Arctic Cat in Trouble

[BeartoothBaron]

I wouldn't freak out about owning a new Cat. If things go for the worse with Cat, I'm willing to bet there'll be support for a few years at least. I wouldn't steer someone away from buying one if the price is right. If Textron tried to just shut everything down mid-25 with warranties still out there there'd be a class action lawsuit, and they'd lose. There might even be recourse for a while after the warranties are done, depending on the issues. I'm not sure how long to expect support to last, but this is different than a bankruptcy situation where the question is "who deserves the funds most?" after liquidation. There's some aftermarket support, and if Cat parts and support dry up, hopefully that'll step up. The Catalyst will be a pretty small market if it's 24/25 only though... Still, where there's a will, there's a way. And hopefully the fact that Cat isn't fire-saling inventory is a good sign. The reality is, we may not know Cat's future until sometime next year, and then it's possible Textron liquidates and someone is able to buy enough of it to re-start production. Like Tom Petty says, the waiting is the hardest part.

 

[farmall400]

My guess is, they were looking for a buyer and haven't found one based on the market and conditions that exist NOW. There's a sliver of hope they may open back up or someone buys them because we all know the next administration is going to be more friendly for business and the economy than the outgoing which could make them attractive to a new buyer. AC has a lot more going for it than a lot of the wannabes that make ATV's these days and a they have a new legit sled chassis.

I would likely buy a year 2 858 if they stick around. A 9R costs too much and the competitors non-boosted 850's don't seem like an upgrade over a C-Tec 800.

 

[volcano buster]

Strictly opinion, as always, but I don't see Cat ever being the #1 snowmobile in the world unless the other 2 fold. They are quite a ways behind at this point but with some serious brand followers waiting for re-entry. I thought I had heard that they sold about 15% of the sleds in the market. Is that enough to entice a buyer to pick up the brand (sled speaking anyway) and then push to increase market share to say 20 or 25% over the next 10 years? Who knows. Then the argument about who is driving the bus in D.C., we know the incoming president only has a 4 year run and who knows what it will look like for the next 4-8 years after that. That is where that 10 year horizon to get a brand restabilized comes in. Most of us have been here for a while and have watched the increase in cc's get capped by physics at every brand. Are we likely to see sub 900 cc sleds with power adders for a while before something different changes the science? The chassis of each model has really been improved to handle the increase in power. I say that from the perspective of the tricks that guys are able to pull off on the newer more powerful sleds. Just a couple years ago there was just not enough stock thrust to propel the sleds skyward like they do now.
Speculation: If a company like Kawasaki could absorb a purchase would they have the engineering and design staff with the financial backing to push the Cat sleds to the next level before shareholders got impatient? All while hoping to hold onto a 15% marketshare?

 

[NHRoadking]

I'd be surprised if Cat isn't done for good. Even if a company buys Cat for cheap money, they still need to invest lots of cash to cover warranty claims, developing a turbo 2-stroke, maybe do twin rail option, and developing a 4 stroke trail motor. Then, they need to spend money to constantly be improving to stay in sight of Doo and Poo.

Seems like a big lift for a company with less than a quarter of the market share.

 

[DDECKER]

In other news it's snowing now so back to our regular scheduled program.

 

[Chewy22]

I'd be surprised if Cat isn't done for good. Even if a company buys Cat for cheap money, they still need to invest lots of cash to cover warranty claims, developing a turbo 2-stroke, maybe do twin rail option, and developing a 4 stroke trail motor. Then, they need to spend money to constantly be improving to stay in sight of Doo and Poo.

Seems like a big lift for a company with less than a quarter of the market share.

They don’t need a turbo. 80% of the guys that buy a turbo have no business being on one. It’s about pricing. Get them down to $12-$15k and they will sell. $6k for a quality aftermarket turbo and you’ll still be way under Doo and Poos factory turbos. AC needs to strategically be different, they do not need to go toe to toe with Poo and Doo.

 

[Griff]

Agree with Chewy. It's like a 400 horse outboard motor on a fishing boat.

The market likely affords sales and a profit without the turbo. What price garners the return ownership requires I have no idea. I felt the snow-check pricing on the base 858 was in the game last spring for me. Seemed like the performance offered and fun factor was about right for the money. I held off because I simply did not get time to ride much last year.

Sure hope Cat carries on. I am the waiting list for 2026 list.....standing by now.

 

[NHRoadking]

They don’t need a turbo. 80% of the guys that buy a turbo have no business being on one. It’s about pricing. Get them down to $12-$15k and they will sell. $6k for a quality aftermarket turbo and you’ll still be way under Doo and Poos factory turbos. AC needs to strategically be different, they do not need to go toe to toe with Poo and Doo.

I think Cat has "strategically differented" itself practically out of business.

Great article on Snowest about the Cat situation. Here's an excerpt:

He said supporters have six months to find a new buyer. He’s seeking every alternative to keep the plant open, even if that means manufacturing other products and not just snowmobiles and other powersports.

 

[Cb850]

Yep they are amazing. Only special kids should ride one. No reason to model themselves after Polaris or doo. Because people actually buy those ones. Sad to see them go!

 

[Chewy22]

I think Cat has "strategically differented" itself practically out of business.

No they didn’t, still tried sticking with both on pricing. For 2026 if they priced the equivalent ‘25 mountain cat at $16,000 and the base at $13,000. It would be wild the amount of sleds they’d sell. Compete on pricing and durability. They do not need a $23/24k turbo/900 to compete.

 

[dunatyk]

I think Cat has "strategically differented" itself practically out of business.

