Wait for 2014 or get a 2013 m1100t?

[rrjames]

Sadly it looks like I may be spending my money elsewhere. The Cat dealer in town seems to think that their demo sleds should be used for in house recreation instead of customer demos. Is this on par with industry standard?

Last week, I get it, we got some snow they guys in house want to play, but hey we'll call you this week and figure out next weekend....no call by Friday afternoon and I know I've been written off as a kid looking for a free day on snow...sad.

I may be 22 but when I walk into a dealer and tell them I want to buy a sled off the floor, but before I do I want a test to see which one is right for me, I expect to be taken seriously. I wanted a new sled without the risk of getting into it blind.

Its not like I want a glorious day long ride into the sunset, just 15-20min on each one if that to see which I like better. I don't want to bomb a sled (I don't own) through trees, or rip some big slope, a simple clear meadow will do. No BS required. Just an hour of your demo time. **** I would have been willing to cover gas for the sleds and towing. A cheap price to avoid buyers remorse.

I blame my peers for getting stereotyped with this crap.

Maybe when I'm 35 I can walk into a Cat dealer and get that elusive demo or course by then 4 stroke turbos will weigh 350lbs and I wont need a demo...

Sorry Arctic Cat I don't like the way your dealership is running. Customer wants a quick on snow demo, I don't think that is something that gets put on the back burner. I'm taking my business elsewhere even if it means waiting for a four stroke.

Maybe I'm wrong and please flame me, but I really struggle to believe the snowmobile industry is driven by blind purchases. But then again I'm young and probably know nothing.

 

[bgreen776]

While I have some attention let me flip this discussion another way.

Right now I ride a 2002 Mountain Max (they never die) mod sled with a MPI tunnel. The sled is fat and heavy, and anything but full throttle can be a pain. Will the M1100T be as unruly or less so? I realize this is a fairly ridiculous scenario to set up but I'm sure someone on here has had a similar experience.

Stuck is stuck, and the 1100 is a heavy beast when its stuck, but it rides great, handles great, and has retarded power with the EVO stuff. I've never ridden a stock one, so I can't relate, but 30 minutes on my EVO Big Chute 250 hp 1100 and I would rather stay home and work on something in the shop than ride my M8 Snopro 162 again. The pumped up 1100's are easy to ride, easy to throw around, predictable, smooth, and NASTY all at the same time. Nothing unruly other than maybe the lack of a beautiful 2 stroke smell in the morning!

 

[snowhawkaddict]

What r you waiting four?

Get it tomorrow, or the day before!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_nF551TSlc

I'd reconsider, sounds delightful.

Its not like I want a glorious day long ride into the sunset, just 15-20min on each one if that to see which I like better. I don't want to bomb a sled (I don't own) through trees, or rip some big slope, a simple clear meadow will do. No BS required. Just an hour of your demo time. **** I would have been willing to cover gas for the sleds and towing. A cheap price to avoid buyers remorse.

Have them make it a steal and the joke's on them, your then free to reminisce!

At least you asked politely.

 

[snowmobiler]

I blame my peers for getting stereotyped with this crap.

its not about age.its your money the greedy salesman want to see.

 

[izzni]

Stay away from the Proclimb! I personally have had:
1) Rear Idlers Delaminate
1.5) Reverse doesn't work, even after the update (waiting on backordered parts).
2) Rear Sisscor Arm have a weld crack at 200 miles so that grease would come out.
3) Bolt holes at tue front shock mount in the skid egg out.
4) Smart Valves needed to be switched around.
5) Thumb warming break.
6) Coolant tank split, likely toasting my motor without a temp light.

If it is correct that most have no problems then the odds of mine having 6 problems is astronomically high.

The more likely explanation is that everything besides the motor is garbage. Not only that, but they double down on relying on the garbage. Put a glued coolant tank on it? Double down on it working by making it black and unable to be checked unless the hood comes off (which takes an extra 20 minutes). Then lets make sure the glued seam is **** to ice the cake!

Make a sled that chews up belts? Then make sure a belt change is difficult, involves sharp edges, the belt guard can't handle the impact, the belly pan cracks from the impact, and then have no belt holder.

The Pro's engine may only last 2000 miles, but it will get you to the 2000 miles. The Proclimb will he one cluster **** after another.

