RS4 Pro 3 vs. AE TC3 vs. X-Ray T1

[Fast Five]

Here's my situation: I'm looking to by my first true "competition" Touring car. It will be raced indoors over the winter on a small carpet track, and during the summer on a large parking lot track.

My dilema is... Do I go for a "lesser" car like the TC3 or the Pro 3 and hop it up, or do I just start with an X-Ray T1?

I have no doubts that the T1 is a fantastic car, and I'm leaning heavily in that direction. However, I'd like any educated opinions! :D

By the way, the prices are as follows:
Pro 3: $199
TC3: $199
X-Ray: $339

Keep in mind, the X-Ray comes with a carbon fibre chassis and components, while neither of the others do. While it has an initial outlay substantially higher than the others, the "hop ups" for them will basically bring them up to around the same $$$.

[qua77ro]

X-Ray =) Built one this past weekend for someone, very WELL built car... or get the Kyosho =)

[HauntedMyst]

The TC3 a lesser car? I don't know how you came to that opinion since the Factory Team TC3 was the Car of the Year. It also won the Reedy ROC TC race, the X-Ray wasn't even in the playing field.

Its been said a thousand times before but it's really a good deciding factor: Which car is run and supported the most at your track? An exotic car like the X-Ray isn't really exotic when it's sitting on your shelf broken waiting for a part to arrive mail order.


Here are my opinions.

Hands down the X-Ray is the best looking car, but I've never seen a head to head comparision of all these cars. Its supposed to be a great car but at least around here parts aren't stocked for it. Since it has a limited distribution, I doubt many around you have good set up tips for you.

TC3 is very well supported and is an outstanding performer. If you want hopped up, get the Factory Team TC3.

Pro 3. Its supposed to be a good car but the reviews I've read of it, it doesn't match the TC3 or the XXX-s. Since they don't offer an "all the hop ups in one box" version, it will cost a fortune to hop up. Trust me on that one, I have over $1000.00 in a Pro 2.

[Hairball]

HauntedMyst Wrote - "The TC3 a lesser car? I don't know how you came to that opinion since the Factory Team TC3 was the Car of the Year. It also won the Reedy ROC TC race, the X-Ray wasn't even in the playing field."

You know these thing are voted on right? And how long has the T1 been out compared to the TC3? Hmmm, sounds like the voting population pretty much all ran TC3s, and havent herd of, or hadn't played with a T1 yet. And so what if the TC3 won a race? That just means the AE paid the big bucks for the driver while X-Ray didn't want to play the sponsored driver game.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, ITS THE FREAKIN DRIVER WHO WINS THE RACE, NOT THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!

And on the comment about the Pro 3 not matching Losi's and AE's cars. Well of course not! Losi and AE are the TWO biggest names in the R/C world (at least here in the USA), so of course they are going to get the most recognition! Why? Because they pay the most for the drivers (ahem, Losi?) to race there cars, so there cars get in all the big races, and win the big races, and well, end up on the cover of some R/C magazine because the public wants to know what the big boys are driving. Then, because one of the big names won a race or two, the public ALMOST OVERNIGHT (XXX-S anyone?) changes there opinions on which car is the best, and well, I think you see where this is going.

When it comes to buying a car, DO NOT look at what the Team Drivers are driving and base your decision upon that. They get paid to drive those cars, and they do it ALL DAY LONG. Of course they are going to kick a$$ with the car there driving, thats why they get paid to drive it.

On a hobbyist level person though, get the car you like, and fits your driving style. Just becuase a Team Driver wins with a big name brand car, doesnt mean you're going to do well with it.

Sorry for the long post, but some of you people out there really really need to open up your minds, and stop getting brainwashed by pretty ads in magazines.

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: Hairball ]

[qua77ro]

Well here's my new STR-4 Pro equipped with the following electronics. =) I liked this over the X-Ray T1, and this came out before the TC3 =)

KO KR-297FZ Receiver
KO 2143 Digital Fet 6v Servo(0.08 Transit, at 111oz torque at 6v)
KO VFS-2000 Speed Controller with programming module.
Matched Panasonic 3000mAh NiMH batteries
Integy 10x3(for fun, waiting on stock and 19x motors to get into the store)

The car handles AMAZINGLY well considering it came out 9 months ahead of the TC3. It is shaft driven, with a full set of BB's. Aluminum hex hubs, and threaded shocks are standard as well as the quick release drive shaft. Ball diffs front and rear accompany the universals. Carbon Graphite chassis, lower and upper deck with full ball bearing steering ackermans. Car is balanced well and handles very good. Definately as good as the TC3's if not better.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/paee2a90fc606c30644b67d266e1c227a/fe404738.jpg.orig.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/pcb16581a023f9f435a7edb321f668bf1/fe404731.jpg.orig.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p67f85332d3df471a89c8c738e798d4bf/fe40472c.jpg.orig.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p319ef8c2ab52f5c8e259ff3b2b855617/fe404725.jpg.orig.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/p7863c8b51f03f027446303616476ec03/fe40471f.jpg.orig.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid26/pf3397a50839ef71d7e8fb67e54c95aa4/fe40471b.jpg.orig.jpg

[Fast Five]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

HauntedMyst: I didn't mean "lesser" as in "less good"... just less exotic. It's the same a a 'Vette being considered "less than" a Ferarri! The latest C5R can hold it's own against a Prancing Horse anyday, but it would never be considered in the same class as one.

As for the TC3 winning "COTY"... well, that article came out when? July? That means that the issue was finalized sometime in April (or thereabouts) which was before the X-Ray or (maybe?) even the Pro 3 were available to test...!

I have no doubts that the TC3 is an amzing car, don't get me wrong.

Like I said in my original post, I'm leaning towards the T1 already. The owner of the hobby shop that sells X-Ray around here races one himself, and is on a first name basis with most of the guys at Serpent (X-Ray's distributor) so I'm not too worried about parts.

In the last article I read about the T1 they did extensive "crash testing" and found the car to be nearly indestructable. :)

The only real drawback I see is that most of the time I'll be alone setting the car up, with nobody to get help from. Ah well... :D