Best Buggy

[Danbox]

I have only owned monster trucks (and 1 rally car) so far, and I am thinking of buying a buggy. I will not race,I like decent speed, want toughness, prefer simplicity, etc. I've considered the Grasshopper, Hornet, Gravel Hound, Sand Viper, Frog, & Super Fighter G. (I know that's almost all of them, LOL) Anyway here comes the loaded question: which should I buy?[8-)]

 

Thanks for info/opinions! 

[Z]

Two words: Dark Impact!

[Gruntfuggly]

If you're on a budget, a second hand Baja Champ would be better than all the cars on your list... however, if you want something new then definitely go for the Dark Impact...

[spice]

Of those above choices I would definitely choose the Frog since it just looks so good and everyone should have one in their collection. Frog also handles much better than for example Grasshopper or Hornet but if you looking for simplicity the Grasshopper is fine but do to it's relatively low weight it bounces around a lot.

[kontemax]

Dark Impact.

 

Max 

[Metla]

Shocking, The Baja Champ would have to be one of the worst excuses for an off-road kit ever produced by Tamiya, So bad i was disgusted that they released it.

 

[Bin ^jammin^]

Is the desert gator not a good choice then?

 

I know i would hangon for a month or so and get a re re hotshot[H]

 

Doesn't the DI suffer with flimsy weak shock towers etc?

[essexboyracer]

I'm not at all keen on the Baja Champ either. I stupidly bought one for a cheap 4wd. Anyway, The desert Gator is a great 2wd, which is simple, fast and tough. I talked my mate into buying one for his first car, and he likes it a lot. The Grasshopper is good and cheap, but nowhere near as fast and agile as the desert gator, though it looks a bit cooler. I'd say either the Gator or a Dark Impact, I love my Dark impact, it's an extremely good car, but I had to replace the front driveshafts with universals as otherwise the drive shafts kept getting stuck in the steering... not good. Howver with the front universals i've had no breakages after a dozen or so hard runs.

- Will.

[Danbox]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think the grasshopper looks coolest, but it is sort of primitive. I keep thinking I should get a Sand Viper because it comes with all of the immediate hop-ups I would want. (shocks/bearings) Decisions decisions![^o)]

[Metla]

If your after a 2wd then either a Desert Gator or a Sand Viper would suit, Full bearings, Oil Shocks, Bundled ESC, Looks pretty good, agile, and strong.

 

So strong that my  Desert Gator is the one and only RC car I have ever owned that I haven't broken a part on, and not for lack of trying. I have run mine with the standard motor, a 23 Turn and a 19 Turn and it ate them all up though the gearing was a bit long for the 19T, I wouldn't bother going to a motor with any less winds then 19T.

 

If your going to run the standard motor that comes with the kit then fit the bigger 19tooth pinion to give her some more pace.

[Wrc action]

Dark Impact, Mine is still stock and running well with a sport tuned as the basis for my T3 pajero project, Its been rock solid surviving the kidd track earlier this year, boggy fields and walls as well as a trip up the malverns and back down, The spec is far higher than the baja champ as well so Its my choice as I cannot fault mine so far,

Cheers Ryck 

[Gruntfuggly]

Shocking, The Baja Champ would have to be one of the worst excuses for

an off-road kit ever produced by Tamiya, So bad i was disgusted that

they released it.

It depends what you want - although it's not the best off-roader out there (there are plenty better) it would still outperform any of the cars on the original list. Grasshopper, Hornet, Frog, & Super Fighter G. - none of them remotely 'handle', and Gravel Hound, Sand Viper haven't got any ground clearance...

As I said, if you're on a budget it's a cheap off roader - if you put bearings in and a decent motor, it's fast too.

The Dark Impact is definitely the way to go though... (at 5 times the price [])

 

[Singapore_959]

2 or 4WD  is the first question?

 

Bash or race potential the next.

 

4WD general use :   Rere thundershot is cheap, tough, and quick enough

4WD race potential:  Daaaark Impact

 

2wd:   Desert gator tough, cheap, parts easy, or ebay old Astute/Super Astute   more perf, harder on parts. but cheap on the bay

2wd race spec: Dynastorm, top buggy just requires higher maintenance, not cheap. Asso B4 - simply better.

 

If you are not worried about being the slowest car on the block (don't be, slow is really more fun for general use and run times) then a re re frog.  Hornet is surprisingly tough, but just looks a bit too flimsy to make you feel good about it (my feeling anyway).

 

Tell us what you get! []

[au]

[QuesoGrande]

For a modern - Gator with a BZ in it.

 

Or go for a Bear Hawk - cheap on the bay, tough as old boots, looks good.

[Bin ^jammin^]

So general consensus (sp?) is Dark Impact for 4wd higher budget or Desert Gator for 2wd budget.

That's pretty cool as i'm thinking of picking up a different 2wd and 4wd YAAAAAAAAAY

[DCLXVI]

I've got a Desert Gator with a brushless in it and the only thing I've managed to do is to bend the top link to one of the rear whells, was easy to bend back...and I've put it trough pretty much...

Another trouble I have is that one if the screw holding the rear A-arm is unscrewin itself, not a big problem as it won't fall out, it just increases the gap on the rear arm abit...