Is this the next
"Battle of the Titans"?
I can not think of another machine
which deserves to be in this class.
The review on the new AC500 auto
on this site is glowing in it's
praise.
Ponder this:
1. The Cat is lighter
2. The Cat tranny is better,quieter
3. The Cat is cheaper
4. The Cat reputation for quality...
Wow, Polaris has a new challenger????????

 

If you missed it, heres the link:

https://atvconnection.com/templates/...arcticcat.html

 

Really,
I thought the reveiw sounded more like an overdone advertisement. It was one of the worst since I've been on ATV Connection. I'm sure the Cat is a nice machine. There was absolutely nothing in the review that you couldn't get out of a manufacturers brochure. How about actually weighing the damn machine??? Maybe do a 200 yard run and post times??? Okay, lets get really crazy and hook it to a dyno!!! Naah!!! That would actually require doing some serious testing. ATV Connection isn't the only ones guilty of this. I haven't found an ATV publication yet that test these machines and provides any useful information.
Scott.

 

AMEN

 

OK, that sounds reasonable.
However:
tranny noise is tranny noise
braking options are a good thing- being able
to add rear wheel braking is a POSITIVE
engine breaking was "impressive"
Dry weight-648lbs- would they fake it?
4 stroke , 4 VALVE, liquid cooled, 493cc
engine- at least it is not a Honda where
they may call a 203cc engine a "300"

 

Don't forget, the Arctic Cat also has more torque and it is geared lower so it should be a beter worker/puller.

Arctic Cat 500, Bring me a Sportsman so I can do a REAL shootout.

 

Don't be too quick to offer any challenges boner. I own a 500 AC myself, but that doesn't mean that I think it will beat a sportsman in a shootout. Maybe a few years down the line it might still be running where the polaris will be completely new on account of everything that had to be replaced on it, but Don't get cocky with two brand new machines. I got the cat because it looked tougher, felt more stable, and it was built to last. In a shootout, I'll say this. The Sportsman will be faster, rides smoother, turns narrower, and will be the magazines choice every time until the Rubicon arrives. A three year torture test might yield different results however.

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

 

Andy,

If you read something by me, there will always be some little joke behind Arctic Cat 500. Just do a search of my post and you will see. I was just joking about my shootout.

I must also tell you that even tho the Sportsman does all those things better, it is still $400-500 more. So the shootout would not be to find out which is better at those things, but about how much is all that extra stuff worth?

Arctic Cat 500, (joke goes here) Smokin!!!

 

This comparison is destined to have the
Rubicon added to it.
SP500,CAT Auto, Rubicon. What a pleasant
choice of three feature filled machines.
Now if we only had user tests, facts,
and real owner experiences to read and
learn from...

 

This reliability thing slays me.I don't know about the quads but last year my buddy a die hard cat rider(snowmobile)We went to toggotee Wyo.second day out he blew the engine,froze up solid.500 miles on it,took it to dealer in Dubois,he said he knew of 7 more samething had bad bearings in them.He rented a ski-doo we almost got afull day out of it before it fell on it's face.Something about a little clip coming loose and get in the piston and screwing things up.The mechanic said that wasn,t the first one,he knew right away what it was.All this time I'm riding my trusty POLARIS with no problems,there were at least 8 polaris in the bunch narry a problem.
LATER COB

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