When I was looking last season there were a couple sleds that REALLY caught my eye.
One was the Polaris Assault. They were selling new for $7,999 at the time when I was looking and I just loved the raw look and red hood but.......... It needed several things to be the mountain sled I wanted it to be. It needed a longer track and tunnel (155), a narrowed ski stance and a mountain bar (easy fix). Then I read up on the engine related issues affecting the 09 800 Polaris engines and got a little spooked. Funny, I thought the 08 800's didn't have that many engine related issues?
I also just loved the Skidoo Summit XP 154". I found a pretty decent deal on the blue and white version but, once again reading Dootalk about the engine and revised clutching related issue spooked me.
I have always hated Cats. I grew up in Northern Minnesota riding Skidoos and the Neighbors riding Cats or Scorpions. I have called Cats "ditch pickles" for years because they always seemed to be broken down on the side of the trail.
Imagine my suprise when I began to see a pattern developing showing the Arctic Cat 800 engine seemed to be the most reliable of the current crop of 800s. Yuck, not me on a Arctic Cat! My wife and daughter wanted to dis-own me for even talking about it.
I have never much cared for the Arctic Cat green (yuck) so it seemed a white Sno Pro was the only way to go for me. Then I couldn't decide between a M1000 or a M8 until a very kind dealer allowed me to ride both back to back. It was very clear to me that I wanted a M8.
Then it was the decision of 153" or 162"? I had planned on a 162" but, after many very well respected Cat people telling me "what ever you do, make sure you get a 153". I ended up with a 153". It is funner than he!! and my riding skill has improved incredibly because this sled is at least 100 lbs. lighter than my Rx-1. I was doing stuff I had no idea I knew how to do. I was picking super technical lines through the trees because I felt very confident on the sled. I would have never even tried on my Rx-1.
For 90% of the time the 153" is plenty of track.Yet, on the super deep days I was longing for a 162" and for only a 2 lb weight penalty, I think that going with the 162" provides more benefit than penalty.
After I bought my 09 M8 153" Sno Pro I was very happy, until the 2010's were released. I had done my best to wait for all the 2010 model introductions but, I didn't quite make it until the Cats were released. Yes, I got a great buy on my M8 and my rationale was, I could have the engine work I wanted done and still be cheaper than a 2010 M8. But..............what I failed to remember was, that once the engine work is done, the warranty is no longer valid. With the 2010 you get the power and the warranty.
That's something to consider.
jmo.
JMO