I AM GOING TO BUY A NEW 09 SKANDIC , BUT I CANT DECIDE , NEED SOME FEED BACK FROM YOU GUYS.
LOOKING AT SKANDIC SUV 550 FAN-SKANDIC 800 4 STROKE-AND 550 SKANDIC.
I WILL BE USING THE SLED MOSTLY FOR ICE FISHINING IN NORTHERN MAINE. NO GROOMED TRAILS, BUT FROM TIME TO TIME WILL BE ON GROOMED TRAILS. THANKS FOR YOU HELP

the SUV 550 will be the most comfortable, the 800 will have more power, and the the basic Skandic won't ride as good as the SUV, or have the power of the 800, BUT the basic 550 Skandic and the 800 Skandic will be slightly better in deep snow than the SUV, my uncle has the SUV 600 and his buddy has the basic Skandic 600 and his will go further than the SUV. But from your description the SUV will be the better option.

Hi... I fish up that way also and purchased a 2007 SWT 2 years ago and love it. I works great for that application and is still a decent machine for some short to medium lenth trail rides. If you are out for a couple days you will need to bring some extra fuel since it does use a lot when you are towing a sled full of gear. Great machine on the big lakes when the slush comes up, if you go ez and carful you will not get stuck. I did manage to bury mine pretty good last winter on Eagle lake since I kept having to go back and help my buddies on regular sleds who kept getting stuck. Was worth it since we cought a lot of trout once we got to the secret spot !!! Mark

Hi Mark, Thanks for the reply. I picked up a skandic 550 fan suv on saturday, Whay kind of oil are you using, the book calls for minerial oil, but the dealer says I can use the new XP oil in the black gal. So which eagle lake do you fish? I fish allagash water way of the teloes road, chamberland lake area. Thanks for the help, talk to soon. Ron

That is the Same eagle lake I fish, We also fish Chainberlain and have fished Allagash a couple times over the years. Have been going for a week every winter and staying at Nugents for the past 10 years or more usualy late January or Early Feb. Have seen everything from +50 and rain to -40 and windy...
My sled also has the 550 fan. I ran the first gallon from Ski-Doo (the black jug) but it just seems like a waste of money to me. I switched over to what I have always used in all of my other machines none of which has ever had a lubrication related failure. It is called Spetro-Sno, and costs about 20-25 per gallon. They have a website http://www.spectro-oils.com/products/snowmobile/2stroke.asp I just use the non synthetic which is blood red in color and as I said have never had an issue..
Good luck with your machine.... FLAG !!!