I am leaning toward the Cat.
They need to refine the gas gauge,
2wd/4wd lever, shift lever, and
maybe spiff up the instrument cluster.
Maybe Polaris could develop a transmision
like the upcoming Rubicon.
Honda could add all disc brakes and
2wd capability.
The Cat is closest to my idea of
mechanics, needs some tweaking...

 

The AC seems more rugged. Looks as though less things (little things) will fall off of it over time than the Sportsman.

Sportsman seems to have better performance features. Turning, acceleration, ride comfort.

I always looked at the AC as a faster Honda. Its not as soundly built as the honda, but it comes closer than most. The polaris has a more comfortable seat, but it looks like the seat cover would get tears in it quicker. Polaris needs to do something with the battery location as well. Its just too out in the open. Arctic cat needs to lighten up their steering some. Nothing steers as smoothly as a yamaha in my view though. Polaris also needs to beef up its front A-arms. They are too thin and the little thing holding them on is cheesy and weak.

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

 

Boner-they are both better than what I have! I have the 3WD Honda. That is why I have a winch. I get stuck, but I can get out and go on.

 

Just thought I'd add a little something. Let's keep this thing going as long as possible.I bet that arctic cat is one tough kitty.
BushHog
'99 Sportsman 335

 

With cat droping the watercraft,maybe they will put thier money into QUADS,they haven't done bad no longer than they been at it.Ea ch time a manufactor comes out with something new that means the others have to at least keep up we are the winners, look at the choices that we have now compared to even a few years ago.

------------------
THE FORMER CORNCOB2

 

Damn, if Boner gets another first on
the page post I may just poop my
pants!!
We must be getting close...
Let's see... I like the Cat red better
than Polaris yellow.
The red is much faster!!!!

 

Sh*t the bed wide awake! We almost have 200 posts on one topic. Just 4 more to go.

I went by the crappier of the two AC dealers today to check out a few of the 2000 models. I could see from the hiway that they had some new ones. All that they had before that was 250s and 300s. They have had 1 automatic for a while, but nothing else. Well, they had a couple regular shift 500s in and about 3 automatics.
I checked out the big price tag sitting on the front rack of the 500 autocat that was in the showroom and it read $6,799! I almost fell over laughing. $6,800? What in the hell is up with that? I wonder if they ever sell any and if they do, who the stupid fools are that pay that much. About 60 miles down the road, they have a dealer that sells manual 500's for $5800 all day long, and I don't think that they will ad on another grand to the price for an automatic tranny. Remember that this is the same dealership that quoted me $6,850 for a 99 AC with winch back in Oct. of 1998. I took the trip south and saved about a thousand bucks myself.

$6,799 is absolutely ludicrous!

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

 

I'm thinking that maybe the next guy to post here will be the guy to boot it to six pages.

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

 

Okay, 197 posts. Which is it--AC500 or SP500?

 

Andy - $6800 does seem ridiculous. My dealer told me the MSRP on the Auto was $6589 or something like that. I bought mine for $6300; the Theif River Falls, MN dealership was selling them for $6200, so I didn't think I was doing too bad. The Sportsman and the Honda 450 ES were 2nd and 3rd on my list, respectfully. So far the cat has been a good machine for me.