Should I avoid 1st year of new Cat???

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dickmsp

New member
Same proven engines, but should I wait till 2013 cats come out??? Example, polaris rush 1st year soaked up big bumps, but rode crappy in stutters.. 2011 is a completely different and better suspension... '09 cats changed steering geometry.. etc.. doo updated XP's every year.. Too bad sled manufacturers don't offer 1 year leases!! What have you guys had for 1st year experiences? Am I driving myself nuts over nothing? Or are my fears warranted..
I have heard guys on here say they don't want to pay $12,000 to be a guinea pig!! Then what happens next year when chassis is upgraded and we have new tech engines to pick from?? Wait another year for engines to be perfected?? Is this why a lot of you guys are still riding the old body style sleds??
At this rate, I'm driving myself crazy... its gonna be tough trying to drive anything in a straight-jacket!! Help!!! LOL
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
dickmsp said:
Same proven engines, but should I wait till 2013 cats come out??? Example, polaris rush 1st year soaked up big bumps, but rode crappy in stutters.. 2011 is a completely different and better suspension... '09 cats changed steering geometry.. etc.. doo updated XP's every year.. Too bad sled manufacturers don't offer 1 year leases!! What have you guys had for 1st year experiences? Am I driving myself nuts over nothing? Or are my fears warranted..
I have heard guys on here say they don't want to pay $12,000 to be a guinea pig!! Then what happens next year when chassis is upgraded and we have new tech engines to pick from?? Wait another year for engines to be perfected?? Is this why a lot of you guys are still riding the old body style sleds??
At this rate, I'm driving myself crazy... its gonna be tough trying to drive anything in a straight-jacket!! Help!!! LOL
Click to expand...

Hard choice to make for sure. I was thinking about the new Pro climb M1100, got a quote from Rexburg Motorsorts on line (just a ball park figure, will not buy from them) for the new M1100 (600 class sled), and a new RMK 600 155. The RMK is 1200 dollars cheaper. Also, cat is not doing any demo rides. No way in heck will I drop this kind of money down on a sled I cannot ride first. No matter how fricken cool they look! LOL.
 
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mrfirecat

New member
You're driving yourself crazy. lol. I guess the way I look at it is that there is always going to be improvements made every year. At some point you just have to jump in and buy a new sled. In general though, I would have to say that the last year a particular sled model is made is probably the best year. All the bugs have been worked out. The problem is that by the time the last model year comes around this particular sled is old school and ready for to be replaced with a new design. So I guess you have to ask yourself if you want reliablity with an old design or the enjoyment of riding a brand new sled design and possible minor problems. I'll take my chances with the new sled design. The new 2012 Cats look sweet.
 
favoritos

favoritos

Well-known member
It is a tough decision. They have brought working components from various sleds and put them all together in one package. The skids are all carried over from the F, CF, and M series. The front suspension is essentially a modified Sno Pro from the race sleds. We know the motors work. The steering is more simple in design than the existing sleds.(except for the HCR and a couple of Pro Climb sleds that have the vertical and telescoping post)

I think there is a lot to love with the new lineup in the more efficient drive system and lighter weight. It is still not an easy choice.
 
srt20

srt20

Active member
If you need a new sled, then maybe. If you want a new cat because you think they are cool, then heck no. But like you said, no new motors, and cats motors seem to be pretty good right?

I highly doubt I will ever buy a first year new model ever again and heres why, 03 F7, 03 Rev, 03 RX-1, 05 Fusion, 09 Polaris 800. Now Im not saying all of those sleds are junk, but we all know that all of those sleds had more problems than the following year for each of them.

If your current ride is to old or has high mileage, then maybe??? But if your happy with your ride, and its not all used up yet, Maybe ride it another year and let cat get all the bugs worked out.

Just my opinion, for whatever its worth.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
Skylar, I am looking at the 600 RMK Pro also. Here's. A pic from Polaris west. It is so sweet. I got some out the door pricing. Montana does not have a sales tax on sleds.
 

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polarisrider1

New member
Sorry about the high jack. They could not sell me that sled (I tried). It is a demo for the sled expo this coming week. They had a 360# guy take it out to torture it and it ran flawlessly. They said every bit as strong as a Poo 700. I was told after the show Poo will pick it up and they smash them into scrap.
 
