Dedicated Springtime sled

I'm planning on buying a dedicated Springtime sled, that will also be an early season and loaner sled. Before I ask for input on this, let me set some ground rules for this thread... I don't want it to turn into a brand slamming thread. So for all you idiots who like to hi-jack a thread so you can spout off about how brand A is the best, or how brand X sucks. Go bother someone else with your stupidity. I feel you should ride the brand that works best for you.

The only brand I have owned so far has been Ski-doo Summits. My first sled was a used 99 Summit 500 liquid cooled with a 136" track, I think I spent a good part of my riding time digging that thing out of a hole. after that it was a 02 Summit 800 151. Looking back at it now, it was a good sled, but not the best for deep powder. In December of 04 I bought a new Rev 151, died and went to heaven. I finally learned how to ride the steep and deep, and since then I have Spring checked a new Rev or XP every year, with a new Summit 50th Anniversary edition that should be here before the end of the month.

I have owned and ridden many sleds in my time, some other brands of deep powder sleds I liked, some I didn't. I ride over 2000-miles a season, and in my honest opinion, the XP platform is the best deep powder sled ever, period.

Here's my dilemma. Even though the XP is an awesome sled, frankly it sucks (for me) in Springtime conditions. Last Spring I ended up riding my X-RS the last two months of the season exclusively. But now the X-RS has been passed down to a first time sled owner, and I'm stuck wondering what I'll be riding this coming Spring?

One of my riding buddies who has an XP also, has an 06 Polaris RMK 600 with 144" track that he rides when the conditions don't warrant having the XP out of the stable. He has mod'ed it with aftermarket pipe, can, and air box, and that thing can go just about anywhere in the Springtime that any of my sleds can. The only issue I have noticed is that Ski-doo's are more tolerant than Polaris to overheating and shutting down when riding warm Springtime conditions.

I'm considering buying a new 08 RMK 600 with 144. I found a dealer that has a few left-overs that he is selling for $6700. Is that a good deal? If not, what price range should I shoot for? Any thoughts on my selection of the RMK 600, or should I consider any other sleds?

Snow is on its way!!!

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08 Summit Rev-XP 800-X w/154 and HPS can
09 Summit Rev-XP 800 50th Anniversary Edition 154 on its way

You know, I was looking at one of those Assaults, and that would be a kickass Springtime sled. Unfortunately, at $11K or $12K it's way out of my budget since I haven't dropped a dime yet on my inbound 09 Summit other than the $500 deposit.

Typically, the snow here in NW Colorado, or at least the area's I ride during the Spring becomes hard, but under the crust you still have sugar snow. We also like to boondock and explore new area's in the Springtime and often, even in May you can still run into powder on the North facing slopes that don't get much sunlight. From my experience, having anything less than a 144 around here is just asking for trouble. We're only on the trails long enough to get into the backcountry.