my dealer will give me a great deal on trade between my 04 800x to a 08 500ss. the machine is for my wife cause i have the xp800 coming as well. i figured what the hell for those kind of dollars a might as well have another new machine on warrantee. she doesnt need an 800ho. but should i go for the 500ss or tnt? it's over a thousand dollar upgrade....

Each has its pros and cons depending on your riding area,conditions, and style. The TNT Has good shocks, and is should ride closer to the x but on the other hand has minimal wind protection and uprgading windshields is 150.00 and no storage. Now the ss has basic shocks that are good for groomed trails but have a time handling the rough, but on the other hand it has a taller warmer windshield and a storage trunk to keep things in. The only other major difference would be the handlebars, but just think of it this way you could get the ss have a taller windshield and trunk and for the 1000.00 extra buy the X shock kit out of the access. catalog.

well it's just foe my wife. dont think she's gonna go race snowcross with it.

If she's not an aggressive rider,and you're not going to ride it,the trail will be fine.

yeah i'm thinkin the 500ss. they're a nice little sled anywya.

My buddy picked up the TNT. It's pretty hot, tough decision for you. I'd personally go for the TNT.

the TNT is better looking IMO

The ss have a proven engine and runs with most 600 sleds out there,, I was kinda impressed with how they worked,, but I don't know much about the TNT ,,,R2R

Same engine, so really it's just a matter of the extra money (worth it imo) and any first year issues on the chassis.

Ok,,didn't know that,, yeah the new chassie should be the only thing not tested,, much diff in the money? R2R

at least a grand.

I guess you'll have to weigh out the options. Or ask yourself (and your wife) if the options even matter to you?

With the TNT (over the Trail) you'll get

Better shocks,(Aluminum T/A HPG shocks vs steel bodied motion control (oil filled))
X-package seat (light weight vs having a small trunk for some storage room)
X-package handel bars (aluminum bars w/ built in J-hooks,vs steel bars w/no hooks)
Light weight idler wheels
The COOL (literally) looking low windshield with handguards (I think they look pretty cool,but are they going to be TOO COOl? )
AND dont forget the "bragging rights of having the lightest L/C sled on the market today!! (gotta be worth something....)

They both have the same engine,same clutching,same gearing etc.

So I guess you'll have to figure out if the differences are worth it to you (or your wife) to pay the extra $$,dont forget to take re-sale value into account !!

you bring up some good points sir.

Keep in mind, from what I've read, that if you want to put a larger windshield on the TNT, it's not just a matter of removing one and putting on the larger ones.

Personally, I've been thinking of a new XP 500SS Trail, but am waiting it out a year (or 2) to let Doo sort out the new chassis.

Sure wouldn't mind if they would add the j-hook bars to the Trail and a drain plug to the chaincase (for all models).

Humm, hard to know ,,guess it really depends if that you figure the extras are worth it,, the plus side the TNT would most likely be the faster sled with the light weight body,,,R2R

The sleds differences are mainly what your paying for, now I see you said your wifes not a sno-x rider dont think of it that way think of your riding conditions if its flat groomed go ss if its bumpy those motion control shocks will go to crap in a short amount of miles at any speed then go TNT. The wieght difference is about 20lbs from one to the other not much to make a difference in speed, I know the taller windshield is expensive just bought one myself, but if you want to keep your sled for more than 1000 miles plan on buying new shocks with the ss they will be shot by then and those are expensive.

All thing being equal,,20lb makes a diff in speed,,, in this case it doesn't matter except 20 more lb for his wife to handle,, R2R

Okay maybe a 3mph difference, really worth the extra grand

It's not about the 3mph, it's about how quick you get there. Not to mention the shocks are insanely better on the TNT. The overall performance difference between the trail and the TNT is worth well over $1000 to the aggressive rider, but for someone who's not going to ride that hard the trail should be fine.

TNT

X2. Go with the TNT.

A TNT would be the best but i think if you wont be doing to much in terms of riding hard then i would probably go with the SS.

We were in the exact same position a month ago, deciding which one to get the wife. In the end I let her decide as it is her sled. She chose the bigger widnshield and storage of the trail. Plus she wanted ES, so we added that and still came in about 600 bones less. I figured if the shocks suck that bad, I will spend 600 on a set in the offseason, probably end up with a better suspension setup than the TNT, she'll get all the comforts she wants and she can start it with the push of a button.

If the oem shocks on the SS only last 1000 miles, why would Ski Doo use them in the first place?

I have been looking at the new Doo XP 600 class sleds and the Trail SS is the way I would go for the reasons melonbob stated.

I'm past the point of the lack of a windshield for the sake of looking cool, I want some storage, and IF the shocks go bad they can be changed out, but I have yet to have an issue with the standard or rebuildable shocks on any sled I've owned, but I don't ride like a snowcross racer either.

i wont get the wife a sled with electric start. that way she gets some excercise!!!

and i found out i can upgrade for about 700 bucks...... just might do it.

I say go for it. ES is for wimps, IMO. If you can't start a sled, why bother riding? I know that sounds harsh, but it's true, if you can't start it, don't try riding it.

everyone that comments how poor quality or talking fade on the trail shocks have either never owned one or had a bad shock, the gas bag shocks on the trail is a very good shock, i ride between 2500 and 3500 miles a year and have yet to see the shocks fade or go bad.and i have owned an 04,05,06,07 500 ss', so i would think i would have the most experience of pretty much anyone on here with the 500 ss.if you are into racing snox or jumping you would probably need better shocks,just trail riding the trail shocks are just fine. i did buy a tnt this year because for me it was only 400.00 and there were some other cool things it had besides better shocks. but if it were for the shocks alone i would have bought another trail option sled. and i do ride with guy's with the better shocks and the difference comes in when the trails get real rough, the rebound is alot better on more expensive shocks. thats it!!

well tnt it may be. you fellas are a bad influence on my wallet...

my wife rides a 2006 500ss with motion control shocks, we have been so unhappy with the quality of the shock. We are replacing every shock in the sled with take apart HPG's. My advice to you is to buy the TNT and add the windshield, then you have the ability to revalve the shocks to suit her size and riding preferences. good luck

do they both run the same track??