New Ski Doo Snowmobile

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Maxum;

I figure I did my research buy owning a 600 Etec on an XP for two years now. Pretty much trouble free and by far the smoothest, quickest, and best trail handling sled I have ever owned and I have owned quite a few. Yes there have been some minor issues with the newer technology Etecs and all of the more serious ones are from riders who try to add performance enhancements such as pipes and other engine mods. You simply cannot and should not do it with these new sleds as they are all computer controlled and most of these enhancements seriously affect these controls.

I think BRP has done a great job with their new Etec engine. My 600 has all the power and speed I need on any trail New England has to offer, but spending more time riding on the open lake now, the 800 Etec sure is tempting!! You can never have enough power!

Dan

I am with you Dan. I bought an '09 Renegade 600 etec last fall, and love it so far. Not that I have been able to do all that many miles yet, but so far so good.
I also have an '04 Rev 500ss that has been virtually trouble-free aside from the blown engine (top-end only) last winter. I can't blame Ski Doo for that one, as I did not clean my carbs pre-season, and I was going 90+ across a lake when it blew.

I would def try the 800 etec, but I am prefectly happy with a 600.

[LIforrelaxin]

I read threads like this, and here about the problems that are out there, And what some people see and don't see. Like boats Snowmobiles are season toys. How long they last and how much trouble someone has, is directly linked, to a how they enjoy them durring the season and off season. The more abuse you throw at a machine, the more likely it is to fail. Additionally, if you don't take the time to do the required maintence durring the season, or at the end / begining of the season you are likely to have more issues....

Last one has to remember these machines are designed and built by humans..... Mis-wiring causing issues, is a problem in everything we buy... and it doesn't have to be hooking something wrong to be a miswire... a wire with a nik in it grounding out to the chaise is just as bad....

In short take care of your machines, and you are less likely to fail.... All machines have issue... not all engines are designed, well, but how you treat them and how you maintain them has a lot to do with how much the flaws, are able to ruin your day.

[codeman671]

Having both an 04 Rev X-800 (with some mods ) and a 2010 Cat snopro 500 (with some mods ) I am torn between the two brands. I swore off Polaris years ago and am just not into the Yamaha's. My rev is a screamer being set up by Bickfords but have been curious about trying an e-tec. Being a skidoo owner, a past club president and logging many miles a year I can honestly say that I always witnessed the BRP products breaking down more than the other brands. These days I dont have enough time to ride much so I cant see spending the money. I bought my cat because it was a smoking deal and plan to flip it, although I enjoyed riding it. Very nimble, quick and comfortable. The rev however just has great all out power and still handles solidly.

Dealer support is big for me, Rochester Sports Center being a local cat dealer always treats me like a king. There are no good skidoo dealers around unless I go out to Epsom which is out of the way for me. I dont have any experience with Irwin/Hillcrest however since I like my machines modded a bit I want to work with a dealer that has race experience.

I'll give it a while to see the kinks work out before I considered the new e-tec 800. I am hearing enough ups and downs about the current e-tec 600's and powertek 800's.

[Irrigation Guy]

See more Skidoo's broken down because there are more out there than any other sled. I usually see yamaha's broken myself.

We have a great skidoo dealer right here in Moultonboro. Their tech's are very knowledgable and they offer great customer service. Couldn't be happier. The 600 etech is loved by everyone I've talked to that has one or have seen post. Haven't heard any recurring problems either.

I haven't heard of many electrical problems either.

BTW - I've owned Cat's, Polaris's, and ski-doo's. The skidoo's are the most well put together and thought out machines out of the bunch.

They go very well and handle the bumps better than the rest too.

[Formula]

I have bought nothing but AC's until last year.
The prior year i bought a new AC Turbo T660 and had secondary clutch and belt issues from day one. It was in the shop 3-5 times the first winter. The dealer stated that they fixed it at the end of the winter. I stored the machine and low and behold i still ahd the same problem the beginning on the next season. The responce is we did all we could you will need to but and after market secondary clutch. I called AC manufacturer and they would not stand behind the problem. I will not buy another AC for that reason alone. Also i will niot use the dealer again on other brands. They should have stood with me to battle the manufacturer and they did not...they lost my business which by the way, i bought 4 AC's in 4 years!

[Formula]

I forgot to mention that last year i purchased a 2009 Skidoo MXZ 1200 and love it. Although i need more snow!!