Belt or shaft.. that is the question

[siv429]

Hey guys, Im lookin for a car to race with and maybe have a few car park races with! Ive been looking at the TB02 and the TA04-R! So as the title suggests which is better belt or shaft?

Cheers

Justin

[GPZ1000RX]

Exposed belts and gravel, stones, glass and every other bit of car park detritus you can think of don't mix!

Therefore the shaft drive car is the one for you.

[siv429]

Thanks GPZ! Which would anyone recomend for track racing??

Cheers

Justin

[mjohnston39]

I don't think these will be a definitive answer but the Tamiya factory racers appear to be racing and winning with the new belt driven TRF415 even though the shaft shaft driven EVOIV has just been released. Infact the most recent 4WD offroad and touring car champs are also belt driven...

Mike

[nickc]

I think belt drive is ever so slightly more efficient, and of course quiet. But everyone these days loves the low maintanence of a shaft, and the gain from belt is probably barely even notacible. So it comes down to wether or not you are a lazy ****** (shaft drive) or not (belt drive)

[CarKing]

The debate is endless. Belt is supposed to be more efficient, but lately shaft has come a long way. You have to think that Tamiya wouldn't put all this money into the Evo series if there wasn't a racer's possible advantage with it somewhere. I would say a lot depends where you race. You do a lot of parking lot racing? Go shaft. You go to nice indoor, or professional outdoor tracks? Go belt. From what I have been told and read, one of the best is a TB-02 with some TA04 hop-ups. I love the belt systems, but its nice knowing you don't have much to worry about with a shaft ever going bad.