Talk To Me About The M05 Chassis

[Grumpy pants]

So, I like the 58684 Tamiya Toyota GR Yaris - M05 kit, colour, stance, shape etc.

It's affordable and it might be a nice kit for me to build as I've only ever built 1 new model from new, it would also get me working with lexan as well as having to paint...

Plenty come up for sale on eBay but whilst I admire other peoples NSU's, MX-5's and 2CV's and I understand the motoring significance of them as 1:1's  they just don't do anything for me.

So the old lady/learner car body shape of the Yaris would mean I don't have to sell on a body shell that I won't use. 

Is it fun to build, engaging to drive or does it end of being a bit of a something and nothing to own?

Does it need a small fortune spent on Hop Ups or can it be enjoyed with small well selected blue parts? 

[J@mes]

@Badcrumble did a hopped up M05. I’m interested to learn here too as will build one in future. 
 

years ago a mate had a Yaris & it was thrashed but just kept going! He could parallel park that thing in impossible spaces!

[Badcrumble]

I was lucky to one across a bundle of hop-ups from a TV member so it became a 'throw everything at it' build which was great fun to do. I'm sure it didn't 'need' all I have it though the steering parts are probably well worth it.

I didn't enjoy some of the build as much as others though, sponge tape, lots of differently sized screws. It didn't have the simplicity of an M03 or M04. 

I haven't had enough time with it to comment on the driving - my son nicked it for most of our run out last summer. It got the six year old's endorsement!

I wouldn't buy another but no other would match this one! I'd be tempted to look at an M07 and add a bodyset to it. Then again, the idea of this one was to take it on the loose stuff and then the RA will hopefully shine.

https://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/92367-badcrumble’s-m05-ra/

[Fabia130vRS]

I own the VER2 and RA, I think they are OK to build.

in terms of handling they are stable and good to drive. Brushless does it for me. 

[TurnipJF]

The build is more complex than that of the M-03, but personally I don't see this as a negative as I enjoy the the build process and and a simple build is over too quickly for my liking.

There are a few parts that benefit from being upgraded to alloy from the outset, such as the steering rack which is rather sloppy in stock form, and the motor mount which doesn't offer much cooling if left has a plastic part. Other than those parts, and the obligatory bearings, oil shocks and steel pinion of course, it works very well well as is.

I find that it handles quite nicely set up as per instructions, but with a tiny amount of toe out to aid in straight line stability. A lot of people don't like the the lack of upper front shock mounting options, and there are alloy and carbon fibre shock towers that give more options if you are of this opinion.

As for power, with as with most front wheel drive chassis, you don't need a whole lot of it to enjoy the car. I run 13.5 turn brushless in mine, but this is overkill to be honest. I suspect it would be just as enjoyable with a 17.5 turn.

[Fabia130vRS]

9 minutes ago, TurnipJF said:

The build is more complex than that of the M-03, but personally I don't see this as a negative as I enjoy the the build process and and a simple build is over too quickly for my liking.

There are a few parts that benefit from being upgraded to alloy from the outset, such as the steering rack which is rather sloppy in stock form, and the motor mount which doesn't offer much cooling if left has a plastic part. Other than those parts, and the obligatory bearings, oil shocks and steel pinion of course, it works very well well as is.

I find that it handles quite nicely set up as per instructions, but with a tiny amount of toe out to aid in straight line stability. A lot of people don't like the the lack of upper front shock mounting options, and there are alloy and carbon fibre shock towers that give more options if you are of this opinion.

As for power, with as with most front wheel drive chassis, you don't need a whole lot of it to enjoy the car. I run 13.5 turn brushless in mine, but this is overkill to be honest. I suspect it would be just as enjoyable with a 17.5 turn.

I do run sensor less 10T Carson brushless in mine and its also over kill the ratteling of the gears keeps getting louder and louder, I did rebuild it once already, now using reinforced gears.