What sled to buy? $1500-$2500 - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

nathans8 · 03-19-2009, 10:45 PM

So I'm looking for a sled to buy and I'm just wondering what sled you guys would recomend. There seems to be quit a few 2000-2004 polaris 800's out there. I know about the bearings needing replacement on these engines. Once it is replaced do the newer bearings last longer than the stock one? Is the edge chassi worth spending more money as aposed to a 99 or 2000 sled? Also how do the skii-doos around the same year and price compare? I've seen a couple ski-doo 800's around. Haven't heard much about cats around this year and price range.
Pretty much I want good sled that will last with lots of power for mountain riding.

THETURD · 03-20-2009, 01:41 AM

I would recommend the mountain cat 800 efi, i just bought a 03' rmk 800 for $2400 with only 1560 miles but i think i would go with the m cat.

nathans8 · 03-21-2009, 04:22 AM

What are your reasons for the mcat? Specs? It looks like it is quite a bit heavier than polaris'

**RJ Gleason** · 03-21-2009, 06:58 AM

More reliable and more hp.

THETURD · 03-21-2009, 01:51 PM

I love my rmk, but i wished it had the efi like mcat. EFI makes a world or difference. My friends Arctic cat m7 is carbed and my other friends has efi, the carbureted can only go 50 miles, but that is with a lot of mods. The efi still has more than 1/4 of a tank left at that point, with the same mods. My rmk can only get 55-60 miles on a full tank, I have to take jerry can so I can make it back to the truck.

nathans8 · 03-22-2009, 01:14 AM

So here is a mcat i found in my price range there is also a 2002 skidoo. The skidoo seems to be a little better deal price wise. Are the skidoo engines this age pretty good?

2001 M cat 800efi Limited Edition $1900
All stock except for a slp light weight can

2002 skidoo 800x HM $1500
USI Pipe and can, light weight front end (PLP front end kit), light weight Mountain Fit hood, light weight Boss High Rise Seat, Pro Taper bars with 6" riser, coil over suspension with fox shock (rebuilt in January '09), MMP Mountain Setup, R & M headlight kit, new high fax

THETURD · 03-22-2009, 02:27 AM

NO i dont think they are good. Reliability they suck! Sure they are fast but my brother has rebuilt his 3 times and it only has 1800 miles. It has all ways been taken care of and has always allowed time to warm up. We have always taken it to the trusted mechanics to do the rebuilds too.

THETURD · 03-26-2009, 10:19 PM

The thing i would look the most at is miles. The ski doo is really cheap but it must of been beat to death and have over 3000 miles. Or 1000 and been a mechanical nightmare. The mcat probably has over 2000 miles, make sure if the engines have ever been rebuilt. Get back to us, i want to know what you decide on doing.

**smallengineguy** · 03-27-2009, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THETURD

NO i dont think they are good. Reliability they suck! Sure they are fast but my brother has rebuilt his 3 times and it only has 1800 miles. It has all ways been taken care of and has always allowed time to warm up. We have always taken it to the trusted mechanics to do the rebuilds too.

My firend has a 2002 MXZ 800 (same motor) with almost 8000 mi on it and it's NEVER been apart. They are very reliable machines. No offense, but if that machine has had 3 rebuilds in 1800 mi, someone is missing something.

THETURD · 03-27-2009, 08:19 PM

Yeah i have just had a bad experience with them, maybe thats why i dont like them as much as i did. It only got 400 miles out of the first rebuild. And the last one was machanics fault. Didnt even make it 1/4 mile off the trailer. But this is with a 2000 summit 700, i have a friend that has that same sled and it had 3500 without a rebuild(02 800).

SKI_DOO_MAN_484 · 03-27-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THETURD

NO i dont think they are good. Reliability they suck! Sure they are fast but my brother has rebuilt his 3 times and it only has 1800 miles. It has all ways been taken care of and has always allowed time to warm up. We have always taken it to the trusted mechanics to do the rebuilds too.

sounds like he just got a crap motor to begin with. He should easily get 6k out of it before he needs to freshen it up if he's taking care of it like you say. Maybe I'm a little bias, but that DOO sounds like a sweet deal to me

kevinscof · 03-27-2009, 11:16 PM

Heck between me and my bud we have them all but yams, I have 2 cats and 1 polaris, and he has 2 skidoos and 1 cat. we have put about 2000 miles on em in the past 2 years. Of course we have had minor issues like a waterpump belt broke, TPS going bad but all in all all 6 sleds have held up with very little issues. we did have a stator go out of one of the older sleds that has 5k miles on it.