 

[knifedge]

Pros blow qd belts
Pros blow drivshafts
Pros blow motors
Pros bend tunnels
Fun sled though if powder meadows, steep sidehills is mostly all you do

 

[Hillclimbpro]

Stay away from the Proclimb! I personally have had:
1) Rear Idlers Delaminate
1.5) Reverse doesn't work, even after the update (waiting on backordered parts).
2) Rear Sisscor Arm have a weld crack at 200 miles so that grease would come out.
3) Bolt holes at tue front shock mount in the skid egg out.
4) Smart Valves needed to be switched around.
5) Thumb warming break.
6) Coolant tank split, likely toasting my motor without a temp light.

If it is correct that most have no problems then the odds of mine having 6 problems is astronomically high.

The more likely explanation is that everything besides the motor is garbage. Not only that, but they double down on relying on the garbage. Put a glued coolant tank on it? Double down on it working by making it black and unable to be checked unless the hood comes off (which takes an extra 20 minutes). Then lets make sure the glued seam is **** to ice the cake!

Make a sled that chews up belts? Then make sure a belt change is difficult, involves sharp edges, the belt guard can't handle the impact, the belly pan cracks from the impact, and then have no belt holder.

The Pro's engine may only last 2000 miles, but it will get you to the 2000 miles. The Proclimb will he one cluster **** after another.

Sounds to me like you are having minor problems compared to some others. I've only heard of a handful of people having issues with the coolant tank. Now for your motor possibly being toast I would say that is on you. You knew your sled was leaking coolant yet you kept riding it(doesn't sound very smart). I would take a crapy coolant tank, a non working reverse, broken thumb warmer over broken drive shaft, broken drive belt any day. Cause in the end the six problems you listed could all happen at the same time and you could still get your sled back to the truck under its own power. Just my 2 cents. I love my 1100t.

 

[RACINSTATION]

Sadly it looks like I may be spending my money elsewhere. The Cat dealer in town seems to think that their demo sleds should be used for in house recreation instead of customer demos. Is this on par with industry standard?

Last week, I get it, we got some snow they guys in house want to play, but hey we'll call you this week and figure out next weekend....no call by Friday afternoon and I know I've been written off as a kid looking for a free day on snow...sad.

I may be 22 but when I walk into a dealer and tell them I want to buy a sled off the floor, but before I do I want a test to see which one is right for me, I expect to be taken seriously. I wanted a new sled without the risk of getting into it blind.

Its not like I want a glorious day long ride into the sunset, just 15-20min on each one if that to see which I like better. I don't want to bomb a sled (I don't own) through trees, or rip some big slope, a simple clear meadow will do. No BS required. Just an hour of your demo time. **** I would have been willing to cover gas for the sleds and towing. A cheap price to avoid buyers remorse.

I blame my peers for getting stereotyped with this crap.

Maybe when I'm 35 I can walk into a Cat dealer and get that elusive demo or course by then 4 stroke turbos will weigh 350lbs and I wont need a demo...

Sorry Arctic Cat I don't like the way your dealership is running. Customer wants a quick on snow demo, I don't think that is something that gets put on the back burner. I'm taking my business elsewhere even if it means waiting for a four stroke.

Maybe I'm wrong and please flame me, but I really struggle to believe the snowmobile industry is driven by blind purchases. But then again I'm young and probably know nothing.

Have been a dealer in the past, I can see both sides of this coin. I may offer you some recommendations.

1. If you are going to finance the sled, fill out a credit application and get approved so they know you are dead serious. If you are paying cash, just tell them that.

2. Ask them if they have a customer or two that are about your age that ride the ProClimb and see if you can meet up with them and take a spin to see what you think.

3. See if one of the sales guys rides and if you might meet up with him as well.

If this doesn't work, go somewhere else.

One thing that you said that I actually like to hear is that the guys in the shop ride. Too many shops now days are just big box. Most of the sales people are not riders, this is just a 9 to 5 for them. Find a dealer that has some passion about the industry. If you are in a big town, remember that your dealer probably has 5 to 10 guys come through the door each day that are "going to buy" and are just jerking their chain. Don't let your age be a factor, they are not taking you any less serious than a 50 year old. And last but not least, remember that we are all people and if you get a guy in a bad mood.....he might just be in a bad mood. Just like you or I, he will be in a better mood tomorrow.

 

[diggerdown]

I don't know of any dealers around here that would let anyone take a sled for a test ride. They don't want you to pull on the rope! Thats every brand....there are some major insurance issues with sleds and it's hard for them to ride along like they would in a car taken for a test drive.

 

[Sage Crusher]

Stay away from the Proclimb! I personally have had:
1) Rear Idlers Delaminate
1.5) Reverse doesn't work, even after the update (waiting on backordered parts).
2) Rear Sisscor Arm have a weld crack at 200 miles so that grease would come out.
3) Bolt holes at tue front shock mount in the skid egg out.
4) Smart Valves needed to be switched around.
5) Thumb warming break.
6) Coolant tank split, likely toasting my motor without a temp light.