Great article on Snowest about the Cat situation. Here's an excerpt:

He said supporters have six months to find a new buyer. He’s seeking every alternative to keep the plant open, even if that means manufacturing other products and not just snowmobiles and other powersports.

Link to this article please

 

[NHRoadking]

No they didn’t, still tried sticking with both on pricing. For 2026 if they priced the equivalent ‘25 mountain cat at $16,000 and the base at $13,000. It would be wild the amount of sleds they’d sell. Compete on pricing and durability. They do not need a $23/24k turbo/900 to compete.

Wasn't it a few years ago they tried the spring order only low price one year warranty thing? Or was it longer ago?

 

[NHRoadking]

Link to this article please

Go here :https://www.startribune.com/arctic-...wn-save-the-company-from-shuttering/601198160

 

[MTsled3]

They don’t need a turbo. 80% of the guys that buy a turbo have no business being on one. It’s about pricing. Get them down to $12-$15k and they will sell. $6k for a quality aftermarket turbo and you’ll still be way under Doo and Poos factory turbos. AC needs to strategically be different, they do not need to go toe to toe with Poo and Doo.

Everybody seems to ignore the fact that the base 858 is priced at $15,799. That's what I was going to go with next year, but I guess we will have to see what happens with Cat.

 

[NHRoadking]

Everybody seems to ignore the fact that the base 858 is priced at $15,799. That's what I was going to go with next year, but I guess we will have to see what happens with Cat.

Doo's Summit Adrenaline Edge 850 with a 154/3 inch lug was $16,499 with a 3 year warranty at spring order.
Doo's Summit Adrenaline 850 with a 154/2.5 inch lug was $14,799 with a 3 year warranty at spring order.

Poo's RMK Pro Slash 850 with a 155/2.75 lug was $16,199 with a 4 year warranty at spring order.

Those are all pretty comparable to what Cat offered at 2025 spring order except Cat's warranty was only 2 years versus 3 or 4 years for the others.

 

[koolaid]

I've been hearing for years how Cat was always behind Doo and Poo. Why? Was it because they didn't have that extra 50cc's or a turbo? Was it because the lack of a belt drive? Their 800ctec always competed with the others 850's.

When Polaris fan boys were talking about the "new" self adjusting secondary, I thought, "my Alpha had that two years ago". The same with Fox QS3's. Paying thousands to upgrade their shocks, while my Cat came with them. The best attack angle never gets credit from Cat haters. While others need to change their tracks like belts to find performance, Cat owners have had arguably the best deep powder track for a while in the 3" Powerclaw.

Now, the Catalyst comes with the best gauge in the industry, not even close there. I think the only thing Cat was behind on was the whole social media thing and not getting the word out.

 

[ndfb35]

I've been hearing for years how Cat was always behind Doo and Poo. Why? Was it because they didn't have that extra 50cc's or a turbo? Was it because the lack of a belt drive? Their 800ctec always competed with the others 850's.

When Polaris fan boys were talking about the "new" self adjusting secondary, I thought, "my Alpha had that two years ago". The same with Fox QS3's. Paying thousands to upgrade their shocks, while my Cat came with them. The best attack angle never gets credit from Cat haters. While others need to change their tracks like belts to find performance, Cat owners have had arguably the best deep powder track for a while in the 3" Powerclaw.

Now, the Catalyst comes with the best gauge in the industry, not even close there. I think the only thing Cat was behind on was the whole social media thing and not getting the word out.

But Cat doesn't have Burandt, Adam's and Kesterke...

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Bad luck that cat didn’t thrive with textron. I lived in Hawaii most of my life so don’t know snowmobile lore. How did polaris survive textron. Who purchased them? I think cat could compete easy. They just need a twin rail option and to be a little more afoardable. The article i read said there majority share in snowmobiles was trail sleds in the Midwest and that the lack of snow really hit them hard? Maybe Elon will buy it and make star link satellite receivers there lol. There was a cartoon on fb that was a guy holding a sign up to s window of s school classroom. The sign said “artic cat sucks” he held it up and looked at his friend and said ,”if those kids could read they’d be really upset.” Lol

 

[MTsled3]

Doo's Summit Adrenaline Edge 850 with a 154/3 inch lug was $16,499 with a 3 year warranty at spring order.
Doo's Summit Adrenaline 850 with a 154/2.5 inch lug was $14,799 with a 3 year warranty at spring order.

Poo's RMK Pro Slash 850 with a 155/2.75 lug was $16,199 with a 4 year warranty at spring order.

Those are all pretty comparable to what Cat offered at 2025 spring order except Cat's warranty was only 2 years versus 3 or 4 years for the others.

I was just looking at those, didn't realize they had that much warranty at snowcheck (haven't seen 4 years from Poo for a couple years). I think your price for the 2.5 Doo might be for the 600, I saw $15,899 for the 850 154x2.5.

They're comparable in price and performance. Based on some reviews, some might argue the 858 will be the best performer out of that group of base 850ish sleds.

People complain about the prices, but they're comparing sleds with turbos, GPS gauges, better shocks, better track options, etc. to sleds from 5 years ago that (mostly) didn't have any of those options and were more realistically comparable to what the base models are today. There are so many more and better options available now, but they really drive up the price.

 

[koolaid]

But Cat doesn't have Burandt, Adam's and Kesterke...

This actually sells sleds, I hate to admit. He'll, they've convinced riders with 2-5 years of backcountry experience, that they need a turbo. I have a riding buddy that won't follow us up chutes, says they're "too steep and scare him" but he's getting a boost. What for? So he can smoke us in the meadows. Put me in the group that believes 80% of riders owning turbos don't need them and will never use them to their intended potential.