4wd buggy recommendation wanted

[fury_dice(2)]

OK, I've convinced myself that I'd like a 4wd buggy as a car-park and off-road runner - no real reason, just fancy one. Anyway, the criteria that I can think of are:

- Cost (not in the Avante etc. bracket)

- Reliability/durability (I'm a rubbish driver)

- Easy to work on (I'm a rubbish mechanic)

- Parts availability in the UK or from E(vil)bay

- performance

Given that list, the candidates I can think of so far are:

- Top Force (favourite if I can find one at the right price)

- Hopped up Manta Ray/Dirt Thrasher/Blazing Star

- Academy SB Sport (can't afford the whizzy one)

Would anyone please care either to comment on those cars, or make some more suggestions? I'm in no rush (although it would be good to get sorted by Kidder) and want to get it 'right'. (BTW, already have a Gravel Hound).

Cheers [] David

[Fantuzzi]

Last year, I planned to purchase a real 4WD racing buggy. Unfortunately I didn't find a buggy worth to buy, not in the Tamiya range, nor in the programm of other suppliers.

A Top Force Evo would have been O.K., but unfortunately conditions, prices or both of them weren't adequate.

So I took my Blazing Star buggy and installed

-Custom made carbon chassis (TF copy)

-Custom made suspension stay (TF copy)

-Custom made Alunimium installation material

-Aluminium dampers

-Roll bar

-Losi 4WD tyres

-Balldiff/one way gear

-Metall universal joints

-Hop up Motor mount

Due to the custom made chassis, the costs for the complete package were far below the TF EVO investment.

[Gruntfuggly]

I run a Terra Conqueror with a few hop ups so it is basically a Top Force with a plastic tub chassis. For what I get up to with it, I think I am probably better off with the tub than carbon fibre plates anyway. It's pretty rugged - I haven't broken anything yet, apart form knackering the body/wing to some degree.

Mud4fun will without doubt add to this that the Thundershot chassis is best for what you want and I have one of these too, but I use the Terra Conqueror because I've had problems with breaking the front gearbox mounts on the chassis, but there are other good reasons for going down the Thundershot route, eg much better battery access/removal.

I'd say either chassis will fit your criteria though...

[mjohnston39]

Personally I'd go with the new Academy SB sport, reviews suggest it's a pretty decent buggy and being in production, parts and upgrades will be easier to find.

Mike.

[DJTheo]

In the lower end (more for fun bashing) I would buy one of the new Tamiya DF-02 4WD buggies and in the higher end (more racing) I would chose a Losi (XXX4...)

Cheers

[mud4fun]

LOL, Cheers Gruntfuggly but sadly not many people share my like of the thundershot range. I think it performs very well for a basher car, is generally robust and easy to maintain and parts are extremely plentiful on ebay and cheap! Whole cars go for around £30-40 in good condition even for the terra scorchers with all the hop-ups.

Personally I found the manta ray to be a reasonable car but not as robust as I would have expected.

Minus points:

1) The stock shock towers use shoulder screws to locate the upper shocks, the lugs that the screws attach to snap/shear off under even mild rolls or jumps. These need to be replaced with FRP shock towers and use thru bolts instead of the shoulder screws.

2) The stock plastic motor mounting plate is RUBBISH - bin it immediately and buy an (expensive) alloy mount instead. The lugs on the plastic one break off within hours of use.

3) The battery tray limits you to only 7.2v packs and can't be adapted.

4) The motor sits into the gearcase and airflow is obstructed so the motor overheats and melts/distorts the gearbox so I'd recommend an (expensive) alloy motor cooling fin.

5) This design was the start of Tamiyas slide into poorer quality design and build - it relies heavily on self tapping shoulder screws to secure suspension arms, shocks etc and these wear out quick and also the leverage causes premature failure of the mounting holes.

6) The stock propshaft is the same thin piece of wire that was used in the thundershot but is even longer so rattles about even more - if you fit any seriously 'hot' motor in the car the propshaft vibrates worryingly - I even had it fly out at one point! This can be replaced by an (expensive) aftermarket propshaft.

Plus points:

1) Longer wheelbase make it more stable at speed.

2) Low CoG and lightweight design.

3) Uses modern TL01 style gear pitch so pinions etc are easy to find.

