guys im looking into getiun a new atv and need it for hunting and off season work, like planting food plots and mowing and stuff around the house.just need sopme advice from you guys im new to the fourms so be easy on me please, Hahah!

Thunder cat towing cap...1050lbs...
850 XP towing cap...Hitch Towing Rating 1,500 lb.
Unbraked Trailer Towing Capacity 1,914 lb. Enough said IMO...lol.
Seriously for a working and hunting machine I really dont think the Thunder cat even come close to compairing. Granted I haven't owned one..that is the problem with trying to get a real life comparision...how many people on the forums have owned both? Looking just at the specs,and having owned an 850XP...I can tell you you will not be dissapointed at all...unless you just have to have the biggest cc motor on the market. The XP is made to work almost as much as its predesessor Sportsman...and when you are not working/hunting you can go ride it like a sport quad for fun. Sorry I can't give you more detailed info...as far as I know the only thing the Thundercat has on the 850 is off the line acceleration WHEN TRACTION IS GOOD due to being lighter.

I can't comment on the XP's but I am a former Cat owner. Nothing like the new 1000cc, lol. But they really are both great machines, really! I was sold on the Sportsmans when it came to the ride and its true AWD! Both machines have really nice accessories for hunting and utility but I can tell ya as a 800 owner its alot of bike! In fact too much sometimes. Seems like the XPs great qualities are all the improvements on it predecessor and EPS!

Keep in mind your budget, ride and handling, service reachability/support, aftermarket products etc. You may find really good deals now or upcoming months with end of year models. Best wishes on your decision! Not trying to sway you but you would be in good company with lots of XP-Sportsman's fan here and our Forum is the best (that much yes I am biased!)

Cheers,

R'

Only thing I would add is that the fuel mileage/usage on the XP850 is fantastic for its size. I've heard not-so-good things about the thirst of the Cat. I ride with a guy that's got Sportsman 800 and he always uses more gas than me.

IMO the best thing you can do it try to go ride both or at least look them over real well in person,then come and ask specific questions you have about each in both brands forums...

Test drive them both, then decide. My dealer sells both, and told me I'd love the power, hate the handling of the 1000. I dislike AC's trail manners, having ridden a few of different vintages. Besides, the 850 makes 5 more HP than the thunderkitten. The XP is a very refined ride, and I doubt a thundercat could keep up when the trail gets twisty. My buddy's 08 700AC sure can't.

Here's a real interesting video with the Artic Cat, everyone campares the Can-am to the 850 but no one even mentions the AC.
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I think HO will like this video

Oh ya and NO the Can am didnt beat the XP in a drag race.........its a optical illusion

The XP-850 rides and handles like a smaller machine which I find is great. I don't think the Artic Cat is capable of that. Physical size is too big on the AC. Just my 2 cent's.

Vid didn't load for me. If that is Stephan's vid(XP,Outty Cat comparo in Germany)..I've seen it. Cat gets out of the hole pretty on pavement...that is about the jist of it for the Cat.

Let me just say first off, I personally believe the Outlander 800 and AC are a tad faster and quicker than the 850 XP, but that is the worst race video. None of them even bumped the tires off the ground at all. There is no way that there is 1-3 quad lengths between them in the first 100 feet. I've seen Brute forces take Outties much better than that, and we all know the 850 is faster than the brute all the way through. If it was a Renegade, I would believe it a little more.

Yes, HO, it's the quadjournal vid from a long time ago.