efficiency rocks

By now it’s apparent for manufacturers to succeed and the snowmobile market to continue into the next decade and beyond, we must have fuel and emission efficient sleds. Economics demands the first, the EPA the second.

Another key, is offering such snowmobiles at a reasonable price, one the market can bear. The problem currently is that the market isn’t bearing much as the economy continues to wobble like that old toddler toy, Weebles.

Pricing is an important part of the equation, with the EPA’s demands playing a major role. But value is a huge portion of current pricing, and selling, too. Today’s value story is strong as the manufacturers are working overtime on sled efficiency.

Ask yourself this: How much does it cost each season to run your sled?

We all talk about it, especially when we’re peeling out the Andrew Jacksons at the gas station and one of your buddies has a newer more efficient sled. He’s laughing all the way to the cash register!

So why isn’t efficiency marketed with more sex appeal?

We all know that sex sells, efficiency, not so much.

Yet efficiency should be the new sledder’s mantra in these pinched economic times. Likewise it should be the manufacturers’ mantra as the Big 4 are armed to the teeth with diverse lineups of efficient snowmobiles to suit the needs from “wild child” snocross types to trail riders.

Virtually each season the sleds are more dependable and last longer. Each season there are new engines that both run cleaner and use less gasoline and oil. Now when you buy a new sled it’ll last you 4-5 years, easy. No longer do you look at a sled with 2,500 miles on it and start thinking about the “need” to trade it or sell it.
Snowmobiling always has been a fairly expensive sport, what with trucks and trailers and all, but the new sleds largely last longer and cost you less to run and maintain.

Yamaha was an early adopter of efficient 4-stroke engines, which burn cleaner and deliver better fuel economy than most 2-strokes. Team Blue continues to lead the 4-stroke charge and has pushed its Yamaha Advantage of dependability for a couple years now.

Others have joined in and Ski-Doo’s new 600 ACE, a 4-stroke that we dyno test in this issue (p. 12), is said to deliver up to 29 mpg. Folks who want to spend more time cruising and less time stopping for fuel should take note. Look for more along this line from Rotax soon too.

Everyone is working to develop more efficent 2-strokes, since the majority of snowmobilers still favor that type of engine. Ski-Doo currently leads that effort with its Rotax-built direct-injection E-TEC engines. These literally burn less oil, cutting operating costs.

We’re betting you’ll see even more DI 2-strokes and fuel-efficient 4-strokes when the 2012 sleds are revealed in the next few months. Be sure to watch our website, www.AmSnow.com and read the Spring issue for all those details.
Efficiency is here, now all we need is everyone’s paycheck to grow stronger so we can all buy one, because you’ll be riding your new sled for years!