Next Car?

[Grastens]

Greetings:

Personal circumstances are now proving favourable for me to begin a new radio-controlled project (or another way of saying I am making money again!). This would be something a bit special, and so I have my eyes on some higher-end kits, but still accounting for price. I would like to hear, though, your opinions about what vehicle I should think about obtaining.

To describe the scenario for each vehicle of my choice:

Tamiya Striker - This would be an eBay purchase. I know it is an unpopular choice, but I actually like the concept and feel that owning a historic car with all its flaws would make it a hoot to drive. Price would come in at about $440 for a complete unassembled kit, estimating a total of $560 to complete it with a new Tamiya brushed ESC, a suitable battery, a few paints and a CRP chassis reinforcement plate.

Tamiya Avante Black Special - One such kit has landed at my local hobby shop. I would attempt to fit a Traxxas Velineon system into it in hopes of turning it into an all-weather runner (or another waterproof brushless system). While one of the highest-priced options, the enticements would be picking it up from the shop instead of getting it mailed and building a neat part of Tamiya's history. The kit’s somewhat-complex build is also an inducement as I enjoy the assembly process. The shop quotes a $500 selling price, and when factoring in a Velineon system and finishing supplies, I could be looking at up to $750 in total expenses, depending mainly on the motor/ESC system I use (meaning if anyone can recommend a 540-sized brushless waterproof system not necessarily of similar performance, that would be good too). If this proves to be my purchase, selling one of my current cars would be a reasonable idea.

Tamiya Bruiser - Another kit at my local hobby shop, I have no idea how this is priced. I am guessing at a starting price of $780 at the shop, but if any lower than $600 (the hobby shop has some strange pricing practices), I would be looking at almost $850 to supply a battery, a 4-channel radio (the others would be using my already-acquired 2-channel unit), finishing products and other accessories (maybe a driver?). Like the Avante, selling one of my current cars would be logical with a purchase such as this. I look at this truck for its 3-speed gearbox and rugged construction, both of which appeal to me greatly.

Tamiya TA03-TRF: I am thinking about competing in on-road events; at the city where I go to university there is a RC racing club, and the TA03-TRF is one of the legal chassis in their on-road class. This chassis is also at my local hobby shop, for whatever reason. To finish it up to practice standards (I will upgrade with more experience), there is the chassis cost of $300, and the total I figure to be around $430 with two legal batteries, an already-acquired bodyshell (I need to pay for painting, though) and a brushed ESC with silver can. With upgrades there is no way of telling how much I will spend on the project; race transponders for the club start at $200, and then there are brushless systems and batteries...

Tamiya Hotshot - An eBay find would be as low as $230 for a standard unassembled re-release kit, and finished with a Tamiya brushed ESC and a high-capacity NiMH battery I think it would be around $360. It is a slightly more complex build (which I enjoy) with unique looks and mechanics, and in addition to being a fun performer, it would mark my first experience with a 4WD buggy. However, I feel that if I had money to spend on an Avante, I would do just that instead of on a cheaper Hotshot.

As I said, things are looking good, though I get the feeling that the choice would be made clear in a month's time. For now, however, I would like to know what you think would be a good choice.

To get an idea of the surfaces I would be running on for off-road: I run mostly at schoolyards, meaning mixed tarmac, dirt and gravel. The dirt is the most prominent, though, with large undulating surfaces on which to run. In the wet, though, its consistency resembles clay. A good suspension system is important (or even a really bad one, in the case of the Striker!).

[wolfdogstinkus]

Tamiya Striker - This would be an anonymous eBay purchase. because I couldn't face the embarrasment of asking for one in person.

Fixed that for you Grastens, sorry I am joking but it's obvious that you know the striker is not very popular on here.

[Percymon]

That's a wide range of options you list. Two others maybe worth looking at

Trailfinder will give you a complex build, not quite to bruiser level, but result in a very capable crawler/scaler for less money

Exo buggy - having seen the youtubevideo posted on the forum earlier today itlooks a real hoot as a runner for school dirt n clay

[Daves956]

My vote is the Hotshot with the velenean in it. All wheel drive weatherproof and the two combine well. I have one like that here and it's my favorite water and snow buggy. And you live in Canada where a water buggy is a good thing to have. It's just my opinion tho

[HunterZero]

It depends what you're interested in primarily, as you have a myriad of cars on your want list there.

Striker - No way is this monstrosity worth the expense of paying eBay prices to buy it NIB and then build it. It will take you no time at all to build, you won't have enough fun while building to justify the $$$, and it's a rubbish runner. The novelty of owning a **** car wears off quickly, and when you get sick of it and want to sell it, used examples are worth nothing. Avoid, unless you are a completist collector with deep pockets keeping it NIB.

