What's your fav. Buggy?

[TunaCan Charlie]

On bended knee, I humbly ask for advice from the Lords of the Forum:

Which, in your most excellent opinion, is the best overall RTR Buggy offered in the land? I've read all the stats and know all the numbers, but nothing can substitute for experience. I'm looking specifically for 2WD, electric, 1/10 scale, durability, easy maintenance, and smashing good looks. (Blistering speed and handling are a given!)

And so, with the question posed, I await your enlightenment with great eagerness!!

[highroller]

Never owned a RTR vehicle.
What I normally look at is initial cost vs another brand, how easy are parts to get, what are the weak points of vehicle and what extra parts or upgrades are needed. I refer Associated vehicles for those reasons, although I owned and raced others.
Even if it were just for bashing, I'd still prefer a kit that I could build myself adding the things that might enhance the driveability or look of it.

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

I agree with highroller about building the kit yourself.....
but, if you gotta have a RTR, try the Associated B4. Its a great buggy, and you can upgrade it as you go. Anything cheaper, is just that....cheaper. Don't skimp on $$ on a cheaper RTR kit, you'll regret it later

[TunaCan Charlie]

Thanks for your input guys!

One of the buggies I was looking at was the Associated B4. Others included the Duratrax Evader BX Pro and the Team Losi XXX.

All have full bearings, aluminum shocks, and graphite parts (the Duratrax has a 1 year breakage warranty on all its graphite!). Motors are between the 15T to 19T range with similar ESC's. They are fairly close in price as well.

So, since they are similar, having you gentlemen point out that Associated is better with parts availability and durability is very helpful.

Hopefully, I will get even more input before I plunk down my cash.

Thanks again!
(P.S.- Thinking hard about the kits...... :rolleyes: )

[scoob]

I'm torn on this. I too wouldn't buy an RTR 2wd buggy but If that's what you want then I don't know. I'm an Associated fan through and through but I was not impressed with the T4 RTR my friend bought and the buggy is no different. I think Losi has much better electronics included for one thing.

If we were talking kits, factory team B4 all the way. I have one and love it but the AE guys need to improve the included gear. The Losi stuff is more expensive though and the AE RTRs would be more expensive if they raised the bar on the electronics.

I dion't have any experience with the newest Associated RTR Race Spec. It may be really good.

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

Stay away from the Duratrax...... Sure it has the warranty on the parts... IT NEED IT!!! Be prepared to wait a few weeks to get replacements.
Both the B4, or the new Losi CR are great choices. Spend a few bucks more. The graphite parts on the Evader are quite brittle. I had an Evader BX Pro for a very short while, and quickly sold it. I have owned Losi buggies in the past, and have a B4 now, and highly reccomend either Losi or Associated

[ErikRC10]

sense when has losi had a XXX RTR??... I knew they had a XXXT and XXXS but I have never seen a buggy rtr from losi... I just searched horizon (the main distributor of Losi products) and could find no XXX RTR. I agree with oldschool though stay away from duratrax. Yes they have a 15T motor and parts garuntee it just isn't as good of a car as a Associated or a Losi would be. I my self have never driven a Losi buggy but I have and loved and I sold my old one to oldschool and he really likes it to so I would say with the B4. I would upgrade the servo though because they have a tendancy to strip out. Any standard race servo would do fine.

[Bugs Buggy]

I haven't seen a Losi Buggy RTR either...hmmm...

Charlie, what whould you be using this for?? Bashing? Novice racing? If you are bashing and not really involved with racing, I would spend a few extra bucks and get a Losi XXX-T Brushless RTR. The brushless motor would provide ample rip and be virtually maintenance free (no changing brushes or cutting comms :D ). The truck would probably fare better over rougher, basher terrain too. If you do wish to compete in a novice class at an organized track, you will want to get the 'regular' Losi RTR kit, not the brushless one (unless the ESC in the brusheless kit can handle a brushed motor, then it may be a mute point...) and purchase a good stock motor (normally that type of motor is required to run in novice..sometimes they allow hotter motors though...). The electronics that come with the Losi RTRs seems a bit better than the Associated kits from what I've seen....

The Associated kits are pretty good though.. I own two factory team cars (B4 and T4 kits... not RTRs) and they hold up very well..

If you are really set on getting a buggy, then I think the B4 RTR would be a good choice.. If you're willing to go the truck route, then I think the Losi is a good choice....

:cool:

Bugs

[TunaCan Charlie]

[QUOTE=ErikRC10]sense when has losi had a XXX RTR??... I knew they had a XXXT and XXXS but I have never seen a buggy rtr from losi... I just searched horizon (the main distributor of Losi products) and could find no XXX RTR.QUOTE]

Indeed, the Losi factory offers no RTR XXX, but I have seen ready-to-run Losi setups on E-Bay.

Bugs, no racing in the near future anyway. The discontinued B4 or the "Race Spec" should do just fine for now. I just want to spend more time running than pulling apart my car under the dome light yet again.

Maybe I can sell off my old HPI Sprint on E-Bay and get a 5.5 down the road...

[gizmoguy303]

RTR B4...buy a better motor and it is an excellent setup.

[Archyman]

I prefer kits also...but if I were to buy a RTR...It would be the B4 .......

[TunaCan Charlie]

Ok, here's an update......."$PLUNK$"

By middle of next week, I should receive the buggy I ordered yesterday, Associated RC10 B4 RS Race Spec RTR Electric R/C Buggy. I'll have to let you know how it goes.

