Can-Am Headquarters ...Aurora Wheelers ATV Forum > ATVs > Arctic Cat > Second Run of Thundercats Available |
| Moderated by: zac41, Voodoo, QUADAHOLIC, OSOKILL, MtnOuty, Kratos, fmj40, chilty24, cc1999 |
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| Second Run of Thundercats Available - Arctic Cat - ATVs - Can-Am Headquarters ...Aurora Wheelers ATV Forum | ||||||||||||||||
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I-B-Don Member 
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I got a call a couple days ago from Steel Horses in Lufkin, TX saying that they had two Thundercats in stock. I just called them back and they're still available. Appearently the Thundercarts are not as much in demand as the first run in late December.  I don't know if it's the high price or our reviews slowing the demand. All I know is she told me they were getting some from other dealers that are having problems selling them. Personally, I love mine and plan to keep it until the wheels fall off of it.
____________________ 08 Thundercat 950 (Silver) - 27" Mudlite Radial XTR's, front bumper add-on, Winch, & Sway-bar. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 GPS (red) - Donated to wife. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 (green) - Sold. |
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cc1999 Mod 
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Ya, They called me too last week, my dealer up here has had one on the floor now for well over 30days. I am sure its that 10k to 10K+ price tag they have on them. The side by side market sure seems to be going super strong. Last year I was the only one at the Dunes with a RZR, last weekend there had to be 100 of them running around, along with reg Rangers, lots and lots of Rhino's, I even saw at least a dozen of those new KAWI's out there. If AC is smart they will get that 950 motor into there side by side ASAP.
____________________ Current Quads: 2009 Outlander Black 800R XT 2009 Sportsman 850 XP EPS Stealth Black "Ordered" Due in NOV/DEC 2008 Polaris Sportsman 800 X2 LE Stealth Black, Bumpers, handguards, 26" Bighorns, on Black OEM cast alum rims, side bags, and one big ole ice chest. 2006 Outlander 840 RED, Woods pipe, Cowtown Clutch work, Diamond G/Chapman heads/ Diamond G Cams / Power Commander III, Renegade seperate brakes, XT hand guards, 26" Bighorn Radials on Black type 7 rims. Recent Past Quads: 2008 ThunderCat 1000,2006 Diamond G Outy 800,2008 Honda White Rincon 680 EFI,2008 Polaris 800 RZR,2007 Can-am Renegade 800,2006 Outlander 800 XT , 2006 Outlander MAX 800,2005 Polaris 800 Sportsman |
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I-B-Don Member
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I think you're absolutely right, CC. They do need to put the big-bore in the Prowler. That would put them out in front of the competition more than the Thundercat did. I know the Thundercat isn't that fast on the trails but, excluding the RZR, neither is ANY side X side. It makes you wonder why THEIR popularity has grown so much in the past year, while the demand for the Thundercat has seemingly died. All of the multi-riders I looked at cost near, if not more than, the $10.5K Thundercat. It will be interesting to see, when CanAm comes out with a $12K machine, if that deters sells for them as well.
____________________ 08 Thundercat 950 (Silver) - 27" Mudlite Radial XTR's, front bumper add-on, Winch, & Sway-bar. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 GPS (red) - Donated to wife. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 (green) - Sold. |
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RaiderMike67 Member 
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I bet the overall economy has something to do with this as well. I also think that because it's more of a mud/rock machine it has a limited audience.
____________________ 06 Outlander 800, 25" Kenda Bounty Hunters front, 25" Duro Power Grips rear, HMF Penland Exhaust,HPG front shocks, billet shifter, racks removed, XT handguards, plastic skids, 06 Dodge Ram "Bighorn" Crystal Red, 17" Wildcats, Ram Chrome wheels, Line-X, 06 Saturn ION |
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Revicm Lifer on parole as a Mod 
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I-B-Don wrote:
I think it has to do with the age of the baby boomers. 
