Keeping the 09. It's dialed. I have it set up the way I want and I don't feel the need to drop 14k on something that I'd need to start over modifying.
My sled, from the floor to my trailer with mods (minus the turbo) cost way less than a stock PRO, XM or *eek* the Pro-Climb. And works better, for me.
The way I see is that some pretty decent ideas came to light but I'm not willing to shell out that much money to become a free product tester.
The XM skid: looks like it may work but I bet that they increase the 4° range of motion come 2014 and add a belt drive. The rest of the stuff like the pow deflector, adjustable windshield, LED light is lame. Does nothing to add value or functionality to the sled, IMO. The heated glove box is cool but the fact that there was no weight loss is a FAIL in my book. The stock motor is a nice powerplant. Make the sled lighter and I believe that most folks would be happy.
The PRO: Yes, lighter weight. Still think too much came off too fast. I think that structural integrity was compromised. The CF bumpers are lame and fragile. You have to replace them with something 3 times as heavy to make them useful. The 2 wheel belt drive will fail, you NEED a tensioner. Every belt stretches. Two wheels leave the possibility for the belt to stretch, vibrate and slip. On both sides. Belt drives are old tech, but good tech. C3 and CMX have been doing it for years, why the manufacturers didn't put that tech on a stocker a while ago baffles me. The lack of HP for a stock sled, no matter how light doesn't make sense. Most guys toss a BD or silber kit on to get the hp they want. Why not wake the stock motor up?
The Cat: Haven't heard anything yet, but they MUST come up with something because the PRO-CLIMB is in the ranks of the Polaris 900. So wait and see waht they come up with to atone for the pile of crap they dropped for 2012.
Yammie: Not even in the ballpark. They look cool but are too heavy and even with a stock turbo their HP is no match for even the low rated Pro hp. But they have a very loyal clientele. I love the idea of a powerful thumper in a 500 pound chassis. Hurry up and do it.
And for Christ's sake, quit allowing the prices to skyrocket uncontrollably. 14k is too stinking high. We read threads and posts all day, every day from guys who love the idea, the functionality of a product and would buy it right then and there but the price is too high. There are ways to cut costs in R&D, operations and admin so the elevated price is not handed off to the client. And FYI, the economy still sucks. Scratch our back and we scratch yours.
eace:
