Which 4wd to Get?? [Archive] - Radio Control Zone

Bugs Buggy

05-11-2006, 01:02 PM

I'm looking to get a 4wd buggy and am wondering which one I should get...

I think $450 is all I'm willing to spend right now on one (the kit price not including electronics.) Here are my feature preferences in order of importance..

1)Durability (I crash a lot :rolleyes: )
2)Parts Availibility
3) Good instructions / ease of assembly and maintenance
4) Straight Battery config (to handle current lipo packs)
5) Price
6) Rough track performace (our track is well groomed and not that rough, so it is the least important trait..)

Here are some I'm looking into...

XX-4 rerelease: Everyone at my track says this is the most durable 4wd out there. I like the design of it as well. The only downside is the saddle battery configuration. I want to use lipos (especially the Orion one) and so far I haven't found any saddle lipo configurations (I think Orion is working on this though...at least I thought I saw something to that effect somewhere..). I'm not sure I want to deal with all those belts, either....

XXX-4 G+: This is the cheapest of the bunch, and has a straight battery configuration. The belt maintenace is probably better than the xx4, although I don't know that for certain... Everyone at my track dislikes this buggy though... a lot of XXX4s break here... not sure why... So I'm a little wary of it's durability..

Kyosho ZX-5: Shaft 4WD with straight battery config... Good price. I've also heard about durability issues with these.. and the instructions from what I hear aren't that complete... I've never built a 4wd before and would prefer fairly good intructions...

Academy V2 Pro: Not sure what the new one costs, but it looks fairly complete. Parts aren't readily avalable at my LHS... haven't heard anything about durability..

BJ4: I would need to upgrade the front arms like in the worlds kit, but would keep everything else the same so I can use a lipo pack. Some people I've talked with say it's contruction is pretty time consuming, and have had more durability issues with it than say, the XX4. It's also the most expensive of the bunch....unless the new Academy is also up in the $450 range...

I haven't driven a shaft powered 4wd.... only a belt driven on road sedan (xxx-s G+)...so I'm not sure about torque steer with shaft driven ones...Just looking at the configurations though, the shaft cars do appeal to me more..
However, I'm leaning towards the Losi cars...or maybe the BJ4...

Any thoughts out there on what I should get??

:cool:

Bugs

savbugtrg

05-11-2006, 02:36 PM

I have the current Academy SB Pro and I have been totally satisfied with this buggy. I have broken some parts but only when hitting something that doesn't move or a really bad hi speed crash. I am waiting as you are for the V2 because if its as good or better than this one I am in. As for parts for this I can call MRC and order parts and have them in two days, and that is not paying extra for shipping. I have all of the potentially breakable parts on hand and if I break something i go ahead and reorder so I don't get caught without the part. And unless the price gets really hi I think this one is the best bang for the buck. Was actually thinking of selling mine with the LRP brushless system in it and waiting on the V2 if you would like to get one fairly cheap to get a start?

A friend of mine has the XX-4 and from what I see he has trouble finishing a heat sometime without breaking something.

I have raced some of the BJ4's and they seem ok but also seem to have something weak up front. Arms I think, just seen several break something in the front on the track and they just go and fix it, doesn't seem to be a big deal....the deal breaker for me on this one is price.

I have seen some of the ZX-5's and thought about getting one but I have not seen them run enough to give you an impression. One of the guys that runs with us that has a BJ4 also has the ZX and doesn't seem to like it as much but he did say he needed to get it setup better and give it a chance.

joostin421

05-11-2006, 03:15 PM

Tamiya Dark Impact so far covers all of your requirements.

http://forums.radiocontrolzone.com/showthread.php?t=214127

justin

M03racer

05-11-2006, 03:26 PM

Yes, the XX-4 is not very durable at all. Handles really good though. And yes the belts can be a pain to maintain.

Shaft drives are fine and i personally dont want to deal with belts in an off road car.

The Kyosho is a really good buggy. Handles very well and is very tunable. Dont know much about its durability though.

I think i have decided on the Tamiya Dark Impact however and should be getting it in a couple weeks.

fifiracing

05-12-2006, 09:25 AM

You should try checking out the new Tamiya Dark Impact. Cheapest out of the whole bunch and its shaft driven with Straight Battery config.. Tamiya's parts line are pretty easy to get. Shocks would be the first thing to upgrade.

Platymeris

05-12-2006, 10:14 AM

The Dark Impact is the only one I would even try to use Lipo packs in, none of the others have chassis setups configured to deal with the light weight of lipos. Therefore, following your plan, none of the buggies you buy would handle anything like they're supposed to. The Dark Impact has the battery right in the center, so it won't alter back to front or side to side weight distribution as much. as far as durability, all of them are going to break if you crash a lot. I just bought a XX4 myself because I really like the design, and Losi parts are readily available, plus it's relatively inexpensive compared to some options, but the stiff graphite parts it's made from are not meant to take crashes well. I recommend going here: http://www.eraprise.com/4wdrcbb/ and reading through the forums for different manufacturers, plenty of feedback from owners there. http://www.oople.com is also great for in depth reviews of various buggies.

702nitro

05-12-2006, 11:37 AM

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the ZX-5. Its relatively lighter in weight, the design concept is excellent making it easy to work on, and yes there are durability issues. If you're a newbie, or have no experience in buggies, don't get one. Durability will be an issue. On the other end of the spectrum, and you know how to control the lighter buggy, then no, the durability issue would be the same as a similar well built model.

tcolesen

05-12-2006, 11:17 PM

Just last night I ordered a Dark Impact from Tower Hobbies. It's only $153, and they have a $20 off deal.

WOW! It appears as if I may have gotten one of Tower's last Dark Impact buggies! They are scheduled for Late May now:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXMFW1&P=7

Bugs Buggy

05-25-2006, 02:34 AM

The Dark Impact does look intriguing, but a few things about it turn me off..

1) Spur, pinion gears not standardized pitch...I want 48 pitch gears, darn it !! :rolleyes:

2) Needs to be hopped up to be competative with other buggies (alloy shocks, titanium turnbuckles, Universals , slipper, etc. There are hop ups coming, but they don't appear to be available yet and I'm not sure how costly they are...

3) Parts availability... I would have to order parts from cyberspace and maintain a stock of parts for it... I would prefer my local hobbyshop carried parts so I can replace one in a bind during a race...

It seems like all 4wd kits need some sort of hop ups to make them durable and competative...and the ones that are completely beefed up and ready for anything cost a whole heap of $$$. The two Losi buggies are in the lead in my head right now, but what hop up parts for the XXX-4 G + are needed to make it more durable?? The XX-4 is really neat, but those 3 belts and the saddle pack config make me lean towards the XXX-4 G +. I'm just worried about their durability....a lot of guys break arms, diffs, and other things on them regularly....

Any thoughts??

:cool:

Bugs.

ErikRC10

05-25-2006, 06:14 PM

I've heard of the XX-4 not being to good on the durability issue and the XXX-4 is not a very good car unless you are running on a track that is basically flat with no jumps. The car that would require no hop ups at all and have really beefy arms and what not is the BJ4. This car has at win at the worlds so you know it's a good car. I would say the BJ4 worlds edition but you said a car with a straight pack. Also most hobby shops will carry parts for these cars (they will car more losi parts though) and they use several AE parts and every hobby shop has AE parts...

Archyman

05-25-2006, 11:13 PM

Having had 4wd's listed above....I'd go for the BJ4 I have 2 WE and love them the ZX5 is a very good car also nothing wrong with it.....I'm selling mine ( only reason is because I have the 2 BJ4we's and a Predator X10 so I don't really run it much...and would rather have someone buy it and use it) But my opinion is get something that you can easly get parts for....ZX5,BJ4,Losi........But all in all I would stick with the BJ4's or the ZX5....

FLYBOY7

05-26-2006, 01:11 AM

pyro18t

06-19-2006, 11:10 PM

You have to think about it like this, the Jb4, both losi cars and the ZX-5 are RACECARS, I was on the phone with Losi getting some shipping issues straighten out (great sercvice) and he was like "you do know this isn't a backyard basher right? Thats not what it's designed for and wont take the abuse well" I couldn't agree more! Also a lot of people are putting hot motors in these cars, or brushless motors and hitting things at over 30mph! Of course something is going to give.

With that said I have a XXX-4 G+ and I broke the front hinge mount for the A-arms, Losi knows this is a week point and make aluminum parts that you can buy ( which I will) I told my wife when I was building my kit "honey see this part, this is the first thing that's going to break and I'm going to get the better ones ok?"

I beat the HECK out of my xxx-4 G+ just bashing amazed that it didn't break several times, so when it finally did I wasn't disapointed.

If you want a car to bash with, get the Academy (my second choice to the XXX-4) or the Dark Impact (Tamiya's are tanks hands down)

If your going to race then go with AE, Losi, or Kyo

I hope I kind of shed some light on things

Jay

USATorque55

06-20-2006, 12:09 AM

i've owned the XX-4 WE, XXX-4 G+, Academy Pro, and the ZX-5....

Academy breaks the least.... and drives fairly well..... stock driveline doesn't like huge power.....

imho...... the xx-4 is really hard to work on, but it's dialed on most tracks..... the xxx-4 drives really well, but still breaks too much....

the zx-5 drives Awesome!! the best handling electric off roader i've ever driven bar none.... but has some breakage issues and yea, the instructions leave a lot to be desired....

i haven't owned the dark impact..... but have got to wheel it quite a bit at trade shows.... looks ok for newbies, but a base academy would be much better.... doesn't like large doses of power- forget running real BL and lipo power in there.... stock shocks and gear pitch are a total joke in this day and age.....

You could not be more correct.

I've owned an Academy and I run a XXX-4 G+.

Academy, I broke an axle, a shock tower, and an arm. In a rather long time of running it. Thats excluding the dozens of spurs I stripped. I liked the Academy alot, But the drivetrain just sucked. Not enough gearing options, motor mount was flawed. I was thinking about building my own sort of gear reduction just so I could put in an 11x2 without frying it. I ended up selling it. One of the best things I've done.

The XXX-4 i like. I'm a basher, so yeah I use this for jumping and running through dirt patches. Stupid stuff is reserved for the brushless maxx or brushless Mini-T.

I've never raced this on a track, so most of my running comes to grass or gravel. I have absolutely no complaints with the XXX-4. I haven't broken, maintained, or really done anything yet. I'm running an old 14x2 in it with six cells. I plan on dropping in a brushless. We will see how it handles that.

I've been eyeballing the XX-4 just cause I like buggies. Seems nice.

This is a great discussion. Too many people only care about handling with the buggies. But basher or racer, durability is an issue.

If I could, I would warn everyone i know not to buy an academy. I did every mod I knew and read to that thing to stop the motor from falling out and nothing worked.

JDT

06-20-2006, 03:14 PM

I sold my XX-4 for a XXX-4 a few years back, the regular xx is way better IMO, the xxx however was the graphite version and it seemed I could not get through a 3300 pack without breakage, track or bashing, of course I have hamfist syndrome from years of bashing so that may be the cause, its kind of funny how much more stuff breaks with a 10 turn than a 19 turn lol. I would argue don't bash your race car, get a cheapy to bash with and keep your race car for just that, racing.

pyro18t

06-20-2006, 05:37 PM