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Everybody says that if you’re gonna upgrade a sled you should look for a model at least 2 years older than the one you have in the moment. So I decided to check what Arctic Cat did with the 2007 F5 model and if the 2009 version is worth getting as an upgrade. To tell you the truth the only upgrade I notice is in the price. Other than changing the design a little bit the sled is absolutely the same. Not that it’s bad, but for the new price it’s given there are so many better sleds out there. For that money you can easily get something lighter, faster and more reliable. Compare the characteristics if you want, so it won’t be like I’m just talking all those things out of the blue:

MODEL    F5
M.S.R.P. *    8,199.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    499 cc
BORE X STROKE    71 x 63 mm
CARBURETION    38 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    84 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms with hydraulic twin tube shocks and swaybar; 9.5 in. (241.3 mm) travel
Rear: Slide-action frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and hydraulic twin tube shocks; 13.5 in. (342.9 mm) travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    Tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic saddleless
LENGTH    118 in. (2,997 mm)
WIDTH    47.25 in. (1,200 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 15 x 1 in. (3,251 x 381 x 25.4 mm)
SKI STANCE    43 in. (1,092 mm)
DRY WEIGHT    509 lbs
FUEL CAPACITY    12.6 gal. (47.7 l)

The 2007 F5 was preferable over the 2007 F6, so is this one. As a matter of fact the 2007 F5 is preferable over this one too, so if you’re thinking of an upgrade you better look for another completely different sled. The “upgrades” of the 2009 F5 are definitely not worth the $1000 over the 07 model. Looks is just a small part of the sled you’re getting. If you’re smart you’ll be thinking about the performance first.

Considering the price you’ll think this is one extreme machine, capable of doing anything you want it to. The reality though is slightly different. We’re not talking about the lack of power, or poor comfort level or even difficulties in handling, we’re talking about weight. Weight is the only thing that puts this sled way below the average Arctic Cat. The other components are right there on place, but being so heavy (and especially when we’re talking about 2008 model) is an absolute disappointment. Yes, it’s fast and comfortable and reliable, but getting stuck in the snow with it…trust me it’s not the dream day out to spend. Anyway here are its specifications:

MODEL    Crossfire 1000
M.S.R.P. *    $11,399.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    999 cc
BORE X STROKE    90.3 x 78 mm
CARBURETION    50 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VI dbl-wishbone A-arms, lt-wght alum. AC gas (IFP) shocks, adj. preload springs w/ swaybar; 9.2 in. (233.7 mm) travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail, adj. torsion springs, lt-wght alum. AC (IFP) shocks, TSL rear arm; 17 in. (431.8 mm) travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe, pipe sensor and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic saddleless
LENGTH    127 in. (3,226 mm)
WIDTH    46.5 in. (1,181 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1.25 in. (3,454 x 381 x 31.75 mm)
SKI STANCE    42 - 44 in. (1,067 - 1,118 mm) adjustable
FUEL CAPACITY    12.2 gal. (46.18 l)

It’s an overall a good sled…it most certainly looks good. The weight could even be forgiven if it was a four stroke. But after all the experience with 2-stroke sleds, not to be able to reduce the weight, is something Arctic Cat should be ashamed of. And the price is not even reflecting the reality. With so many much better working sleds out there, you shouldn’t even be considering getting this one.  Just look around for something else and leave this one way back in the list.

Here’s another great looking 2008 model. The F570 is lightweight, fan-cooled and downright fun to ride. It’s not the best Arctic Cat to get, but it works great for a beginner or intermediate rider. The sled has nice mid range, but pretty much lacks the top end. It handles easily since it’s small and if you’re into tight trails it will work miracles. The comfort is not perfect, but it will do. Mileage is good and I’m sure you’ll be happy with it. It’s a sled that deserves to be given a choice, so see its characteristics:

MODEL    F570
M.S.R.P. *    $6,499.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, fan-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    565 cc
BORE X STROKE    73.8 x 66 mm
CARBURETION    2 in. x VM 34
IGNITION    CDI
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII dbl-wishbone A-arms w/ hydraulic twin tube shocks and swaybar; 9.5 in. (241.3 mm) travel
Rear: Slide-action frame w/ coupling blocks, adj. torsion springs and hydraulic twin tube shocks; 13.5 in. (342.9 mm) travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    Tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic saddleless
LENGTH    121 in. (3,073 mm)
WIDTH    48 in. (1,219 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 15 x 1 in. (3,251 x 381 x 25.4 mm)
SKI STANCE    43 in. (1,092 mm)
FUEL CAPACITY    10.8 gal. (40.88 l)

The only issue with this the F570 is the gas cap. Many people have problems with it leaking, but that’s easy to fix. You just have to take it the dealers for a quick repair. The F570 is overall very reliable sled and other than the gas cap I don’t think you’ll have any problems with it. It’s also at an awesome price. It’s pretty much half the price of most of the Arctic Cat sleds. It really is a great beginner’s snowmobile to get. Think about it.