____________________ Don't start a fight with an old man, he will be to old to fight and will just kill ya. Donate here !!! |
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cc1999 Mod
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Sounds like a lot of likely very valid points being made. It could be a combination of them all. I just got home from the MUD Nats. I had a chance to visit the AC trailer, and talked with the AC guys, they told me there was a custom 950 side by side there at the NATs putting on show. I told them it be nice to see one in production Prowler. The AC guys did say there was some ideas being kicked around by AC and one mentioned there was already a prototype in existance. I told them that it would be a great idea, and that it likely really boost there side by side sales. The prowler is one of the more comforatable side by sides but its also the slowest. If they give it the 950 that will solve there power problem.
____________________ Current Quads: 2009 Outlander Black 800R XT 2009 Sportsman 850 XP EPS Stealth Black "Ordered" Due in NOV/DEC 2008 Polaris Sportsman 800 X2 LE Stealth Black, Bumpers, handguards, 26" Bighorns, on Black OEM cast alum rims, side bags, and one big ole ice chest. 2006 Outlander 840 RED, Woods pipe, Cowtown Clutch work, Diamond G/Chapman heads/ Diamond G Cams / Power Commander III, Renegade seperate brakes, XT hand guards, 26" Bighorn Radials on Black type 7 rims. Recent Past Quads: 2008 ThunderCat 1000,2006 Diamond G Outy 800,2008 Honda White Rincon 680 EFI,2008 Polaris 800 RZR,2007 Can-am Renegade 800,2006 Outlander 800 XT , 2006 Outlander MAX 800,2005 Polaris 800 Sportsman |
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I-B-Don Member
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While one would suspect the overall economy would slow any ATV market sells, the following link indicates otherwise. It is an interview discussing how Polaris sales beat their projections. Also, at the end, he declines to comment on a Polaris buyout of Arctic Cat. http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=money&vid=ead2c712-45b6-40c7-bfa0-3b93fb80aff2 I would like to think putting the 950 in the Prowler would help turn Arctic Cat company profitable again, but I'm starting to wonder if it would really make a difference. I do think it would be a larger gain for them than the introduction of the Thundercat and wouldn't take any major retooling to make it fit, keeping their production costs essentially the same.
____________________ 08 Thundercat 950 (Silver) - 27" Mudlite Radial XTR's, front bumper add-on, Winch, & Sway-bar. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 GPS (red) - Donated to wife. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 (green) - Sold. |
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I-B-Don Member
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Revicm wrote: I-B-Don wrote: Be nice.... I AM a baby boomer (1957 model) & I don't consider myself old yet. I still love my Thundercat.
____________________ 08 Thundercat 950 (Silver) - 27" Mudlite Radial XTR's, front bumper add-on, Winch, & Sway-bar. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 GPS (red) - Donated to wife. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 (green) - Sold. |
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OSOKILL Admin Assist/ Enforcer 
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I am wondering if the increased sales isnt caused by the price of gas. maybe a lot of the 4x4 crowd that would normally be driving their jeeps and trucks around are opting for the better gas milage of the ATV. 
____________________ Team Outty 800 Member #24 |
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I-B-Don Member
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I'm sure economy, be it gas prices or the ATV price, has some to do with it, but it seems that the Thundercat's popularity has been especially short lived. I had a Jeep Wrangler Sport that got about 11 MPG on a good day. But my Thundercat only gets about 14 MPG. I paid more for the Thundercat new than I did the Jeep, which I bought used. I guess my point, when it comes to prces, is that the economy only seems to be affencting the sales of the Thundercat? That doesn't make sense. I know the side-by-sides costs as just as much, if not more. While I never personally considered buying a side X side, I do know a couple of friends who bought them because, in the state of Texas, they can be made 'street legal' whereas an ATV cannot be, unless you have a farm exemption. So, if a person wanted one for that purpose, or they were a rancher hauling alot of stuff around their farm, or a hunter, I can understand the usefulness of the side X side vehicle. But, I would dare to estimate, 90% of us bought an expensive toy, so that is what brought me to wonder why the popularity of the Thundercat died after the first run in late December. Surely more than 30 - 40 people in two countries would both like to have one, and can afford it. It just doesn't make any sense to me that folks anxiously waited as long as we did, and now the machines are backing up at the dealerships. BTW, quite a few dealers in my area have gotten out of the Arctic Cat business. I'm reasonably sure I will have to get a shadetree mechanic to service mine or do it myself. 
