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Posted by: JohnO
FWIW: I've owned a manual transmission 02 Cat 500i for about a year (I didn't like belts, either), 500+ miles of farm and trail use, and it has been nothing but excellent. The rear axle has not broken, nor the front, nor anything. It has never failed to get me around my rough and craggy farm, even in atrocious weather, pulled some pretty heavy loads, and during the weeklong power outage/ice storm in KY last January, when the road was too icy to get anything delivered, it kept me in firewood and my pipes from freezing. Nice kitty!
I've blogged my Cat experience at: My Cat Page for more detail.
The rear axle problem seems to involve lift kits. Keep in mind that the Cat sits pretty high as it is, and lift kits on most other IRS quads just bring them up to where a stock Cat is. If you lead the axle through an even more severe bend, something has to give. Only factory action I've heard of for the Cat regarding axles was a missing retainer clip for rear axles on some 02 models. Mine is still stock, and other than replacing the tires next month (probably Holeshot ATR's), I don't see a reason to do anything else. I had a Big Bear before the Cat, and while the bear was a faithful little trooper, it won't go near the places the Cat will, nor did it ride this nice.
I priced Cats at several dealers, ended up buying from a Suzuki/Cat dealer. They gave the best price, and have cut me deals on accessories after the sale. I'd suggest you try to buy from someone who sells bikes and quads as their primary business, they'll take better care of you later on. Don't know about service - my Cat has never needed it. All I've done is change the oil, Cat sells a very nice oil change kit with synth. oil.
As for taxes - I didn't pay any on mine (farm use) and rolled it out the door for $5800.
--John
Posted by: 04polaris
I live in Idaho and I was able to sve the 400 bucks in sales tax which was pretty cool. They claim the axle problem is fixed which to some extent I agree. I have had some problems with my 03, but that was also with about 2 grand in modifications. I have been to the convention where they were letting people try out there 04 machines and see what they think, and I think im gonna sell mine and by that 04 model cause everything on it is about 60% better. I dont know if I helped you any but I just thought I would tell you.
Posted by: grizzly271
I am 50 and am a pretty good size person, and I feel more comfortable on the bigger atv's, I purchased a new 600 grizzly in 2000, the size of the unit was fine but I wasn't happy with the automatic trans, as the grizzly seemd to be really loud when you were on it going down the trail at even a low speed, and if you run it in water that was shallow to even smaller atv's you had a problem with slippage. So needless to say I sold my bear.Recently I was in Forrest City Arkansas at the local Western Auto store which happens to be an Artic Cat dealer as well. They had a pretty good deal on the 500 which was six grand, which was a grand less than the grizzly 3 years ago. I have heard some really good stuff regarding the ac's but recently I have been hearing that they are notorious for axle breakage. Is this common place or is this a problem with units that have been modified, should I worry about a stock one fresh from the crate, do the stock one's have this problem, what are the weak points of the cats. Can someone e-mail me and let me know. I just don't want to made the same mistake twice, as six grand is a fortune to me and I know that this site has alot of people with alot more experience and information on this subject than I do. I would appreciate any info anyone can pass on to me. Thanks and be safe. Donald Goss at d_patrick@earthlink.net Marion,Ark.
Posted by: grizzly271
thanks fish for your help. ,after I posted that question I too went to the cat reports and seen the horror storys too, it seems like the axle breakage is happening on the cats that has been modified or lift kits installed, I called the nearest cat dealer in forrest city ark, and they told me the same thing you did, that there was a recall issue regarding the axles , but that problem has been corrected, they said that was on the 2002 models. I am going to wait a couple weeks to get a 2004 model, my dealer said she should be getting them in pretty soon and she would give me a call. also here is some info. that may be useful to you. my dealer said that if i lived in the county on a farm or just in the country, I could get a discount on my cat for using it on the farm, no sales tax. I am not a farmer but i live outside any city limits and my house is setting on the front edge of a 80 acre field. and my next door neighbor farms this land, so technically i am on a farm. . i don't know where you live but I live in Arkansas and this is one of their loopholes. this will save me around $400.00, which I can use elsewhere. my dealer list price for a 500 auto is $6000.00 but theywill come down to $5800.00, and knock off the taxes, thats a pretty good deal. talk with you later fish, Grizzly
Posted by: grizzly271
04polaris,
thanks for your reply, I agree with you regarding the 2004 modelsi was able to compare them at one of the dealers. and I am definetely going with the 04 model, But i am still undecided on either an auto. or 5 speed, my 2000 grizzly 600 is an auto. and it just seems loud and the fisater you go the more it sounds like it is over torquing, it may just be me, because the grizzly is my first auto. I have owned about 8 atv's in my adult life,
I keep going back to the artic cat, the thing that has really got my attention, is the ride and the suspension. the ride is 300% better than my old grizzly.it only has one spring incased shock on the rear and really rides rougher than the cat's do.and at my age comfort is a big selling factor for me.
I really appreciate your help and advice, it is good to know that there is a place like the atv forum where you can go to to talk to experienced riders and owners , I have never been one to make hasty decisions , especially when there's aroung six grand at stake. thanks alot be safe and keep the rubber side down. Grizzly271 Marion Arkansas.
Posted by: 609fish
I'm looking at the arctic cats myself and have been researching a lot. Online and with several ac owners,also there was good article in atv magazine in march on 500 tests. In all my checking I havn"t heard anything about a axle problem. there was a recall concerning ball joints but that should be fixed on the newer machines.
Posted by: 609fish
Sorry griz ,disregard my previous reply.I'm new to atv connection,(found it researching arctic cats) and after posting my question and replying to yours, I went to the arctic cat section and read some postings and there were quite a few axle stories..check em out if you havn't already..I,m going to ask my dealer about it for sure....
Posted by: 609fish
That article in atv magazine test on 400 and 500 s rated the AC highest on comfort and great for work and long lazy trail rides..they didnt give it too high of marks on speed and on noise/vibration. so if you'e like me,and have gotten to that point where comfort matters most I think you're looking in the right place.I'm also like you in that I do a lot of researching before spending big bucks..And even though I drive myself nuts sometimes over analizing stuff to the point I get so confused that pulling a name out of a hat would be the only way I could decide..thats not the case here.The arctic cat seems to be a clear choice for my needs......... I was wondering when the 04's start coming out , I figured it would be fall. But if it's soon then maybe I should wait. Are there any noticable changes?? If there is it may be worth waiting, even though I'm hoping to have purchased by mid may..If theres no big Improvements maybe I can get a better deal on the 03's when the dealer is trying to get'em out the door to make room for the 04's.....As far as those taxes go, we did that when we bought are tractor so i guess we can do it on the atvs..we call it a farm but havnt farmed anything yet we just bought 18 months ago..I'll check into it thanks for that advice.....