One thing’s for sure – this is one good looking sled. The T500 is newer in the Arctic Cat family and although they’ve done a great job with the design the performance isn’t the greatest. The machine is extremely comfortable (it’s true that it’s the most ergonomically correct touring machine nowadays), but it lacks the speed other Arctic Cats have. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fast, but if you’re into real speed you should know there are better Cats than this one. The handling is good. The thing is small so you shouldn’t have any problems there, still be careful on those turns as it tends to be a little tipsy. See the specifications:

MODEL    T500
M.S.R.P. *    $8,399.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    499 cc
BORE X STROKE    71 x 63 mm
CARBURETION    38 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII dbl-wishbone A-arms w/ hyd. 2 tube shocks, swaybar; 9.5 in. (241.3 mm)travel
Rear: Slide-Action frame w/cplng blocks, adj. tors. spr., hyd. 2 tube FAS, 2 in. (50.8 mm) dia. RAS, fbrgls ovrld spr., TSL rear arm; 13.3 in. (337.8 mm) travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    Tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic saddleless
LENGTH    128 in. (3,251 mm)
WIDTH    47 in. (1,194 mm)
TRACK LXWXH    144 x 15 x 1 in. (3,658 x 381 x 25.4 mm) Quiet Track
SKI STANCE    43 in. (1,092 mm)
FUEL CAPACITY    12.7 gal. (48.07 l)

Overall it is one good sled, but I personally expected more of a 2008 model. You may have some trouble with the engine running rough at low rpm, but that’s about all the trouble you’ll get with the T500. On the bright side the thing doesn’t come at a very high price. It’s pretty good if you ask me. Still, if it was me I’d do some more searching before jump for it. Especially if we talk about speed, some of the older models are so much more worthy than this one.

Don’t be scared to take this machine to the mountains. It will handle them just perfectly.  The suspension is a dream to have under you and easy to set up to your weight and style of riding. It’s absolutely comfortable, no matter the terrain. The speed will amaze you too. And the handling is as easy as it ever gets. It’s a great sled to have and if you take care of it properly it will serve you well for many years to come. Here are the specifications for it:

MODEL    Crossfire 8 Sno Pro
M.S.R.P. *    $10,299.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    794 cc
BORE X STROKE    85 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    142 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VI double-wishbone A-arms with Fox Float shocks and sway bar; 9.2 in. travel
Rear: FasTrack LTS slide-rail, adjustable torsion springs, lightweight aluminum AC 2 in. diameter (IFP) shocks, TSL rear arm; 17 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe, pipe sensor and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic saddleless
LENGTH    127 in.
WIDTH    46.5 in.
TRACK LXWXH    136 x 15 x 1.25 in.
SKI STANCE    42 - 44 in. adjustable
DRY WEIGHT    510 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    11 gal.

The only thing i can put as a downside is that it does have a decent amount of vibration at idle. Once you start moving though you won’t even notice it. You’ll love this machine. It’s absolutely everything a rider may want – fast, comfortable, easy to handle, reliable. You should definitely give it a try. It will be money well spent and I’m sure once you try it you won’t regret that you’ve spent it.

The F1000 is the newest and by far the best of the Arctic Cat F series. And that certainly reflects the price, but at least now you know you’re spending that money on something that you’ll be happy with. Most of the problems pointed out in the previous F series reviews have been taken care of making this sled a great buy. You also have the speed up a lot. The comfort level’s still the same, but it has always been good with those sleds. There are no complains about the handling here and you’ll be amazed by the mileage of this thing. Here are the specifications:

MODEL    F1000
M.S.R.P. *    $11,099.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    999 cc
BORE X STROKE    90.3 x 78 mm
CARBURETION    50 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    162 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms with Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks and sway bar; 9.5 in. travel
Rear: Slide-action frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic ski saddleless
LENGTH    122 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 15 x 1 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    518 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.2 gal.

Nothing about the looks has been changed, so the F1000 is still as cute as the other Fs. The only problems you may expect here are with the starting in extreme conditions. Sometimes it may take a little longer to get it running. There sure is place for bettering the thing, but for now the F1000 is as good as it gets. The performance totally reflects the price and I know if you decide to get the sled you’ll be very happy with your choice.

Which one’s better – the 2007 F6 or the 2007 F5? It’s obvious that the F5 is even slower than the F6, but as I said in the previous review if you’re looking for a speed sled you should definitely be looking for some other Arctic Cat and not the F series. You can get the F5 up to 90mph on the ice and about 75-85mph on trail, but that’s about it. And don’t expect something way better than the F6. So basically what I’m saying is that the difference between the F5 and F6 is certainly not worth the $1300 more. You’ll be just as happy with the F5 as you’ll be with the F6, so why waste that money. If I have to choose between those two I go with the F5 in a heartbeat. Here are its specifications:

MODEL    F5
M.S.R.P. *    $7,299.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    499 cc
BORE X STROKE    71 x 63 mm
CARBURETION    38 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    84 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms with Ryde FX shocks and sway bar; 9.5 in. travel
Rear: Slide-action frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and Ryde FX shocks; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    Tuned pipe
SKIS    UHMW plastic ski saddleless
LENGTH    122 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 15 x 1 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    485 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.2 gal.