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dickmsp

New member
Demo ride would be the best way to check the sleds out.. I went on the Yamaha demo ride last year with the power steering, beautiful machines, awesome engines, but I'm 6'4", and sled is still a little low for me and a little stiff on the ride.. glad I rode it before I plunked down $15,000 for a snowmobile... I went on the Polaris demo ride this year, and I was impressed with the 2011 Rush and the 2012 switchback adventure.. I rented a 2010 Rush last year for 2 days, (the first year of the Rush) and while the suspension handled the big bumps well, it had a bad ride in the smaller stutter bumps and was all around way to stiff for me. 2011 Rushes have a new suspension and have a nice ride.. I would really like to ride the new cats before I make a decision.. even then, what will they discover the 1st year consumers ride the sleds... I'm not brand loyal, I'm in my 8th year snowmobiling and have owned all 4 manufacturers sleds.. I have a 2011 Z1 now and a 2011 f5, and havent even been able to ride this year till feb 23rd.. still breaking in the Z1, and I like it, steers good, engine is better than I thought it would be, but i still can't figure out how to get the ride a little softer... F5 has base shocks and has a cushier ride than the Z1. I also like that engine too. corner to corner, it takes off better than I thought, still breaking that one in too, havent held it open yet to see top speed... these two sleds are at the height of refinements I would guess, how many years will new cats or other sleds take to perfect?? I suppose the logical thing would be ride these two for 2 or 3 years, then decide, but the new ones look like great machines.. I gotta make sure i don't get caught up in the hype and make a decision I'll regret later!!
 
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dickmsp

New member
srt20, Good God!! all those 1st year sleds you bought were very troublesome! I'm suprised you still snowmobile!!! Hopefully you've found a reliable sled..
 
F

fusion

Guest
dickmsp said:
Same proven engines, but should I wait till 2013 cats come out??? Example, polaris rush 1st year soaked up big bumps, but rode crappy in stutters.. 2011 is a completely different and better suspension... '09 cats changed steering geometry.. etc.. doo updated XP's every year.. Too bad sled manufacturers don't offer 1 year leases!! What have you guys had for 1st year experiences? Am I driving myself nuts over nothing? Or are my fears warranted..
I have heard guys on here say they don't want to pay $12,000 to be a guinea pig!! Then what happens next year when chassis is upgraded and we have new tech engines to pick from?? Wait another year for engines to be perfected?? Is this why a lot of you guys are still riding the old body style sleds??
At this rate, I'm driving myself crazy... its gonna be tough trying to drive anything in a straight-jacket!! Help!!! LOL
Click to expand...
Like the plague!

I made the mistake once of buying a 2nd yr. Thundercat. You do not want to go through what I did.

This company is a distant fourth (IMO) in terms of engineering tech, with Yamaha & BRP at the top of the heap, and Polaris 2nd or 3rd, however you want to view it.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
I highly doubt I will ever buy a first year new model ever again and heres why, 03 F7, 03 Rev, 03 RX-1, 05 Fusion, 09 Polaris 800. Now Im not saying all of those sleds are junk, but we all know that all of those sleds had more problems than the following year for each of them.



the 03 f7 is the most in demand f7 still if you have a mint 03 f7 it is gold the drag racers will buy them up like crazy.it was built as a point and shot sled billed as a lake racer and so when guys go out and jump drivways yeah not built for it.so in 04 they added 30lbs of bracing to beef it up and add more cooling still fast but 30lbs is 30lbs and not as wanted buy the crowd the f7 was designed for.so I think Cat decided after that not to make a tinfoil XP chasi just because a small handfull of guys who ride steep and deep trees all day want the light weight and the rest of us dont get soft pow every time out and find rocks stumps curbs ect so build for the masses and call it a day. then you dont get people bitching about busted sleds.I would not worry about a new cat the power plants are just tweeked old tested motors and they have been testing that chasi for some time now.if they do have issues cat will usualy recall the whole line and not blame the consumer.as far as test rides I dont think they have anything to prove they have not had the track record of some other oem's that had to have test rides just to get guys in the door. in fact if buying a new 2scat Iwould do it before the new motord do come out I dont think they will be amune to the DI blues I understand they have been working for a few yrs on compiant 2s with no luck on durability close but not willing to test on consumer.I also have heard may not eaven have compilant 2s net yr
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
dickmsp said:
srt20, Good God!! all those 1st year sleds you bought were very troublesome! I'm suprised you still snowmobile!!! Hopefully you've found a reliable sled..
Click to expand...

He didn't own all those, he's just naming some troublesome sleds...
 
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harvest1121

Well-known member
I will be ordering a LXR Procross xf really did not care about the longer track but want the 1.25 lug track. I really do not care about the turbo so think it will be a good sled. Sold the skidoo 800r so need a sled for next year. Just going to wait and sit on it to see how it fits. Most of the Yamahas are too small being 6'5.
 
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rocketman356

New member
Just doo it,and forget all this mindless crap.The only manufacture that use to put out junk the first year on a regular basis was Polaris and thats why I jumped ship.But Polaris has it dailed in now.
 
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