Artic Cat Snowmobile

Artic Cat snowmobiles first emerged in the market over 40 years ago. Artic Cat are the major snowmobile manufacturer in the United States and also manufacture ATVs. Artic cat snowmobiles are one of the highest quality and best looking snowmobiles in the market.

Artic Cat Snowmobile

The first thing you should know is that each artic cat snowmobile comes powered with either one of two different types of engines – 2-stroke and 4-stroke.

For those of you who aren’t mechanically inclined, the 2-stroke engine requires the mixing of gasoline and oil to fuel the engine. Because you’re burning both oil and gasoline when the engine is running, it is less friendly to the environment. If it’s power you're after, though, this is the engine you want because it has twice the power of the 4-stroke engine.

By contrast, a 4-stroke engine requires only gasoline and is friendlier to the environment than the 2-strike engine. It is also quieter, is more fuel efficient and doesn’t smoke. They start more consistently and have a smoother idle reducing fuel consumption. They also generally have a long life-expectancy than the 2-stroke engines.

Snowmobile Retail

Okay. Enough techobabble. Let’s look at some Arctic Cat snowmobiles available for the 2009 sledding season. Arctic Cat provides a good variety of models with both types of engines for a variety of prices.

We’ll start with the more powerful 2-stroke engine models, which retail from $6,500 to $12,500 in the United States, likely a little more in Canada. At the lower end of the price scale we have the F570 which comes with a 565cc engine, double-wishbone front suspension, but is only available in green.

If you’re a little bit richer, perhaps the F1000 Sno Pro would impress you. It retails for $12,500 US. It is powered by a 999cc engine and comes in orange or green.

Both come standard with digital/analog tachometer and speedometer, electric gas gauge, high/low hand warmer and high/low thumb warmer (very important). The bonus with the F1000 is in the options – electric start, 2-passenger seat, hitch and 2-way radio communication.

X-Treme Snow 

For those that want to tackle a little more than just snow, or live in an area that gets snow in relative abundance, Arctic Cat has a machine for you as well. For example the M1000 162” Sno Pro is powered by a 999cc, 2-stroke engine but physically designed to take the rougher terrain of the mountains. This is a powerful but lightweight machine. Budget-wise the M1000 retails for $12,900.

If that’s a little too rich for you, consider the M6 for $9,200. Like its larger more powerful cousin, the M6 is nimble and powerful enough to tackle mountainous terrain.

The M1000 comes in white only. The M6 comes in black only.

I Feel the Need… 

Okay…so we’ve looked at machines for the ordinary Joe and those who have to tackle harder terrain. What about those who want to simply go fast? There’s an Arctic Cat snowmobile for you too. And, again, Arctic Cat’s Crossfire line features a variety of models for a similar variety of prices.

At the top of the line is the Crossfire 1000 Sno Pro which combines the horsepower of a 2-stroke, 999cc engine with performance, including a longer track (141 inches) to turn the powder into – well – powder. It also features some of the nicer things of the mountain-built models. This kind of speed will cost you, though, $12,400 US.

For a little cheaper ($9,800 US) is the Crossfire R8. It is powered by a 2-stroke, 794cc engine and uses a 14-inch by 128-inch track to cut through the snow.

The Crossfire is available in black or orange. The Crossfire 1000 is available only in white.

Going Luxury 

As with everything, there is good and then there is better. An upper class, so to speak. The same is true with an Arctic Cat snowmobile. And, again, even amongst the upper class there is good and then there is better.

For $14,000 US you’ve got the TZ1 Turbo Touring LXR which boasts a 4-stroke, 1056cc engine, 15-inch by 144-inch track, and an impressive list of standard features. It is available in a Black/Platinum blend.

For those who are happy with something simpler, try the Bearcat 570 for only $6,800 US with a 2-stroke, 565cc engine. It is available in blue.

Get Going! 

Of course what I’ve listed here is just the bare bones of what’s available in the Artic Cat snowmobile range. There are so many others in between and a bunch that will be released in the spring.

The only way you’re going to be able to decide which one is best for you is by visiting your local snowmobile shop and testing one for yourself. There are many features available and so many different variations of engines and performance characteristics.