Bruiser is a fantastic car to build, and there's plenty of room for your own customisations. But if you're after a basher, look elsewhere. It's more of a gentle scale runner, so if a long build and scale running appeal to you, this is hard to beat if you can afford it. You will stress about rolling it over and ruining weeks of work on the paint job!

I wouldn't look at a TA-03 TRF if you are planning on racing. If you're starting out, a TA05, TA06 or TB03 (or R version) would be a much better choice, as availability of spares should be a concern for a racer. You could even pick up a TRF417 or TRF416 2nd hand for reasonable money, and there are non-Tamiya options out there. Normally when racing, it's wise to visit the track and talk to the other racers, and see which cars they drive and why. If they run a M chassis mini racing series, that might be a more fun class to get into.

Hot Shot isn't a bad choice, but why not look at the Super Hot Shot? It's a better runner with the improved more robust suspension. The benefit of this chassis is that both cars have quite long old-school builds, and are great fun.

Avante Black Special is getting harder to find, but is a good choice. Great build and makes a decent runner.

Wild One is being re-released soon too - that's one to consider.

How about the Blitzer Beetle? It has a great scale body, and it makes a fun basher at a good price.

- James

[WillyChang]

if you want something vintage, buy a Super(hot)Shot

if not... buy a Slash 4X4

[Grastens]

Thank you all for the input so far.

I am looking at the Bruiser and Avante Black Special also because of availability; they are both rare, but both are also at my local hobby shop. I will reconsider my opinion on the Striker, but I could still try picking one up second-hand a bit later if I am still interested.

Interestingly, the Super Hotshot is also at my local hobby shop, priced at $350, but to me it lacks the character of the Hotshot (basically that one-of-a-kind suspension system). However, I bow to reality when I agree that it is definitely worth taking a second look at this kit.

The TA03-TRF is there for availability as well, though the question of spares also came up. The only other chassis available locally are the TT-01E, the stock TA-05V2 and the TB-03. It is not my first choice, though, since I have limited access to well-paved areas where I can run an on-road car. This sidelined my F103 indefinitely.

I had no idea, though, that the Hotshot was Velineon-compatible... I may ask around to see how the system works and how it fares. I had read that the gears could not handle the motor's power. If it is possible to build a somewhat low-maintenance example, though, it may be my first choice as all-weather capability is a big thing for me; it justified spending all that money on a Buggy Champ!

In all honesty, I had never really looked too far outside of Tamiya, and so the other options were refreshing suggestions too. The Trailfinder and Exo Buggy look neat, and the Slash has been on my mind somewhere, though I have not been too big a fan of short-course truck racers.

This is an ongoing process, as I have plenty of time to decide. Keep up the opinions!

One last question, though: can the Wild One be made into an all-weather runner? This car has me quite interested as is...

[WillyChang]

meh, just my opinion but once a model is re-released it can no longer be called "rare"

Especially if any sod can buy 1 by just flashing cash @ LHS... zero skill/luck getting it by my book.

Striker ain't the best to drive nor bashably robust, with 99% aged plastics its best kept on the shelf.

WildOne will run anywhere anytime... we sure drove it in the rain, mud etc. Mine had lightbulbs, not LEDs.

Nice all-terrain reconnaisance buggy, even has a handy factory towbar provided at the back.

These days you can get waterproof servos & ESCs, bolt on a Traxxas waterproof box for RX etc.

In the old days we sprayed with WD40 & wrapped in rubber balloons.

Anything particular that's special on Velineon that you're so hyped up upon?

Nice unit to be supplied in a mass-market RTR but its still pretty coggy at low speeds.

Not totatlly maintenance-free if you get it wet, the motor bearings will need attention

and i hear the ESCs had dodgy lipo cutouts.

[Grastens]

meh, just my opinion but once a model is re-released it can no longer be called "rare"

Especially if any sod can buy 1 by just flashing cash @ LHS... zero skill/luck getting it by my book.

Anything particular that's special on Velineon that you're so hyped up upon?

Nice unit to be supplied in a mass-market RTR but its still pretty coggy at low speeds.

Not totatlly maintenance-free if you get it wet, the motor bearings will need attention

and i hear the ESCs had dodgy lipo cutouts.

From what I heard, both are limited-edition, but I would not really mind if they were not!

I threw out the Velineon name because it is the only brushless system I could think of off the top of my head that was waterproof. In reality, any 540-sized waterproof brushless system works.