What the heck is cat thinking, i talked with my dealer this morning and he said that cat had taken away two of his best selling sleds, *and he had gotten very few f cats to replace the numberas of zrs he had been slelling. * just something that p me off today.

did they replace them with anything ?

I was surprised that they elimated those models. First heard about that late Spring. I know they expect the F-Cat to take over that section of sales, but I think the market still exists for ZR's, and not just 800 or 900 cc's. The Firecat is a different style of ride, not that it will be bad, just different. No Paul, other than the Firecat, they did not replace the ZR5 or ZR6. They also eliminated the ZL500 for the year. My opinion is that is a decent size segment of the market still exists for them.I'm sure Cat did some market research, they just didn't bother to ask me *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif *My hope is they don't consider eliminating the ZR altogether, though I'm sure they think the ZL's will fill that niche..not for me it won't http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Just my 2 cents the only thing i can think of is that they pulled the zr6 because they are developing a high output 600 like ski-doos 600 ho. They had the 700 that had fallen behind a couple of years ago so they pulled it and now after acouple of years they introduce this killer 700 that is ahead of the competition all this is what i have brainstormed in my spare time and is probably a 100% wrong.

I think they jumped the gun by at least a year by getting rid of the tcwt, plus the zr 5,6 snd the zl 5, *you are right when you say the fire cat is a much diffrent ride, it is more of a stand up drag your sled around a sharp corner, ther zr is s sit down model, *ie there is much diffrence between a race snow pro, and a more trail friendly sled. *i think alot of peopl,e will just keep there sleds from last year to see how the firecat turns out. * then we will all have to go from there. *i think i am just going to get the zrt 800 fired back up and ride that. 150 hp all the way.

Their reasoning is easy to figure out.....ZR500's and 600's must not have been selling well overall, thats the only reason they would give them the axe.

I don't believe that, I see more ZR's on the trail then ZL's. It would be nice though to obtain the sales figures just to see where they stand in sales for the past few years. Obviously there are no ZR5's or 6's to compete with F-Cat sales. I know manufacturers have to keep giving us "new and improved" products or else consumers go elsewhere for the latest technology. Guess I just have to live with it, and see what comes out next.

The F-cats may turn out to be great sleds but I would have thought leaving the 5+600 ZR's in the mix for another season at least during snow check would have been a more prudent move on their part. I also question the mumber of sleds available with EFI only. Certainly its a great system but for many (including me) I can't justify the additional expense over carbs. If the day comes that their system is capable of producing substantial gains in both h/p and mileage well count me in, till then I'll keep the additional dollars in my pocket instead of theirs. Rick.

Some how I think that AC is heading right back to what happened to them in the 80's.

I'm kinda thinking the same thing, will it be a sink or swim year for AC? Only time will tell. I certainly wish them well but wonder if they chased away too many of the ZR faithful with the new line up.

Ok guys, settle down. Be looking for an F6 mid-season. Not sure if it is carbed or EFI though. Also be looking for the TCat replacement http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/exclamation.gif Now I'm not 100% on these but from talking to a friend @ Cat this was what I could make of it.

Now as for no ZR 5 or 6, the segment the ZR500 had been hitting the best and most is covered by the F5. The 600, agian, mid-season. Not sure but plan on seeing the rest of the 2 strokes to stay the same till 2006. Cat will be all 4 stroke by then. ZLs will be replacing the ZRs. Same ergos as a ZR, might be seeing shock options. Agian this is all a very educated guess, but not in stone.

Cat supposedly hired some maketing guru last year. *Let's hope he knows what he's dooing (pun intended).

I doubt that someone looking to buy a familiar ZR will settle for a ZL. They may look close but thats where the similarties end.

I agree. *Take nothing away from the ZL, it's not a ZR though. *Drop the ZL and make a ZR with more suspension and color options. *Problem solved.

I should have stated that different, there will be different packages available on the ZL models. Shocks, springs, clutching, gearing.

You can get a ZR600 with a slightly longer track, it's called a mountain cat sled. *It would have a slightly longer track, but the shorter track version of the mountain can ZR would be close enough and some people love mountain sleds even on the trails.

Greg

In 3 years All four strokes for Cat? http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif Yuk!

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (jdsmi @ Sep. 23, 2002, 1:13pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Cat supposedly hired some maketing guru last year. *Let&#39;s hope he knows what he&#39;s dooing (pun intended).[/b][/quote]
He probably went to the same marketing school that Lutz ( the former Chrysler guy that GM hired) The &#39;03 trucks have less standard equipment (de-contented & cost more) I guess it helps profits.

Cat has stated that while they know the 600 class is hot they just do not have a 600 engine that can compete with the 600h.o and xc600. They feel the F5 will keep up with the old 600&#39;s untill they have time to develope a new 600. You have to remember that all this cost $$$ to develope and cat already had spent cash on the F5 and F7 and just could not put the cash or people to work on an F6. Cat fans should worry about why there is no F6. What they should be questioning is why Cat decided to go with an F5 and F7 instead of an F6 and F8. To me this seems like a more logical idea. Cat had a huge following with the old ZR580 and ZR600 and many will be shuddring at the thought of an F7. Remember Cat&#39;s old 700. Wish you could forget about it right? with all the problems Cats having getting there F7 into production I would be a little worried. Time will tell. By spring the hard facts will be in. Cat had there sleds up in Thompson Manitoba this past May and from some of the locals opinions there was some issues with both new engines but also structure wise. Apparently the sleds works great for a 150 lb racer but bad things happen when you put on a 250 lb rider and send him out ditch bangin.

Just though I&#39;d let you guys know that the F-5&#39;s are light as heck!!!! I lifted one today with one hand eaily! I couldn&#39;t believe it. The Z370 next to it was a two hander and so was the Renagade 800 on it&#39;s other side. I really think that the F-5&#39;s *& F-7&#39;s will be a great sled.
Caleb

It makes sense they may not have had the time to bring an F-6 to market just yet, but what doesn&#39;t make sense is dropping the ZR-5+6 when it would have cost nothing to just keep producing something that already exists. With the addition of power valves both engines finally came to parr with offerings from the other mfgs but were promptly dropped. What are they thinking?http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

Well here is my take on dropping the ZR5&6. *AC dumped alot of money into the Fseries frame and they need to make it back. *They know people are hesitant to make the switch from ZR to F. *So by dropping the zrs they push people into the new F series. *As far as not having a 600 lets face it the zr600 could barely beat a stock zr500 and would probably be dead even or behind a new f500. *I would think their doing work on a new 600 that *will keep up with or be better then the competition. *I do think they should have kept the zl500 because that is a big market area and it isn&#39;t filled by the zl570 which is probably their plan. *Just my 2cents its all about marketing strategies just like any other industry.

The only reason I didn&#39;t trade my 02 ZR-800 in on an 03 is because they dropped the carb version. I refused to be pushed into a 900 and won&#39;t pay the additional cost efi adds to the 800. I would bet I&#39;m not the only one that either kept their old sled or looked elsewhere. AC&#39;s current marketing plan seems a little short sited to me. ???