thank the govt epa and consumer safety regs for a huge chunk of the high prices

Not a big fan of their snowmachines, they made some good ones, but the one I owned was a lemon and sent me right back to skidoos. I've ran their ATV's for 25 years though, unfortunately they quit making the TBX in 2020, and I didn't realize it until they were sold out of everything in stock, I had planned on buying a new one the next year, this time before my existing one was so worn out as to have no retail value. Nobody else makes one comparable to Arctic Cats TBX, and it is a real shame. I've been a big fan of their ATV's since I got my first one, my current one has 18,000 miles on it and I've put over 20K on every previous one. But their service has went way downhill, it started before Textron bought them, and has continued to get worse after they were bought. If there isn't an aftermarket source for any part you need, good luck getting it. I laughed when I read that letter and it said, "We are committed to providing the service and support to keep our thousands of loyal customers riding". You can't get parts now, do you actually expect us to believe it is going to get better after you shut down production? From talking to other former Arctic Cat owners, that is the main reason most of them switched to another brand, and the reason I would have earlier if someone produced a model designed for what I wanted. They made a good ATV, but their lack of service and parts availability really hurt their sales.

A 300cc motor? Maybe a 440 and it would be almost impossible to build and market one for 4500, I paid 2500 for a 440 Bearcat in 1999 do the math on the inflation.

If you bought a new bearcat for 2500 in 1999 you got one heck of a deal.

I looked it up, it was 2900. I worked at Arctic Cat at the time, employee discount.

I bought a 2013 570 Bearcat for 5600, my ex worked there at that time.

I hate to say what I paid for my 2019 7000 4stroke lol.

I know a lot of people who work there, friends and relation. It's going to be a big blow to that community.

Hopefully someone buys it and starts it back up but I'm not all that optimistic.

That’s the worst part. Hopefully something moves in to fill the void to some extent. Happy trapping! ScottW

There is always the Lynx line by BRP.
They look like good machines.
Sucks when a mill or factory closes in a small town.

I understand inflation but manufacturering has become far more efficient, 5 hp engines for $100 for example.

The Honda Grom should of been a wake up call, a $3,500 125cc motorcycle and they couldn't build enough of them . There is a market for simple, inexpensive machines from a reliable, quality manufacturer.

Honda should make an elan.

I'll take 2

My last Tundra II R was almost the same price a s a liquid cooled twin cylinder sled.

They could gouge on tundra because the govt buys them, that's my theory atleast

There is a reason they don't make elans anymore.

People talk all nostalgic about the old sleds until they ride one again.

Losing Arctic Cat is sad. But, snowmachines come and snowmachines go, I guess. My first snowmachine was a Mercury 440. I guess it's been a while since those were produced. It was a love/hate relationship. As long as you ran it wide open it ran fine... but if you ran it slower, it fouled plugs and we never did figure out why.

At the same time, we also owned a John Deere snowmachine. Another company that no longer makes sleds. I believe it was around the 340 size.

The next sled we bought was an Arctic Cat, 340 I believe.

Shortly before I moved away from NY, I bought a pair of Arctic Cats that were 1970s models that had been in indoor storage for 20+ years.

A cheap banger would sell, there would be a whole aftermarket of accessories and people molding them. I bought a 125 motor cycle on impulse because I made to much money one week, if you could afford a snowmobile with a Christmas bonus they'd sell out of them every time it snowed.

The reason they dont make elans anymore is that they require minimal mtc and easy to work on.
No money in that for the dealerships.
There are a few rebuilt elans around and we always get a chance to ride them on our fieldtrips for old times sake.
They are not that comfortable to ride (nor are the old tundras) nor can they do the work compared to the new machines,but you can throw them around no problem,so they would have a place on my traplines for short runs.
Last one I had was an 86 model,bought new,sold it back in 02.

If I could buy a new Elan for $2,500 tomorrow I’d have it home before lunch! My kids would have a ball on that thing as would I. Yeah I wouldn’t be trail riding it, but a sled to use and be able to use and get unstuck easily would absolutely sell.

If Ski-Doo said “Next year we’re offering you the ability to snow check a newly built Elan for this year and this year only so pay for it now and you’ll get it next fall!”……..it would be their best selling single model sled that year.

A dealer told me a couple years ago when I was complaining about the models and options etc that the manufacturers don’t care about folks like myself who care about buying exactly what we want and plan to keep for the rest of my lifetime if it will last that long. He said they are focused on the guys buying new sleds every few years. It’s like ATVs also…..hard to find good utility ATVs now let alone one small enough to lift.

Happy trapping! ScottW

Bingo! Worst part is, now the plastic forming is better and lighter yet and you could mold an awesome track compared to the old straight bar tracks on most of those. I hate how fired up I get with all this cause I know it’s never gonna happen! That said, I thoroughly love my 900ACE and 154” track but an Elam still has its place.

Happy trapping! ScottW

You can bring an elan through a 36 inch standard door into your cabin to work on at 30 below.