Which of these 4wd would you choose, and why?

[Sillyoldfox]

Trying to make a decision, opinions requested!

[Nick-W]

I went for the Hotshot 2 based purely on how in looks. I know next to nothing about any of them. 

[Twinfan]

It really depends on what you already own, is it going to be a shelfer or a runner, do you want/like to paint, which do you think looks the best etc etc.  My choice would probably be very different to someone else's  

[Grumpy pants]

19 minutes ago, Nick-W said:

I went for the Hotshot 2 based purely on how in looks. I know next to nothing about any of them. 

Same here 😂

[Kowalski86]

On paper I'd go for a Thunderdragon, oarts aren't an issue and you can drop a Hornet shell on it if you don't like the looks. But Tamiya seems to be having quality control issues with the current re-res.

TamiyUSA lists part no 0335071  as discontinued, which is the chassis for the Boomerang/Super Sabre. That takes them off of my list of I wanted a runner.

 

[toyolien]

I went with the Boomerang because that was my first ever RC.

But, like others have said, it all depends on what you want from it. Will it be a runner or sat on a shelf etc...?

[BuggyDad]

I voted Boomerang because, as I understand it, it drives as well as (if not better than) the Hotshots but those enclosed HS chassis would probably do my head in. But mainly because I lusted after it when I was a kid. And I just never fancied those thundershotdragon bodies. And I was a little surprised to see it's the cheapest given its the one I like.

But what about the Supershot that's about to get a rerelease? Every wheel gets a shock... What I'd really get of the cars from this era is either that or the Fox (I know, I know)! 

[Sillyoldfox]

Already got 2 foxes, one is my original from the 80's which is going to be reconditioned (again) and put back in the box, the other will be mildly modified and used as a runner.

I'd like to add a 4wd buggy to the rapidly expanding fleet and really my question should have been, which of the cars listed represents the best offer at their respective price point.

I too am not that keen on the look of the dragon/shot cars but perhaps they drive the best? I potentially lean towards the hotshot having been desperate to own one back in the day but alas never did!

[Saito2]

I would pick the Hotshot 2, non-Blockhead though (purely based on my love of the original's looks)

I like the looks of the Hotshot cars with their roll cages and minimalistic bodies. The HS2 features a durable, rigid, boxed chassis overlaid with a roll cage. The bodies suffer less damage in rollovers. The downside is radio gear access is limited without disassembly Whoever designed the Hotshots probably did the Fox too BITD, lol. I find this less of an issue with today's common use of ESCs. The HS2 has proper monoshock geometry like the Boomer and Super Sabre but not like the original Hotshot's somewhat flawed design. The rear features a more integrated suspension layout unlike the "tacked-on" shocks on the Supershot. The steering uses direct rods and while it doesn't bind, it suffers from bumpsteer and a wider turning arc. They are a more involved old school build.

The Boomerang and Super Sabre are functionally identical (ok, the Boomer's rear shocks are a bit longer). They feature an open tub design that is not a rigid as the HS2's but offer better radio gear access. I'm not crazy about the battery door on these as it ties the lower chassis together while relying on two relatively small molded-in plastic hooks at the door's rear as its means of support. The suspension is sorted like the HS2's. The steering uses a sliding bar that cut out the bumpsteer and reduces understeer. Its only flaw is the slider can jam with debris and thus must be kept clean. Booomers were cheaper, lighter and better performing than the original Hotshots making them popular BITD. I prefer the Super Sabre as it was my late father's favorite Tamiya and its wing doesn't get ripped off as easy in rollovers like the Boomer's eventually does.

The Boomerang, Super Sabre and Hotshot 2 all share the same basic drivetrain and ball-jointed front suspension. The Hotshot series are some of my favorites but they are old-school and I'm not shooting for max performance (who would be with a Tamiya re-re nowadays anyway?).

The Thundershot series is lighter and far more streamlined in its design. The re-re gears suffer from molding issues now that must be filed/trimmed, but overall the gearboxes are more efficient, as is the whole buggy. The blue nylon arms in the newest rereleases seem to be splitting on impacts at the inner hinge pin for some folks (me included). They were the last of the high clearance, rough terrain capable buggies and probably had an advantage in competition in this respect. Unfortunately this was out of step with the times as rougher tracks of old were going away by then. Unlike the earlier cars, Thundershots suffer from oversteer if anything. Aside from the A5 part (which have many fixes now), they are pretty robust buggies. Indeed, the drivetrain on all the buggies you listed are reasonably tough. 

[Juggular]

53 minutes ago, Sillyoldfox said:

I potentially lean towards the hotshot having been desperate to own one back in the day but alas never did!

I take it back. I was going for the Boomerang, but Saito 2 explained it better. 4 springs are better than 3. (You have 2 Foxes, so you'd know).

 

[Willy iine]

[Pizza Frog]

The Boomerang seems like a better deal than the more expensive Super Sabre.  And the rerelease of the original black Hotshot II will come out this year I believe.   

