2022 Insight – Arcticcat.com Snowmobile Configurator Feature

Was happy to see them add this to the site. Hopefully next year we will be able to use it on a new sled!

Thanks for sharing. To be honest, I hadn’t even gone to their website yet. Shame on me. This is good to see.

Blast still way overpriced. More value in a used sled.

A used sled is not a brand new sled. In my opinion the blast is not overpriced but that’s a very subjective thing. One could argue everything new is over priced and there is more value in used. Some people value things that are brand new.

TP – Given some thoughtful input, what do you think would be fair MSRP for Blast? (Lets focus on Blast ZR)

After owning, and spending winter with Blast ZR for myself and family members, here’s what I value: Reliability, Great fuel/oil consumption, electric start, reverse, great handling, and most importantly, the extremely high fun factor.

Kale…my adviced is for those interested in learning about actual cost of products is to use an inflation calculator. Best example…1994 Puma listed for $2995.00. Adjusted for inflation the same unit today would sell for less than $4500.00. Now consider manufacturers costs have dropped due to overseas suppliers,modern materials and technology, you will find a disproportionate difference between the cost to the dealer and customer. Dealers are being squeezed by the manufacturers.Hence your reason for outlandish parts pricing and availability.. The technology costs of the Blast was recovered years ago in higher priced models. If the price were accurate to the CPI, your dealer floors would be empty and your spring orders would be thru the roof. Past sales numbers indicate the price of the machines exceed the disposable income of your average consumer. Hence why few are going to spend 9k for a toy used 3 to 4 months annually or sign a 4 year promissory note resulting in a total outlay of 10 to 12k. Not a good investment. And as the numbrr decrease anually, so does the future of the industry. Add environmental concerns and your customer base falls rapidly.

You would think if you spring ordered, and ordered options you wanted, a deal would be had. Not so on what I checked. In fact would be paying almost double. Corporate America at the helm of CAT. Clueless. But hay what a great feature, normal people would just page threw the assessory catalog, and order up. Was a time when spring order/ snow check meant. Special colors, graphic’s, and clothing, even Helmets. Maybe at the Anniversary, they will make special edition hot sleds, and offers, never mind.

TP, I think your inflation calculator has some validity to it. I work at an Arctic Cat dealership, and even I opted to buy a 10 year old Sno Pro 500 for my son, instead of a brand new blast (because it cost roughly 1/3 as much). He has done really well on it, in the 175 miles or so that he rode it before winter ended.

That said, even for being the “most playful” and youth-friendly large sled Arctic Cat had built, prior to the Blast, it has its drawbacks. It’s heavier and harder for a small human to maneuver, the ride is way stiffer (they were designed for “jumping off the roof” on a snocross track), I have to start it for him because he can’t pull it over himself yet, and it doesn’t have reverse. Also, it just turned over 5000 miles, so I’ll be replacing drive bearings, and replacing the track, at a minimum, before putting it away for the summer.

Now imagine if I had sprung for the Blast (which he has ridden, and can’t stop talking about how much he loves it). He could start it, put it in the shed, and back it out again, with no help necessary. He’d also be more able to comfortably corner and sidehill on a lighter machine, and the suspension would be way softer and friendlier in the bumps for a rider his size. Then, this spring, I could grease the skid frame and put it in the shed, with no major maintenance necessary… and in the fall, pull the rope and go.

I knew these differences on the front end, so I’m certainly not complaining. That said, it’s not hard for me to imagine how someone would be willing to pay the price difference, given the above information. Also, take a ’96 Puma on a 100 mile ride, and then take a Blast, and see how you feel when you get done. I’m comparing to the previous “best youth machine” in my example. If you go back to 1996, they are absolutely, completely different.

Just food for thought. Thanks!

Eric…It is the buyers decision what they consider to be of value. I have owned many Cat’s in my life and i find that as prices increase, your customer base disappears. I go to the spring check open house dealer’s have and listen to families. It is abundantly clear that the cost of these sleds does not fall in line with the family budget. With it, people simply find other ways to entertain themselves. As our population increases, the customer base decreases. There is only one reason for that. Same for the reduction of members in snowmobile clubs. Sooner or later, there will be consequences for this.

Well, the configurator is certainly one step in the right direction. This stated, Polaris has set the bar extremely high for customers looking to build their ‘dream’ sled to their own standards and specifications.

Next step, please give customers the CHOICE of a groomed trail track, an ‘ice’ track and something like the 1.5 storm track. Then, make electric start an OPTION as not everyone wants the added 30-40lbs of parts on their sleds and I won’t get started (pun intended) on the entire ‘if you can’t pull the engine over maybe you shouldn’t be riding it’ conversation. LOL

I won’t get started on the entire colors & hues debate on this page, there’s already 226 complaints about it on the other one. LMAO

do the right thing guys… we’re counting on you

You can’t even get a 2-up seat option for the Riot 6000 which I tried this morning. No legitimate Touring sleds except the XR Blast, whatta shame.