If it is correct that most have no problems then the odds of mine having 6 problems is astronomically high.

The more likely explanation is that everything besides the motor is garbage. Not only that, but they double down on relying on the garbage. Put a glued coolant tank on it? Double down on it working by making it black and unable to be checked unless the hood comes off (which takes an extra 20 minutes). Then lets make sure the glued seam is **** to ice the cake!

Make a sled that chews up belts? Then make sure a belt change is difficult, involves sharp edges, the belt guard can't handle the impact, the belly pan cracks from the impact, and then have no belt holder.

The Pro's engine may only last 2000 miles, but it will get you to the 2000 miles. The Proclimb will he one cluster **** after another.

It appears you have a 2012- all addressed on the 13's

S/C

 

[izzni]

Sounds to me like you are having minor problems compared to some others. I've only heard of a handful of people having issues with the coolant tank. Now for your motor possibly being toast I would say that is on you. You knew your sled was leaking coolant yet you kept riding it(doesn't sound very smart). I would take a crapy coolant tank, a non working reverse, broken thumb warmer over broken drive shaft, broken drive belt any day. Cause in the end the six problems you listed could all happen at the same time and you could still get your sled back to the truck under its own power. Just my 2 cents. I love my 1100t.

It being low on RPM is what made me stop, which then allowed me to smell coolant. Whatever happened to the motor happened before I knew the tank split. That being said, I'm sure Cat Care will think like you.

 

[rrjames]

Alright this is a reply in mass. Sorry this would have turned into a quote sandwich if I didn't do it this way.

I never asked the dealer to turn me loose with a sled on my own like I said. I'm not looking for some day long ride, 20 minutes tops with each sled in a meadow. No rocket science there in my opinion. and I'm fine with a babysitter I don't want to go nuts on a sled I don't own.

I understand that there are risks in doing a demo that can be mitigated through a fairly simple waiver. Car dealerships do demos everyday, some without paper work. I would assume a sled dealer especially this one can or have such paperwork. To be clear the alternative sled shop had said paperwork and I'm going for a demo of just the sort I described on Sunday. To be even clearer polaris has a link for a test ride on their main page. If rides arent a part of the industry I must be sorely mistaken.

Why does a shop have a demo sled if they can't put a potential customer on it for a few minutes? Why would a shop offer to take you out on said demo only to re-nig and say that the guys in the back want to go play. (I'm not doubting this it just seems like bad business)

I blame my age for my interest not being taken seriously I'm sure people on here even are falling into the same pitfall. I also blame my age as being a target for irresponsibility stereotypes. This is why I don't fault the logistical difficulties in making it happen. This was not the case however.

I'm not interested in smearing this shop so I will refrain from saying what most of the guys in there ride but its not sleds. Some may have noticed that I changed my location in an effort to cover up which shop.

My primary grumble is priorities here when I, as a probable paying customer, am looking to try a sled that I intend to pay in full (that should answer the financing bit) for and your boys go play and you forget to call, what's it going to be like when I need to get my new sled fixed....???

I feel like the dealership should put a customer first and the guys in the back second. Hell send the guys in the shop out with me I'll be done getting my picture after 20 minutes and know what I want so I can buy one and go crazy on my own sled on my own insurance.

Its clear, however, that my image of how this should work and how it does are very different. I will favor the dealership where I have connections.

 

[wasatchcomm]

i never saw where you are located but if in my area id let you take mine for a spin...

all the new sleds have issues of some sort, but i think the cats are pretty well put together

 

[MTN_VIPER]

Something that may help is contacting some local snowmobile clubs to see if they have any special events planned.
Each year our club, Northwest Glacier Cruisers sponsors an event called "The Mt. Baker Shoot out/BBQ". We invite all the local dealers to bring up their new iron. Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo and Polaris (the local Yamaha dealer doesn't sell sleds) will bring demo sleds and in some cases even the latest factory demo sled, for riders to try out on the mountain.
Its a great way to ride the different brands back to back in the same snow conditions.
Also sometimes the dealer demo sleds will already have some of the more popular mods done, so it gives you a chance to try out a sled after its had mods done to it as well.

Bill

 

[madmax]

We take customers out for demo rides pretty much every week throughout the year. They ride the stock sleds and the mod sleds. I know most dealers dont do it, but its who we are. We ride anyway so why not let customers come along.