Note that the problems I pointed out in the F6 review stay 100%. You’ll still be dealing with a lot of break downs with this sled. And there will be regular visits to the dealers, that is for sure. Just think about that before spending all those money for a sled that’s not even that reliable. And if you’re totally in love with the F series spend some more money and get the F8 or the F1000, at least you know they’re upgraded and most of the problems are solved out.

I’m sure you’ve already figured that the F6 is the predecessor of the F8. There’s also an F5 model that we’re gonna talk about in the next review just to point out the differences and figure out which one’s the best choice. So, the difference between the F8 and the F6 is not that big , but it matters quite a bit so if you’re gonna chose between those two I say go with the F8 even though it’s near $1000 pricier. The biggest difference between the two is the power. The F6 is way slower than the F8 and if speed is what you’re going for the F6 is not the sled for you. It totally lacks top end speed which means you’ll be the one breathing the smoke. It’s comfortable though (just as comfortable as the F8) so if you’re not a speed freak you can save that $1000. But see the specifications before we continue:

MODEL    F6
M.S.R.P. *    $8,599.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    599 cc
BORE X STROKE    73.8 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    118 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VI double-wishbone A-arms with Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks and sway bar; 9.5 in. travel
Rear: Slide-acion frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic ski saddleless
LENGTH    122 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 15 x 1 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    498 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.2 gal.

Now, I don’t know why people are complaining about the handling of the F6 since it doesn’t differ at all from the F8, but they do and just have to mention it.  The biggest complain is that the F6 doesn’t steer the best in the corners. There’s also the wiring problem with the gauges again that the F8 obviously inherited. And that’s it. So again if you’re gonna choose between the F8 and the F6 go with the F8. Or just go with some other sled. There are plenty that deserve your attention better.

Like most of the Arctic Cat sleds the F8 is a pretty good one, too. It looks tiny because of the short track, but it actually performs very well on the trails and especially in the deep snow (believe it or not). Handling and suspension are excellent. Bumps are no longer something to be afraid of…the F8 just runs them over like they’re not even there. You have the speed and you have the comfort. It’s a good sled, but not one that shines over the others in the Arctic Cat family. Here are the specifications for it:

MODEL    F8
M.S.R.P. *    $9,499.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 2-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    794 cc
BORE X STROKE    85 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    46 mm throttle body batteryless EFI
HORSEPOWER    142 hp
IGNITION    3D
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms with Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks and sway bar; 9.5 in. travel
Rear: Slide-action frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Oil injection
EXHAUST    APV with tuned pipe and canister
SKIS    UHMW plastic ski saddleless
LENGTH    122 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
TRACK LXWXH    128 x 15 x 1 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    503 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    12.2 gal.

The only problem people complain about is the gauges. It may be some wiring problem cause after some time they just go crazy or entirely stop working. That’s an easy fix with one visit to the dealers, but you may wanna keep it in mind before you get the sled. The price is ok I think, it’s a 2007 model after all. You won’t be sorry if you decide to go with the F8, but it won’t be such a big loss if you go with something else.

The Jaguar – Z1 is all it’s talked up to be. Comfortable after hours of riding, fast enough as a trail performance sled, handles great on trail and holds straight through the flat out straightaways. The power of this thing is awesome – mainly because of the 4 stroke engine, but the most noticeable thing in it really is the comfort level. I can’t think of any other Arctic Cat sled that can beat up this one when it comes to comfort. The thing is also very maneuverable and easy to control. I’m sure you’ll love it. Here’re the specifications for it:

MODEL    Jaguar - Z1
M.S.R.P. *    $10,499.00
ENGINE    Suzuki, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder
DISPLACEMENT    1056 cc
BORE X STROKE    98 x 70 mm
CARBURETION    48 mm dual throttle body EFI
HORSEPOWER    123 hp
IGNITION    Full transistor/coil at plug
CLUTCH    Drive: Arctic 4-roller (rpm sensing)
Driven: Arctic (roller cam) ACT drive system
SUSPENSION    Front: AWS VII double-wishbone A-arms with Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks and sway bar; 9.5 in. travel
Rear: Slide-action frame with coupling blocks, adjustable torsion springs and Arctic Cat gas (IFP) shocks; 13.5 in. travel
BRAKES    Hydraulic disc
LUBRICATION    Dry sump
EXHAUST    Stainless steel
SKIS    UHMW plastic ski saddleless
LENGTH    118 in.
WIDTH    48 in.
HEIGHT    49 in. (top of windshield)
TRACK LXWXH    128 in. x 15 in. x 1.00 in.
SKI STANCE    43 in.
DRY WEIGHT    575 lbs.
FUEL CAPACITY    9.4 gal.

The only downside I can point out is the small fuel tank, but the machine is actually very economic so I don’t think size matters too much in this case. It’s a great sled to have. Especially if you’re tired already of the noisy and environmental unfriendly 2-stokes. The price is pretty fair too. I’m sure you’ll fall for this sled only after a few miles on it. Perfect may not be the right word since there’s always room for improvement, but this sled is pretty close of being just that – perfect.