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If not an Ace -- Then What?

5698 Views 11 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Muffinpunch
A curious question for the Ace buyer..

Im in the market to buy asap. In fact only a couple days before going to purchase A 2013 (new) Can Am 500, I received the introduction email about the Ace, and I said hold everything!

So I was wondering what type of unit you might have been looking at before this, or are considering trading for??

The Can Am xt I was looking at was $7,499 plus tax, the same as the ACE list price. But it had power steering, winch, much faster, and lots of other things the Ace is lacking, but the Ace has some other trade off's as well -- Comfort, windshield, no more sore thumb, roof, easier on the back, etc..

I might also add, that there are a ton of other machines out there I would love to have, but this is in my budget. Maybe next year I will trade up??
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Tax return season, I was also in the market for a new ATV to get back into the sport. I had a Honda 700xx which in my mind is the best ATV ever made (once you put 25" tires on the rear and changed the sprocket). But since I have the worlds best luck at hurting myself and breaking bones, I was looking at the RZR's again. Then the Wildcat Trail came out and for me that was basically the only game in town. I was kind of on the fence about a canam renegade, but they're crazy expensive and I hate the Visqo lock. Plus, the whole breaking myself thing. If these aces had 40-45 HP I'd have a deposit down right now with no question. Until then, I'll have to wait till a test drive can be had to see how it is. I'm a big fan of torque, and that's a number that no manufacturer ever publishes. My 700xx has a monster amount of it, so if these things can only go 45mph but have a decent amount of low end grunt. Then I'll happily ride them.
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Its important to keep in mind that the ACE is a whole new animal. Yes, its marketed to be more of an ATV 'replacement' in general, but the riding experience is not much like that of your ATV at all. It differs from that of a SxS as well since your field if vision is significantly improved, you fit better on a trail, and your center of gravity is optimized, particularly compared to riding 1 up in a SxS. However, the suspension is tuned slightly more for utility use than for sport riding.

The power output is considered to be a non-issue for most customers as that's not really what this machine is designed for. That being said, the all new ProStar 32 is one of the most efficient engines Polaris has ever made and squeezes out more power per cc than even the ProStar 1000 found in the new XP1000, the current market King of the HP wars. The coupled with a vehicle that weighs 209 lbs. less than the RZR 570 and you've got a pretty quick, nimble little machine despite what the figures may lead you to believe.

Food for thought.
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Tax return season, I was also in the market for a new ATV to get back into the sport. I had a Honda 700xx which in my mind is the best ATV ever made (once you put 25" tires on the rear and changed the sprocket). But since I have the worlds best luck at hurting myself and breaking bones, I was looking at the RZR's again. Then the Wildcat Trail came out and for me that was basically the only game in town. I was kind of on the fence about a canam renegade, but they're crazy expensive and I hate the Visqo lock. Plus, the whole breaking myself thing. If these aces had 40-45 HP I'd have a deposit down right now with no question. Until then, I'll have to wait till a test drive can be had to see how it is. I'm a big fan of torque, and that's a number that no manufacturer ever publishes. My 700xx has a monster amount of it, so if these things can only go 45mph but have a decent amount of low end grunt. Then I'll happily ride them.
same boat as me........i think i am going to buy the arctic cat trail.....if the ace had more power it would been a no brainer....i think riding my highly modded 450 quad and jumping in a 32 hp ace would be a disappointment.....i think the cat trail will fit my style a little better at this time....
Its important to keep in mind that the ACE is a whole new animal. Yes, its marketed to be more of an ATV 'replacement' in general, but the riding experience is not much like that of your ATV at all. It differs from that of a SxS as well since your field if vision is significantly improved, you fit better on a trail, and your center of gravity is optimized, particularly compared to riding 1 up in a SxS. However, the suspension is tuned slightly more for utility use than for sport riding.

The power output is considered to be a non-issue for most customers as that's not really what this machine is designed for. That being said, the all new ProStar 32 is one of the most efficient engines Polaris has ever made and squeezes out more power per cc than even the ProStar 1000 found in the new XP1000, the current market King of the HP wars. The coupled with a vehicle that weighs 209 lbs. less than the RZR 570 and you've got a pretty quick, nimble little machine despite what the figures may lead you to believe.

Food for thought.
Good points. The weight difference, minus the second passenger weight in a 570 would seem very significant!

This will be a second machine in our family, and if I'm looking to drag race, enter mud bog challenges, or race dune buggies up the steepest hills, I don't think this wood quite get it... But it should be a ton of fun pushing its limits for it's intended purpose.

