Am I stupid for considering a 600?

[V-Man]

I'm buying an E-TEC for my wife, however I'm undecided on what I should ride, 800 or an E-TEC. She's my primary riding partner, +80% of the time.

The E-TEC is super clean (which is a huge plus to both of us), more fuel and oil efficient, 600's are historically more reliable, and I can't find a negative comment about them from anyone out there, guy or gal. I don't think I've seen any sled get more positive reviews.

The 800's obviously have more power, still stink, no EFI, and historically have more motor and clutching issues. It definitely sounds like the 2009's have less issues though, and I would expect 2010 to be similar.

I could care less if someone high marks me, I just don't want to be the guy digging all the time because I didn't have the power to make a necessary climb. I'm more into boondocking. I'm 200lbs and do ride in Washington's famous Cascade concrete.

Am I going to be disappointed with the power?? I'm riding a Summit 700 now.

Thanks for your comments,

V-Man

 

[Doo37]

go e-tec

ive had a chance to ride them both, and after reading your statement i think you will be much happier with the e-tec! great sled

 

[baD-MAX]

I snow-checked my wife a 154 E-tech. Great floatation. Totally stock, it pulls steady 35 MPH track speed with me on it. I'm 230+ #. It has elec. start which is nice and it rides great, gets very good fuel mileage and uses about 1/3 the oil of my 800. If your wife is your main riding partner and you have an 800 you may out ride her sleds ability and get into areas she can't get to. I think you would be very happy with the 600.

...MAX

35MPH 8-9000' Elev. climbing in 2' pow.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Some guy on Slednecks has a 600etec with boost. Personally I'd never buy a 600 for myself.

 

[RGM]

Except on the deep powder days you won't miss the 800. With an etec your wife won't be smelling the fumes from riding behind an 800.

 

[RGM]

And if you ever going riding with Fordman and Graveler they should be able to keep up to the 600.

 

[AkSledHed]

We don't have E-Tecs but we do have 2 600 HO SDI sleds. They get super gas mileage and are tons of fun in the pow, heck, you can even climb with them!! I've given the 800 plenty of thought over the last year and I just can't see me sacrificing all that the 600 has to offer. And if Skidoo ever comes out with an 800 SDI then I might consider one but until then, i'm sticking with the 600.

 

[powder express]

Get the 800 better resale value, and at 200#'s it would be a benefical power advantage so the 800 isn't working so hard. I ride with a buddy that rides the 600 Summit, he does really well keeping up to us. He goes where we go, and has plenty of fun. But the problem is that the little 600 is always to the grip, that motor is working extremely hard to keep up, and is using every cc it has. So tell me that the motor is not going to have a shorter life span. And with the 800 who says you have to use all that horse power, but only when needed. So that engine will not have to work as hard. That's my .02 worth.

 

[ruffryder]

If your wife is your main riding partner and you have an 800 you may out ride her sleds ability and get into areas she can't get to. I think you would be very happy with the 600.

Best reason to get the 600. Plus I think it puts out more hp then the 700 you are riding now, so it is still an hp upgrade.

I have gone riding with people on 600's, never been an issue, especially if boondocking is the main thing. At the local riding areas you ride, Stampede / Gold Creek, and the other I-90 areas, it will rarely be an issue.

 

[IdahoMike]

I snow-checked my wife a 154 E-tech. Great floatation. Totally stock, it pulls steady 35 MPH track speed with me on it. I'm 230+ #. It has elec. start which is nice and it rides great, gets very good fuel mileage and uses about 1/3 the oil of my 800. If your wife is your main riding partner and you have an 800 you may out ride her sleds ability and get into areas she can't get to. I think you would be very happy with the 600.

...MAX

35MPH 8-9000' Elev. climbing in 2' pow.

Ditto on everything Max just said.

I too snow checked my wife the exact same sled and have more fun riding her 600 E-Tec then my 06 X 800 H.O.,so much so that I'm thinking of snow checking my self one, and I weigh 200+ pounds with gear.

 

[Highmark 1000]

I have a rt 1000, plus my father and I both have 2008 600 sdi summits. For playing in the trees ,boondocking, and climbing they are a blast. I'm a big guy and every trip out to the mountains I take both my sleds and,drive 1 one day and the other the next. It is fun trying to take that 600 where the 800 go, and if set-up right and experience rider they can climb just as high sometimes, just not as fast. Cousin has 09 e-tec 600 and it is the same as the sdi's but burns a little less oil and a little better fuel mileage.

 

[Xrider]

I'd say if you're an experienced rider and like to boondock and don't care about the super steep cllimbs, get the 600. I just bought an 800 because I got a good deal but honestly for the riding we do a 600 would do just fine. I'd wager that for about 90% of the 800 owners, their sled is way over their ability to ride it to it's full potential. That's why I got a 146 track on my 800, gotta have a little challenge.

 

[norsepeak]

got an etec for the wifey, and it is a great sled...she loves it, and I like it for a back up sled. I'm 240, it gets around great with me on it.

 

[MtnMasher]

I have seen

One of my very good riding buddies asked me the same thing last year. He is a good rider so I told him go for it. He did. That sled is an 2009 REV-XP (154) and it is so much fun to ride. It pushes you as a rider, and he put timber sled skid and front end on it and I can't keep up with him in the trees and it can keep up with my modified 08 in a drag race. Just for an idea of how well it does, it put the hurt on a piped 08 Poo 700 w/155". Hope this helps

 

[V-Man]

Thanks for all the comments. We snowchecked a couple of E-Tech X's today. Let the waiting begin!

 

[Lachlan]

I've got a 600 HO SDI and that thing climbs well with my buddies modded 03 800 Polaris. He can still mark me but I get up there plenty well and haven't had then engine problems. He's rebuilt that thing twice in 2000 miles. I don't ride as hard as he does but I have it pinned plenty and I'm over 2000 miles with no serious problems.

Personally I would love to upgrade to the E-Tec. I think that 154 would give me just that little bit more that I need in the really deep snow.