweaked. Test riders and maufacturers cannot do an adequate job of testing their products because they don't put the products through near the hell a buyer does. I know hindsight is always 20/20 and me saying this is no consolation for people that have already purchased a new product.

I'm just a native Texan and this is only my opinion. I'm not inviting a slam or anything. Maybe there are others that feel the same way...but then again I may be wrong.

Texascat

 

I'm not much into bashing, your atv is only as good as you make it, IRS or not. I noticed that someone said that all the axles broke were on Honda’s and had bad bearings, well all I’ve got to say is not true. I've broke 3 cv joints, and replaced 2 more and broke 2 rear axles with in 10 months. The first time I'm not really sure it was a bearing problem cause the bearing was not rusty nor looked like it had been worn. the second time the bearing had nothing to do with it. it was still on the axle and would spin freely. The source of all these broken axles/cvjoints I blame on the 28" vampire tires that I was running and the lift kit and the way I ride. I have now sold my vamps and uninstalled the lift kit. and have no plans to ever install a lift kit for anyone again......

Pictures of my broken rear axles http://www.rubiconland.com/adventure...ics/brokeaxle/

the weird thing is that both axles broke in the same spot at the very same angle..

Now about IRS, I would own a IRS but only to take trail riding, For mudding I’m going with straight axle. I have noticed that once a IRS gets struck in mud its stuck, sure you can try to rock it out, but from what I’ve noticed rocking only rocked the body while the wheel's did not move a bit.
Sure in ruts your going to go the best but there to what does rocking do. all you have is a atv that is hugging the rut it's self, there is no way to teeter a rut with a IRS its like trying to see-saw with a broken see-saw it just don’t work... only plus to a IRS is its smooth ride, and G/C. But like I told my Dealer when he said I road it too hard, "Do you think I prissey 4-wheeler just shine it up so it can sit in the shed, NO, I bought it to RIDE"
...........Ride ON........ www.RubiconLand.com

 

Yeah, I sold the AC a year ago after I got the 660. I liked the 500, but wanted something with IRS and speed (and differential lock of course), and there wasn't any sense in keeping 2 bikes so I sold it.

As far as regrets, no not any. There isn't anything that AC could do that my Grizzly can't, but there are things about it that I do prefer. As far as a comparison goes, stock for stock the AC is more stable. Built a lot more sturdy too. If I had to guess which one would hold up better under abuse, probably the AC. Rear driveshaft seal was about all that ever really went wrong on mine that I didn't play a part in. Blew out a front CV from the inside out, but I blame it on the lift kit.

The independant models are unreal looking. From just looking at it, it seems that the 500i has the same clearance in the rear with stock tires than my 660 has with 27" tires. Wide stance looks like it would hold sidehills real good as well. Won't win many races, but then again who the hell races these thing for anything other than a pissing contest anyway. I think I would get more satisfaction out of going through something somebody else couldn't than I would from outrunning them.

I like the 500i, but I would rather somebody give me a manual shift 660 or a Rincon with diff-lock and disc brakes.

 

Andy,
The only thing A/C does not have is the locking diff.

 

<< Bertam,

I though you were done venting? heh heh heh >>




I'm never done venting when it comes to my quad, wheneve I read about it, it gets me going. If its any consilation, I do find my 500i fun again with the stockers. I'm just wondering if a rear axle is going to break on me again, I just have a feeling that it will.

 

Bertram,

Ahh don't worry about breaking it, just think positive, ride, and come here and vent!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Well, on paper that does sound about right. It doesn't have the locking differential, but also doesn't have near the acceleration or top end of the 660. Doesn't even come close on turning radius or steering ease either. Also keep in mind that IRS also counts here, because they hadn't even spoken of a 500i when I bought my 660. It had only been out for a couple weeks itself at that time.

 

I own a 2001 AC 500 manual and there are two things that i didn't care for. One thing was it is VERY unstable on side hills and off camber terrain. The other thing is the "one wheel" action that you get with any limited slip quad. I solved all the problems and got a 02 Prairie 650!
I think most people have the impression that the praire is just a sporty trail machine, NOT TRUE! The prairie will go through stuff that IRS machines couldn't because they would tip over. This is due to the low center of gravity. I'll shut up now because this is supposed to be about cats![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]