For me, I had been looked at side by sides, but got a jeep instead. I just simply can't afford that kind of money for recreation only. However, the ACE is a ton cheaper, and of course in a class of its own that has some nice offerings as pointed out above.
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I preordered an Arctic Cat Trail and as soon as I saw the picture of the Ace I had this sinking feeling like I jumped too soon because I have been saying for 10 years that someone needs to build a single seater. After seeing the Ace videos and specs I was very much OK with my decision on the Wildcat. I like the Ace but I'll wait for the upgraded model and then decide what to do. I just may have an AC Trail and an Ace. Here's my trail with 29" Bighorns. You can actually put 30's on these things without a lift and it runs right up to 65mph and hangs with the big Wildcats in acceleration. It has true lockers, engine braking, doors and Fox threaded shocks in the base model so I can easily crank up another inch or 2 of ground clearance when I need it with a quick adjustment. I have the bumpers and a full soft cab with a poly windshield on order. It's only 2" wider and it has twice the seating and twice the power so it was worth the extra $3k or so I paid with the introductory deal which also included a full 2 year warranty. I think there are two great alternatives to a RZR now with the Ace and the Trail. I'm trying to convince one of my buddies to buy an Ace so we can compare notes.





Here's one with 30x10x14's



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It's only 2" wider and it has twice the seating and twice the power so it was worth the extra $3k or so I paid with the introductory deal which also included a full 2 year warranty. I think there are two great alternatives to a RZR now with the Ace and the Trail. I'm trying to convince one of my buddies to buy an Ace so we can compare notes.
Nice unit, nice specs -- But I only have $8k max to spend. So it does me no good to compare the value difference if I cant afford the better value. Kinda like going to the grocery store on a budget -- Yes, the bigger package is a better value, but today I only have the money to buy the small package. Point is -- Im sticking to the $8k budget. Maybe next year??
Nice unit, nice specs -- But I only have $8k max to spend. So it does me no good to compare the value difference if I cant afford the better value. Kinda like going to the grocery store on a budget -- Yes, the bigger package is a better value, but today I only have the money to buy the small package. Point is -- Im sticking to the $8k budget. Maybe next year??

Ace all the way then !
yea that was me when I bought my 570, people saying "for a little more money you could buy..." except I didn't have more money to spend. I put a top, front and rear windshields and a storage box on it and still have less than $10.000 in it. I built an ACE on the Polaris site with every option except winch and radio which I can buy for less aftermarket and msrp was less than 10K.
the A/C trail is over 10K to start and it needs fenders for me to ride the trails I ride. they look nice but the ACE is exactly what I need for the right price.

Nice unit, nice specs -- But I only have $8k max to spend. So it does me no good to compare the value difference if I cant afford the better value. Kinda like going to the grocery store on a budget -- Yes, the bigger package is a better value, but today I only have the money to buy the small package. Point is -- Im sticking to the $8k budget. Maybe next year??
yea that was me when I bought my 570, people saying "for a little more money you could buy..." except I didn't have more money to spend. I put a top, front and rear windshields and a storage box on it and still have less than $10.000 in it. I built an ACE on the Polaris site with every option except winch and radio which I can buy for less aftermarket and msrp was less than 10K.
the A/C trail is over 10K to start and it needs fenders for me to ride the trails I ride. they look nice but the ACE is exactly what I need for the right price.
One of my first add on's will be the top and windshield.

Being that you already have a side by side , What windshield do most use? I'm assuming the full windshield will knock down the dust, but a half windshield will allow some air flow?
EMP hard coat polycarbonate is the most scratch resistant. It will take some time for the aftermarket to catch up to the ACE. If you get the front windshield get the rear also to keep the dust from swirling in. The half windshield doesn't do much.

One of my first add on's will be the top and windshield.

Being that you already have a side by side , What windshield do most use? I'm assuming the full windshield will knock down the dust, but a half windshield will allow some air flow?
EMP hard coat polycarbonate is the most scratch resistant. It will take some time for the aftermarket to catch up to the ACE. If you get the front windshield get the rear also to keep the dust from swirling in. The half windshield doesn't do much.
It really depends on what type of riding you do and where you tend to ride. A half windshield is great for cutting down wind chill if you are riding in the late fall, winter, and early spring in the cooler parts of the country. But it certainly will not keep the dust out of your cabin during the dry months if you're out west.
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