Again, thanks for steering me away from buying a mediocre buggy (Duratrax BX Pro), and thanks for the positive feedback on the Losi and Associated.

[gizmoguy303]

Good start. The only thing I would be prepared to replace soon is the motor that comes with thr RTR. I would just run it till it dies, then get a good motor like a Checkpoint or V2. (or a CO27 if you plan on racing stock)

[TunaCan Charlie]

Thanks Gizmo.

I plan on running and funning on the 17 turn until I save up enough for the GTB 5.5 brushless from Novak. Then I'll throw the Reedy and the ESC into my HPI Sprint, which needed a new combo anyway. Good times!!

I thought hard about the TEAM FACTORY KIT, but I would have to watch my friends bash until I got the extra cash to equip it. Now I can have fun until my E-Bay auctions pay off!!! I'm sure, down the line, I'll cough up the $150 to upgrade to the TEAM KIT, too.

[ErikRC10]

I wouldn't put a 5.5 in a B4. It would be to fast to control. You would end up not having as much fun because you would always break something but that's JMO.

There is no need to get the Team Kit because you already have it. The only thing that's different is that it has dog bones instead of CVD joints. You wont notice this anyway. So if you plan to upgrade the car getting the Team Kit wouldn't really be upgrading. You would need to get the Factory Team. Oh also one tip on the B4. I had bad problems with the front A arms breaking on mine but I replaced them with the Factory Team ones (they are graphite) and I haven't had a problem since.

[TunaCan Charlie]

I made a mistake in my typing Erik. I did mean to say FACTORY TEAM KIT.

But thanks for the advice on the 5.5...maybe 7.5? Hehehe

[gizmoguy303]

Meh, get the 5.5. :) Just try not to crash into anything full speed. :D

[TunaCan Charlie]

Bwahaha!!! Banzai!!!! I love this site.......lol

[ErikRC10]

well you could run a 5.5R but it would be crazy fast and unless you are really good you will have trouble controlling it. The 7.5 would be just about right. That's what I will be using in mine once I get enough money to order one. Right now my TC3 is my main priority so I don't have the money.

[AEoffroader]

I would think about not getting the GTB...its too tall to fit under the body with the fan on it and everyone that I know that has a GTB says it needs the fan. I have both the novak brushless speed control and the sphere by lrp and I like my sphere better.

[TunaCan Charlie]

Hmmm...that's something I never would have thought of offroader. Thanks. Do you have an opinion between the "star" motors and the "velocities"?

ho hum...ho hum...waiting for your new car to come in the mail is the WORST!!!

[nicholcgn]

Not sure why you need the fan on the GTB. Everything I have read says that if you run a 6.5 or more turn motor there is no issues in offroad. Onraod is a whole new ballgame. I have the LRP and the GTB, I would take the GTB ESC unless you can get the new competition one. You could also mount the fan on the side. I believe Wookie has posted pictures of this setup on other boards.


As far as motors - I have both types and have more issues with the reedy motors. They have no real information for recommended gearing. You get the motor and nothing in the package. I like the way they do the sensor wire but the velocity motors are holding up better for me personally.

In my buggy I have run the 7.5 or the 8.5 turn motors. I do have the skills\track size to handle any more. I am sure a nation type driver could use a 6.5 or 5.5. I have changed endpoints to tone down the 6.5 and it is a great spare.

I run both motor types on both esc. They work fine.

[TunaCan Charlie]

AAARRRRGGHHH!!!

My new B4 Race Spec is due in the mail today, and it's supposed to rain until Saturday here. Figgers!

Maybe a Glad bag w/ just the wheels poking out....hmmm...lol

[TunaCan Charlie]

I did post my sad (stupid!) tale about cooking the esc in my BRAND NEW Race Spec Buggy. Somehow, those posts have been lost. Anyway, I scraped up enough money to order a Novak 5.5 Velociti system from Tower. Actually, they have a $25 off promo on anything over $199. So $229.99 - $25.00 + $19.99 (2 day shipping) = $224.98 and I'll have it in hand on Wednesday (14th).

So, problems never go away, they just evolve. Now I need to pose the question:

What pinion will make the car happy? :confused:

[TunaCan Charlie]

Have had the buggy w/ the Novak 5.5 in for few days now. Tight fit w/ the fan on the GTB speed control but it works. My first impressions?

WHOOOOOSH!!!!!!

Put a 20 tooth pinion on the stock spur and the motor is barely warm after running 3 3600 packs through. Does this mean my pinion could increase a tooth or two?

Also, having a hard time hooking up on asphalt. Was thinking of some Proline Road Hawgz II. Any opinions?

[TunaCan Charlie]

In the future, do NOT smash buggy into parked car tire at 30 mph....

hmmm....would have made a nice picture before I pried the front end out from under the tire...

[Jayboy]

thats exactly what i did...but at about 23mph!...broke my servo!

[TunaCan Charlie]

Servo OK. Front right A arm toast, front body pin torn out of top plate, front shock tower pulled out of top plate, tire and wheel completely pulled off car and smashed out of shape, two turnbuckles....buckled, remote on/off switch for GTB shredded, and body has a crease in it now. Its really not all that bad...LOL. All the expensive stuff still works, new parts are on the way from RC Boyz and others. Looking back, it was REALLY funny!!!

[GT Freak]

mine is THE FROG too bad there gone :(