[Saito2]

2 hours ago, BuggyDad said:

But what about the Supershot that's about to get a rerelease? Every wheel gets a shock...

The Supershot is my favorite despites its foibles simply because it represented the ultimate BITD, a Hotshot with every hop-up Tamiya made. Since these hop-ups are added onto the base Hotshot structure, they weren't exactly integrated. Tamiya did a clever job designing brackets that attached to the existing Hotshot chassis to mount the shocks (the whole suspension was available separately to Hotshot owners looking to upgrade). Full ball bearings was a real mind-blower back then with the prices bearings used to sell for. Plus, you got an under guard, pin spike tires that looked like they shred skin, a Technipower motor and flashy gold wheels, oh, and a roof scoop.

The front shocks do lack travel though and they bottom out before the chassis. I rectified this by using newer CVA2 shocks which lack the internal rod guides but have more travel:

All personal feelings aside, the Boomerang represents a good performer at a good price, I just have a personal preference for the more "solid" feeling Hotshots.

The one car missing from the discussion, and sadly no longer available, is the Bigwig, which, in many ways, was Tamiya's attempt at the ultimate iteration of the chassis line, supplanting the Supershot.

Of course all of these early cars' performance was eclipsed by the Thundershot series.  

[Kowalski86]

17 minutes ago, Pizza Frog said:

The Boomerang seems like a better deal than the more expensive Super Sabre.  And the rerelease of the original black Hotshot II will come out this year I believe.   

On Amain hobbies you can get $20 off $200, which puts the Sabre at $180 vs the Boomerangs $173.

I considered one myself briefly, but Tamiya doesn't sell just the chassis itself. You're looking at buying a second kit or dealing with kit breakers if you need a replacement.

[GToddC5]

Super Sabre, because I have all the others to build yet 

[Jonathon Gillham]

I would've said the thundershotdragon cars except ours have the issue with the arms splitting. Look at them funny and they split.

I voted for Boomerang (because of course I would BUT) because mine is from a run ages ago and has been the most reliable runner we have. It just has bearings, otherwise its stock. It has been bulletproof with a silvercan for many hours of backyard running

[markbt73]

I voted Boomer, because I know it best. It steers and handles better than the Hotshots, and the open-top tub is far easier to work with.

I suppose the Thundershot etc are technically "better," but the Boomerang has always struck me as a 4WD companion to the Hornet: cheap, tough, and simple. Its only real drawback is that dumb battery retaining pin that doesn't stay put after a while.

As was mentioned, it's a shame the Bigwig re-re hasn't made another appearance, because that's the gem of the vintage-syle Tamiya 4x4s. And it was a serious bargain, too, with full bearings and a much improved steering and suspension setup.

[Ferruz]

I voted Super Sabre just because it looks awesome 

[Twinfan]

8 hours ago, Sillyoldfox said:

I'd like to add a 4wd buggy to the rapidly expanding fleet and really my question should have been, which of the cars listed represents the best offer at their respective price point.

I too am not that keen on the look of the dragon/shot cars but perhaps they drive the best?

With this new info I voted Dragon/Shot.  It's clearly the best performer of the lot and not the most expensive, so it has to be the best value for money.  Plus parts are readily available.

[Tamiyastef]

I was in doubt about the rere Hotshot 2 in original livery (not the blockhead one) but went for the Terra Scorcher. Both "missing" from your list  so if it has to be on your list I'd go for the Boomerang (pure nostalgia).

[Sillyoldfox]

I included the blockhead version of the Hotshot 2 because it is on offer with Tamico, although I think the rere hotshot 2 looks better!

Terra scorcher was excluded because it's that bit more expensive, is it worthy of inclusion?

[moffman]

For me it’s boomerang all the way but everything is personal choice and there is good points and bad points with all those buggies on the list! I always like the easy access to the electronics with the boomerang the hotshot 2 still has the problem with not being easy to work on chassis wise so the super sabre will have the same as the boomerang I just personally prefer the look of the boomerang and a percentage of that is nostalgia because it was my first ever school hall club racer back in the mid 80s but my real gripe with all of those buggies (and it’s not really that serious) and it’s annoyed me from day one way back from the original hotshot release! Is the noisy gearboxes you could back in the day together with full bearings buy a better prop shaft which did help  because its all down to vibration and the tamiya coat hanger wire doesn’t really work that efficiently, but again the flip side is the gearboxes are pretty bulletproof and considering the age of all those buggies designs they are all pretty good!

[alvinlwh]

.

[Twinfan]

45 minutes ago, Sillyoldfox said:

I included the blockhead version of the Hotshot 2 because it is on offer with Tamico, although I think the rere hotshot 2 looks better!

Terra scorcher was excluded because it's that bit more expensive, is it worthy of inclusion?

Terra Scorcher is a fully hopped-up model and the best looking of the series in my opinion.  Tamico still have them in stock and it would be my choice for sure  

[Sillyoldfox]

Hmmm, food for thought. An enclosed chassis doesn't bother me as I'm used to it with the fox. Maybe I'll wait and see what offers crop up with Tamico to influence my choice.