I was faced with the question of get a blast or maybe do something else. Had $11,000 budget. Opted to go with the 600 80 horse ski doo in a 137 ski doo vs the blast configuration. With the doo I got a 2 up seat, don’t use the back rest and I got old school loud noisy fun 600 twin. Couldn’t be happier. I only put like 200 miles on it this year, but I’m a old school cat guy. 03 f7 6500 miles, 08 f1000 8500 miles, current ride is my 12 1100 turbo , 10000 miles.

Wasn’t sure what to do. With teenagers in the house!!! 600 efi doo renegade turned me into a damn teenager and I’m 48 years old!!

TP-I’m coming up with $5,400 for the modern day Puma, after inflation, given your 1994 MSRP. Also, it looks like in 1994, total sled sales were 100,000 units higher, world wide. 225,000 vs 124,000, approximate. Seems like you could distribute costs across more machines back then.
I’m thinking those points, combined with EFI, engine reverse, liquid cooling, greater suspension travel, and ergonomics will warrant the extra spread to get to the Blasts’ MSRP.

Kale-thanks for the website update. It seems this may be an area for improvement for Cat and getting their message out. Maybe I’m on the wrong platform, but I was not aware of this feature until visiting your site.
Thanks for all the time you put into this site!

I’ve been on Cat’s site several times configurating different sleds. It’s a start but it sure would be nice to choose different colors and names. This could be done with different wraps. How about all black with green and purple accents and you could choose your Cat name. El Tigre, Cheetah, Puma, Panther, Lynx, Etc. Which ever you want or a combination.

I too configured a Thundercat touring. That would be sweet but too much money and power for me. Probably more on the too much money. I guess I could control the throttle.

Not sure why I can not choose ATAC on the 6000 Limited. That would probably be my next sled. I have it on my 19 8000 Limited (iAct) and will not buy another sled without it.

Eli…If you feel the cost is justified then you should convince others. The Puma met the needs of most riders. The technological advances of the Blast are based in timeline, not technology of today. The Z 370,570 and such all received the long travel suspensions over time. Efi the same. The fact that your numbers show decreasing sales only proves the point. All manufacturers are pricing themselves out of the market. As the gentleman spoke of his Ski Doo Renegade purchase, I also am looking at a similar situation. The value is not their imho for the Blast or other new entry level machines. With dwindling demand for products, manufacturers are coming to a crossroad shortly. One may also wish to look at the financial debt people are carrying these days. Budgets simply do not allow for many luxuries of this nature.

TP…..I think you’re correct in that the initial price is keeping a lot of people out of the sport. However, I think the cost over the life of the machine is not that much different. Me and all my riding buddies are all getting way more miles out of our modern sleds than we did in the 80’s and 90’s. My 2014 ZR 6000 El tigre with over 6500 miles is still running like new. I’ve spent $0 on repairs….only basic maintenance and replacement of wear items. My older sleds were feeling a bit worn out after similar mileage and I had to replace them sooner. If you also factor in lower oil consumption and increased gas mileage, the cost to own the machine may not be much different than the old ones. That said, the manufacturers need to get better and more creative with their messaging to encourage new people to get into the sport. If there is no growth in the sport, there won’t be room for four manufacturers.

I’m glad Cat added this to the web site – it’s definitely an improvement. I hope they add even more to it next year. How cool would it be to order your choice of color, and even more options – seat type and color for example? GPS?

TP – using your suggestion, I compared a sled I bought in November, 1989 with what I could buy today. Let’s take a look:

1990 Indy Trail Deluxe – 36″ ski stance, 2-up seat, 133″ x 15″ x .75″ track, carb’d fanner @ 56hp with oil injection, heated handlebars but not throttle, taller windshield, electric start, steel skis, sway bar – $4,230 pretax. I believe mechanical reverse was an option at about $350-ish.

Comparable in weight, size and features to: 2022 Blast XR Touring which has slightly more power, fuel injected and liquid cooling, reverse standard, handlebar and thumb warmers, much better track and profoundly better suspension front and rear – $8,585 pretax

$4230 + 350 = $4,580
Adjusting for inflation (US) since then = $9,160 roughly

That was a lot of money to me back then, and adjusting for inflation we can see why. I couldn’t afford such a nice sled, so I took out a loan. Interest rate on the loan was a competitive 14%.

For MY 2023, Cat should bring back the old monikers in these variants:

850cc engine class: Firecat Sno Pro & RR packages, options of Touring, Crossover & Mountain
650cc – 700cc class engine: Wildcat Sno Pro & RR packages with twin pipes
600cc class: EXT Special (Touring & Crossover & Mountain)
500cc class: Prowler Special: Touring, Sno Pro or RR packages
400cc class: Rename the existing BLAST to JAG Special

IMHO, the ZR 6000 & 8000 are fine as is in their current variants. Just my thoughts

Flyby and Robert Klapperich…..2001 Polaris XC SP 600 fully loaded including E/S and Reverse, 96 studded track, High windshield, Dual windshield mount mirrors and saddle bags. Out the door dealer price…$5600.00 Today the Indy 600sp starts at $11,300. O1 adusted for inflation..about $8300.00 Seems there is a bit of a problem when both are 600 engines and state of the art for there respective model years. There isn’t that much technological difference between both units. We have even added on the similar accessories. Food for thought. My 01 lasted 13 years before selling it. 0 problems. How you maintain anything will determine its life span. New owner still running it today.

