Call it whining if you want but I call it constructive criticism. Despite all the frustrations 2012 owners had to deal with there was some very productive threads and ideas on here about how to make these sleds better, not just pointless b!tching. How about a thanks to all of us who cracked TCLs, snapped jackshafts, wore holes in our side panels, had split coolant hoses ,sticking clutches, and rasta man belts and voiced these problems so they would be addresses. The die hards knew these sleds could be better and Cat listened, your 2013 will be a much improved sled because of it. You haven't even ridden it yet just wait until your taking pow shots to the face with a huge sh!t eating grin before you judge your "switching" experinece!
The real truth of why the PC forum seemed to be all B*** chin last year and AC deserved it.
Ride hard and pop a belt. Ride easy and pop a belt. This happened to way too many people and AC did nothing until it became a scream. Then they got to work and gave us a free belt and extra warranty. To this day they are still trying to figure out the AC drive system. It wasn't right.
AKSP, you always enjoyed the handling of the PC. No denying it outshines the M chassis in open country and big air (except the hood opening up and motor hitting the frame and snow on the clutches in early season snow). How much fun was it when you couldn't get a ride out of a belt. Are you being the advocate now because it is time to get another sponser?
The rest of the 2012 (and the 2013 is a whole different animal thanks to 2012 owners) out of box fails (steering, snow injestion, suspention set-up) were mostly mountian set-up problems and easily cured with some refinements. But,,, they were glaring issues to those of us used to the best ('11 M sleds).
By the end of a too short season I had my PC working well. I started early. I had the clutching under control with out an extra brace (did some things others have not tried yet) and the handling was awesome in spring snow (but again not out of the 2012 crate). The 2013 is not much different and AC still forgot a couple of things (make sure you beer can your disc before the first powder ride) that others have done.
So let's call a spade a spade. The 2012 needed some major work and Cat did it to the 2013 plus the bonus of the 2.6 track (it will prove to be the biggest improvement and be king of the hill).
What irks me still is the way Cat handled their "passionate" 50th buyers with the large list of needed improvements for the 2012 PC mountain sled.
If that's B***chin then I was B***chin. But I stopped and jumped to the gutless Poo (but with a grin). I'll jump back If AC finishes the PC themselves. Or, maybe not if the others beat them to it.
The world keeps turning and winter is coming. Enjoy what you get.