I live in the very north west tip of SC, the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although we dont have winters like you do in Minnesota, it has been in the 20's a few times this winter. I park the 500 in the building behind the 700 and it is not fuel injected. I spend a few minutes waiting for it to warm up with the choke on and usually end up taking off on it with the choke half on. The 700 I usually start up before I ever set down on it, 1 touch, no choke (this is nice) I still let it set there and run a couple minutes but once I take off, theres no spitting or sputtering. Both machines have back up recoil starting and can be started by pulling. I had a yamaha Timberwolf that did not have back-up recoil starting but I think most of the newer machines do have it. Test ride one if you get a chance. I have sold a couple just by letting people ride mine. The only fault I have is the racks are not big enough, I'm gonna buy some add-on baskets for it. I haul deer on mine and they are a bit too small for a big deer.