Good points by all. Thought you folks would find these series of articles interesting that John Sandberg wrote about this very topic in 2017:
http://www.arcticinsider.com/Article/Part-I-Snowmobiles-Are-Too-Expensive

TP there is a huge difference in technology between the 01 and 21 indy.
EFI vs carbs is a huge cost difference alone.
EPA certificaton costs hundreds of thousands, plus the time, energy, and equipment required.

Just tried to build a 6000 ltd green. Can’t choose a 129 track. Can’t choose a green or black tunnel. Can’t choose green rails or bumpers. Not buying a sled with ugly grey on it. Do i wait another year or do i have do buy a polaris?

Krom….No the difference isn’t that much. Cost to certify a snowmobile was done before the 2012 EPA deadline. Those costs were recovered years ago. I have spent 47 years in the automotive industry and most of the technology came from there. 4 valve four stroke engines exsisted in the 1920’s based upon aircraft design. EFI came in the late 70’s. CVT technology has exsisted for decades. Shock Absorber technology came from the motorcycle industry and auto racing. Fitting these to a snowmobile is a rather straightforward. Same for modern graphics and seat materials. Do some research and you may be surprised to what has exsisted for decades.

TP the costs of materials is still higher. ECU, sensors, electric fuel pump, high pressure plumbing, etc, etc, etc. Is significantly more expensive than a pair of carbs, cdi box, and diaphragm pump.

Krom…. https://www.ebay.com/itm/motorcycle-ATV-scooter-buggy-moped-UAV-EFI-engine-Electronic-Fuel-Injection-kit/273127447029?hash=item3f97aa19f5:g:PHwAAOSwaudbUUTp

Now, imagine what a manufacturer pays for 5000 units! The costs are not as high as one would expect.

Side note: I put one of these on a 1980 340 Jag because the original carb was no longer available(B-30). Engine has cleaner emissions and better overall performance. Startup in cold…1 pull.

I am quite positive you cannot even remotely compare a 1994 Puma with a Blast. There was no EPA back then on those engines. NOTHING! Every time a new motor is introduced, it has to go through the EPA approval process. EXPENSIVE to say the least. The Blast is priced like this because it has to make money. Quit being so cheap TP. You cant take it with you.

Jim R….Has nothing to do with cheap. When wages do not keep up with inflation you customer base erodes. Cost of EPA testing isn’t as expensive as you may think. Bottom line…as consumer household income erodes due to inflation, fewer people will spend on this item. Just basic economics.

I dont know. 2022 will be my 4th new Cat since 2015. Love the new sleds and I dont think the price is out of line what so ever when you compare to every other thing out there. EPA is very expensive. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel good but the fact is, it is very expensive and time consuming. Thank Calicommunisticfornia for that one.

Been the automotive industry for 47 years. Well aware of the EPA. Standards for recreational vehicles is no where near that of automotive or heavy truck. Yet to see a catalytic converter on a sled.

Difference is in the Automotive world, you are talking a HUGE difference in units. You can spread the cost out a long way. Not so much in snomobiles TP.

Hence the reason manufacturers share certain technologies. As auto market shrank, manufacturers worked together to cut their costs. As for the snowmobile industry, seems two manufacturers are doing such. Presently the focus seems to be on established customer base, not the new customer or family model. There can be a lot done to tap this market. All manufacturers seem to not see the potential for this market. Instead they prefer the upsell strategy. Doesn’t work for most. Family budgets dictate what they will spend. Not fancy bells and whistles.

TP
The Current market is driven by the large cc machines, with high end shocks, and fancy gauges.
800/850’s outsell 600/650 class machines, both of which outsell 2 up and entry level machines combined.
My Cat dealer sells more 800s than 120 through 600 cc machines combined.

Krom…. You just described an established market strategy. If you are going to bring in new customers the your strategy needs to change. Example…Have ever noticed that when a Ski Doo 600 ACE hits the under 5k price range they are gobbled up like candy? I watched 6 of them in my area find new owners in a week. Went to look at 3 of them and upon arrival others there also looking to purchase. Yet, Blasts sit on dealer floors. I can get 600 Etec’s with 6k miles for dirt cheap. Try buying any ACE model. They bring top dollar. Your market is what the customer is willing to pay. It appears based upon performance,reliability, resale and cost of ownership, Ski Doo has the market covered. Last ACE owner i spoke with loved his so much, he went and bought two more. At under 5k, that is your customer market.

Yesterday, I built and ordered a ZR 6000 RR with the trail package. Cannot wait for Fall!