I have both the 2005 500 ho and the 2005 700 carb. The 700 idles smoother being a twin, I don't find it any noisier. I like the pulling power of the 700. Not much price difference. Bottom line :The 700 was only $324.00 more than the 500. I bought them at two different dealers about a month apart. The only thing I am concerned with is the heat produced by the exhaust pipe on the lower rt side on the 500. I may have to build an additional heat shied or something. It gets hot on the boot. Because of this alone I would probably do 2 700's if I had to do it over.

 

I don't have much to say here b/c of all the posts, but I do know some figures for the 500,600, and 700. The SP500 makes 38hp and 33ft.-lbs of torque at the crank while the 700 makes 45hp. I don't know how much torque it has, but the 600 makes 25% more than the 500 resulting in 41ft.-lbs of torque. If the 700 makes more torque than the 600 then you get the picture of how torquey it is. Good luck on your decision.