1998 Thundercat Value/worth - On E-bay

[sled4me]

Hi Folks: I have been looking for a T-Cat and think I may have found what I am looking for.. It is on E-Bay and is at $2400 right now with 6 days left.. The person that is selling it has put in the auction that the 98's were the fastest of the stock T-Cats. Is this true? The machine has 1000 miles on it and it is all stock except for silencers (I would rather have a stock one!!). I went and looked at the sled and IT IS MINT and it RIPS!! It's track is like new and the studs (I believe are Stud Boy's) are at 95%. The person selling the sled says that the original owner (he is second owner) paid over $10000 USD for this sled. 2nd question - IS THAT POSSIBLE?? I am in Michigan about 250 miles from where the sled is located so I wouldn't have to pay shipping.. What would be a fair price to pay for this AWESOME big Cat? What would be the MAXIMUM I should pay? I know this sled is not for everyone but I REALLY want one BAD - I just dont want to pay WAY to much!! I have ridden the F-7's, the ZR800's and some of the "other brands" and NOTHING gets my blood flowing like that big triple I have owned LOTS of other, smaller sleds and I have GOT to have one of these before they are gone forever - so PLEASE help me and dont try to talk me out of it !!!
GOT IT BAD!!!!!
Sled4me

[fast426]

I have heard that the 900's were faster than the 1000's, is a 98 a 900 or 1000? I have heard from several people that th 96-97 were the fastest. My buddy has a 96 and his hauls ###. I have an 800 that is piped adn he gets me on top end good.

[phat_cat800]

Thats defintly a oggd price for that sled with such low miles and if the previous owner paid $10,000 USD for it he got srewed severly. The 98's were defintly one of the best years for the T-cats. For a max bid I wouldn't go any higher the $4000.

[03F7]

Not sure if you might be interested.......but i know someone who is selling a 00 t-cat i very good shape for $3900.

It is bone stock with like 3500 miles on it, brand new track, only thing is it does have a seat tear where the tank meets the seat.

I did a compression test on it, and all 3 cylinders read a 500.

It is black in color, and overall a very nice sled.

let me know!

My name is Brad.

Brad,

500 pounds compression?? That sled must run on diesel fuel because I have never heard of a gas motor that high.

[phat_cat800]

Originally posted by 700Rocket@Jan 19 2004, 10:33 PM
Brad,

500 pounds compression?? That sled must run on diesel fuel because I have never heard of a gas motor that high.

I wondered that too, though I just thought is was a way of saying that they were good. Should be somewheres around 120 I think. Imagine trying to pull that 500psi T-cat over on a -40 day, dont think it would happen LOL

[katrider800]

The '98 T-Cat was the 1st year for the 1000cc engine, and the last year for the older style chassis. The differences between the '98 and the '99, is the pipes and the airbox. 1997 was the 1st year for the long-travel rear suspension with the E.T.T. tunnel, which gave these cats a better ride. As far as performance, it doesn't take much to make a 900 T-Cat win over a 1000 T-Cat--a few clutching and jetting changes, and also suspension setting usually does the trick. As far as that goes, i would have no problem running my '97 ZRT 800 up against any stock T-Cat, regardless of the size. I would agree that $4000 U.S. is about top money for that machine...providing that it is pretty mint. Someday, the big triples, all susuki triples for that matter, will be hard to find, and they are very reliable and strong runners.

[03F7]

sorry guys LOL i meant 150!!!!

LOL

Yea that would be a ***** to pull over at 500.

[puree]

if you are comfortable spending 4000 on that sled,,,then it is a good deal,,,, that seems pretty low in miles and you say its in decent shape,,,, just know that in ebay, people dont bid until the last minute,,,

[woodsy]

Hi Sled4me:
I know EXACTLY what you are going thru!! I finally found one of them T-Cats myself and glad I did - THEY ARE AWESOME sleds with AWESOME power.. Absoulutly the funnest sled I have EVER owned, BAR NONE!! I am finding that the "big bore" Cat is VERY reliable and a true pleasure to own. I have put over 2500 miles on mine now and it hasnt even so much as fouled a plug yet!! I agree with you about staying stock, mine is and I think this adds to its durability. As far as the 98's being the fastest. I can verify this to be true. I have raced 4 900 T-Cat's , 2 - 2001's T-Cat, 1 - 2000 T-Cat and had NO problem with any of them! I have also raced 4 MachZ Ski-doo's, 2 F7's, 2 ZR800's and 1 ZR900 and the only sled of all these that are even in the running was a piped ZR800 that, at a 40 mph float could stay beside me to 85 - THAT IS AN AWESOME SLED IN ITS OWN RIGHT!! Be careful putting money out about racing though cause there are ALOT of "non-stock" sleds out there that are REAL fast!! I saw a modified 700 Ski-Doo whip EVRYTHING that came in its wake the other day - course the guy had over $12,000 in a motor job - MONEY IS EVERYTHING when it comes to racing!!
I have NO DOUBT that the T-Cat you are looking at was over $10000 back in 98. I remember them well at that price! I had a friend that bought one BRAND NEW in 1997 (it was a 900 though) and he paid 9650 out the door for his! So yea, $10000 out the door is VERY real!!
I think $4500 for a REAL NICE STOCK 1998 model is tops - I wouldnt give that for one of the newer ones because you have to change things to get the pep back out of them and I LIKE STOCK! Nice ones are hard to find and getting harder to come by all the time! IMHO, If you can get it for under $3000 you have stole it!! As mentioned earlier about E-Bay - the REAL bidding dont start until the last few minutes. If I were you, I would decide on a maximum bid for the sled and "proxy bid" it to that amount. I have found that it (the proxy) keeps the "late bidding frenzy" down ALOT!!
ANyway, hope this all helps!!
Good luck on getting your sled, YOUR GONNA LOVE IT!!
Woodsy SWRules