____________________ 08 Thundercat 950 (Silver) - 27" Mudlite Radial XTR's, front bumper add-on, Winch, & Sway-bar. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 GPS (red) - Donated to wife. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 (green) - Sold. |
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RaiderMike67 Member
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I've been suggesting a Polaris buy out of A/C for a while, it only makes sense, both are based in MN and feature similar products. Polaris has a huge military contract so any numbers they report are skewed by that. IMO the market is crowded right now and one or two manufacturers may have to pull out. KTM just introduced two ATV's, although they are the same as the Polaris it also competes with the new DS450. The cost of raw materials has skyrocketed with the emerging developing countries, this puts a huge strain on manufacturers because they can only absorb so much of that cost before passing it on to US. I'm guessing you'll see some consolidation. In the end it's quality that will determine who survives and who goes by the wayside.
____________________ 06 Outlander 800, 25" Kenda Bounty Hunters front, 25" Duro Power Grips rear, HMF Penland Exhaust,HPG front shocks, billet shifter, racks removed, XT handguards, plastic skids, 06 Dodge Ram "Bighorn" Crystal Red, 17" Wildcats, Ram Chrome wheels, Line-X, 06 Saturn ION |
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Goodsound 
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Yeah, and we all know Polaris is all about quality... Oops, did I just type that out loud??? 
____________________ I just ralphed... |
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RaiderMike67 Member
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I'm still waiting for ATVModster to tell us how they can't keep them in stock up where he's at and how they're all you see on the trails up there.
____________________ 06 Outlander 800, 25" Kenda Bounty Hunters front, 25" Duro Power Grips rear, HMF Penland Exhaust,HPG front shocks, billet shifter, racks removed, XT handguards, plastic skids, 06 Dodge Ram "Bighorn" Crystal Red, 17" Wildcats, Ram Chrome wheels, Line-X, 06 Saturn ION |
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zac41 Night Shift Deputy 
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Be nice Mike, or I'll sick OSO on you!!!
____________________ 06 Outlander 800 XT Camo-Ricochet skidz, HMF pipe, Dobeck, Dalton 03 Honda Rincon- MBRP pipe, Dynojet Kit, K&N  Team Outty 800 Member #4 |
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atvmodster Member 
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Pretty hard to see tcats everywhere when you can't get them up hear. There's two in my province that i know of.
____________________ 2008 Thundercat 950 H2!!! Black Magic Exhaust 3.6 Gears 25 inch maxxis Razr 4-speed tires (racing) 29.5 inch Highlifter Outlaws (mudding) Motosport Alloy Tork rims Fully Snorkaled Lifted 2006 Red Can-Am Outlander XT 800 H.O (SOLD) Had just about everything done to it possible! |
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RaiderMike67 Member
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OK, fingers off the triggers boys, point taken!
____________________ 06 Outlander 800, 25" Kenda Bounty Hunters front, 25" Duro Power Grips rear, HMF Penland Exhaust,HPG front shocks, billet shifter, racks removed, XT handguards, plastic skids, 06 Dodge Ram "Bighorn" Crystal Red, 17" Wildcats, Ram Chrome wheels, Line-X, 06 Saturn ION |
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giant22000 Member 
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I'm very suprised that it does not have more attention that what it has had! When the Outlander 800's came out, there were plenty of user reviews / opinions. Not so with the Thundercat! Only a few people have them. I find it hard to believe....
