600 is gone - and not too me.  Snooze you lose as they say. Sold while I was sitting on it Back to searching.   And to answer, I love the Catalyst - but I am also looking hard at/for a Polaris. It's Polaris and/or Cat. Whichever I can find that I like and the deal works is what it's going to be - if any.   I have all the time to find the right deal with having a capable sled to ride - it's older - but it still works.   that said, as i learned yesterday - sit on the fence too long and you'll be sitting there forever.      

It is crazy the upcharge to go from 600 to 800 series - seems more so now then before, but I never considered the smaller cc engines in the past, so not sure.   You have had an 800 for a while now, I think you will be disappointed if you go with a 600, but in saying that, do your parents not have a 600 that I am guessing from time to time you have rode so have very recent exposure on the two? Plus your 800 is older now, the newer 800 series motors have quite a bit more jam - you going to be able to handle that   The reviews on the Cat 600 in the new chassis were all very good if I recall, in that chassis it was very well balanced and a stout machine. But I think the 858 is the one you need (want)   And I am not sure you have officially mentioned this, but I am happy to see you are sticking with a kitty cat!!   Going to be a good year for you on that 858.....standard gauge or the newer G8 gauge with all that extra stuff you do not need.    

Well that has to be a proud parenting moment when your son tells you he is going to upgrade on his own dime, !

I’d buy the 600 and put the $10 g’s into my sledding budget.  That buys a pile of time off work, hotel rooms, restaurant stops and fuel.  That’s a lot of cash for 200 cc.  At the same time if you have the cash there’s no replacement for displacement.  

What’s the reason no one else bought the great deal on the 600?   Even if you buy the 600 thinking you can pass along to your son it sounds like in a year or so he is buying a faster sled.  So you better buy the 858 so you can keep up in a couple years.