4) It accepts a ball diff front and rear which can be adjusted for great traction on the rough.

5) Still in production recently so parts should be easier to find - shares many parts with the TA01 touring car chassis.

6) It is also a simple design and can be stripped and rebuilt quite quickly.

7) It has more pinion options than the earlier buggies so you can tune the motor better for different conditions.

[The Dodge]

I know this is Tamiya club but i'd definatley recommend the Kyosho Lazer series of 4wd buggies. Although not the latest molded tub chassis versions.

The plastics used far better than the tamiya material and they are basically built proof cars , plus the early ones generally have the gold anodised shocks which are very good units, rarely leak like cva's etc.

This isn't mean't to slag tamiya at all, just if you want a basher these lazers are very strong and handle sweet.

The only downfall is they are approaching classis status so don't pay too much.

[fury_dice(2)]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. As it happens, I've just scored myself a decent Top Force from a really nice guy in Austria. Still ironing out the finer points of the deal, but it should be on it's way soon. Has the ali motor mount so that's one issue sorted out.

Ian - you've reminded me that I quite like the Terra Scorcher, so may well keep an eye open for one of those as well [] I think everyone here is really impressed with what you've achieved with those chassis's [8D][8D]

Theo - we already have a hopped-up Gravel Hound and I wasn't really looking for another one, but thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks again [] David

[Gruntfuggly]

I've got a Terra Scorcher that I would be happy to part with - not a beauty, but a good runner. Email me if you're interested...

[TamiyaRC]

Dirt Trasher !!!!!

Cheap on ebay, I got mine for $89 for almost new buggy plus radio plus charger and battery and..fully ball raced.

It looks like the owner bought complete combo from Tower Hobbies then soon,got bored and sell it.

When I got it, I just need to charge the battery and voila...its running. (it even has the AA battery for the controller).

Looks good, good run in the dirt and pavement.

Worst come to the worst, I can just throw away everything because its so cheap. (actually...not really...hehehe, I will not throw any Tamiyas).

I run it hard, hit this and that, but never breaks.

Hope thats help.

Tamiya !!!

[Shodog]

I wouldn't waste your money on a Tamiya Buggy, I would go straight for a Losi XX4.

[The Slayer]

Agree with M4F - Thunderbrick... fast durable (never broke mine when i had it) great fun!! dont have anything now - watch this space []

[mud4fun]

Hey Pauline - how is the IOM? Long time no see! Do you actually have a model shop there? I was over there a few years back and it looked pretty desolate. Mind you we went in Winter and only just got in as the Ferry nearly crashed into the harbour wall - the sea gets a bit rough at that harbour entrance!

[The Slayer]

Hi Ian - its Carolyn actually (but i forgive you) the IOM has 2 shops, not that i have bought anything (no dosh) and as far as i know they DONT stock Tammy, its all 1/12 stuff and planes.. oh and Nitro RTR rubbish.. (overpriced of course) apart from that.... i have a job started this week, still living in a room!! NO RC [] well apart from the Focus in bits in my friends garage [:I] I need a shell and Servo for that beastie.. oh and an ESC.. I am thinking about getting something like a Hornet or a Toureg to blast around the beach - i want another Thunderbrick at some stage (ideally NIB) or a good 2nd hand one that i can redo the shell/rebuild or whatever... Yes the **** sea here gets ROUGH!! me being a townie - its a bit scary [xx(] i live 20 yards from the coast - now you know why i want a Buggy or crawler [][] All ok with you [?]

[ZenMoto]

Great thread for me, I am thinking of a Losi xxx-4 (I just posted in the "Other Makes" forum for opinions). I'll most likley sell my hopped up (a lot) TB-02 to pay for it, but I'll still have my TA04 for my steet speed addiction. [] Do you guys have any strong opinions on the xxx-4? ...any other reccomendations along the same lines?

Thanks

[tt-01owner]

the losi x4 is for serious racing 150-200usd, but if your just bashing i would reccomend hpi rs4 mt electric, it offers 2 speed. all plastic parts can be strengthened by boiling them for 10 minutes. the rs4 mt runs for 100-150usd, much better than any tamiya buggy because the rs4 mt is for bashing and beatings.