____________________ 2007 Can-Am Outlander 800 XT - Completely stock except the Adapt-a-Hitch. 2007 Kazuma Falcon 110 (Blue) - For my 6 yr old son! 1989 Kawasaki Bayou 220 - Still running strong! 2005 Yamaha Grizzly 660SE - Sold. Team Outty 800 Member #316 |
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RaiderMike67 Member
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Maybe it's just plain too big for most people? As I stated in a different thread, after a few long days of riding and feeling kind of beat up I decided to hit the weight bench and it's made quite a differences. People I know who have never ridden are like "what are you doing to get sore, the machine does all the work" LOL.
____________________ 06 Outlander 800, 25" Kenda Bounty Hunters front, 25" Duro Power Grips rear, HMF Penland Exhaust,HPG front shocks, billet shifter, racks removed, XT handguards, plastic skids, 06 Dodge Ram "Bighorn" Crystal Red, 17" Wildcats, Ram Chrome wheels, Line-X, 06 Saturn ION |
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cc1999 Mod
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This site even though its trying to grow the other brands, is still dominated by Can-am owners. So if you want to find the bulk of the AC owners, there are other sites like this one, that are dominated by ACs, including several T-cat owners. However that said the T-cat, I feel will never have the mass appeal that the Outy has, since there are more trail riders around the world than there are Mud riders, and the T-cat does seem to appeal to the mud crowd more than the trail crowd.
____________________ Current Quads: 2009 Outlander Black 800R XT 2009 Sportsman 850 XP EPS Stealth Black "Ordered" Due in NOV/DEC 2008 Polaris Sportsman 800 X2 LE Stealth Black, Bumpers, handguards, 26" Bighorns, on Black OEM cast alum rims, side bags, and one big ole ice chest. 2006 Outlander 840 RED, Woods pipe, Cowtown Clutch work, Diamond G/Chapman heads/ Diamond G Cams / Power Commander III, Renegade seperate brakes, XT hand guards, 26" Bighorn Radials on Black type 7 rims. Recent Past Quads: 2008 ThunderCat 1000,2006 Diamond G Outy 800,2008 Honda White Rincon 680 EFI,2008 Polaris 800 RZR,2007 Can-am Renegade 800,2006 Outlander 800 XT , 2006 Outlander MAX 800,2005 Polaris 800 Sportsman |
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I-B-Don Member
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I agree that the mainstream AC owners are posting on the other websites. And I know their popularity isn't likely to be on par with the Outlanders and/or Renegades. I just thought there would have been more than 30 or 40 of us willing to buy them. And several dealers are substantiating the fact that demand has petered out on the Thundercats after only being in their fourth month and second production run. These facts don't affect how I feel about the fact that I did chose to buy mine. Even though I prefer trail riding and have NEVER been mudding, and there are better trail ATV's on the market, I am not sorry I bought one. I would choose it over the other models available if I were buying it again today. I'm just amazed that Arctic Cat took about a year to design and promote a vehicle that sales died on after only 4 months of production. One good thing that could come out of this is the MSRP may have to come down, or at least the dealers may have to come off of it. But, with the shape AC stock is in, I doubt they can afford to lower it. And like we've already commented, the other high priced ATV (such as side X sides) are still selling.
____________________ 08 Thundercat 950 (Silver) - 27" Mudlite Radial XTR's, front bumper add-on, Winch, & Sway-bar. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 GPS (red) - Donated to wife. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 (green) - Sold. |
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I-B-Don Member
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RaiderMike67 wrote: Maybe it's just plain too big for most people? As I stated in a different thread, after a few long days of riding and feeling kind of beat up I decided to hit the weight bench and it's made quite a differences. Can you define "Too Big" for me.....? I didn't know there was any such thing! LOL
____________________ 08 Thundercat 950 (Silver) - 27" Mudlite Radial XTR's, front bumper add-on, Winch, & Sway-bar. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 GPS (red) - Donated to wife. 05 Honda Rubicon 500 (green) - Sold. |
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