Anyone do 1/8 RC nitro buggies?

[gus6464]

My buddy and I want to get into it and we are looking for one in the 300-400 range. Not looking to race seriously just get something durable that can take a couple beatings. Suggestions in rc forums are all over the place.

 

[iamwiz82]

I did but it was way too expensive and easy to break.

 

[Midwayman]

Want a used one? I have a GS Storm I haven't run for awhile.

Most important part of a RC car is local parts supply. If your local shop doesn't stock it, I would seriously consider another model. You can order online, but its annoying when you break a part and want to run that weekend.

Other bit is I would highly recommend one of the brushless electric models. They are soooooooo much easier to take care of than nitro cars. An electric you can just throw in your trunk and keep it there for when you have a minute to stop during the week. Nitro requires planning, cleaning, etc, etc.

 

[gus6464]

Want a used one? I have a GS Storm I haven't run for awhile.

Most important part of a RC car is local parts supply. If your local shop doesn't stock it, I would seriously consider another model. You can order online, but its annoying when you break a part and want to run that weekend.

Other bit is I would highly recommend one of the brushless electric models. They are soooooooo much easier to take care of than nitro cars. An electric you can just throw in your trunk and keep it there for when you have a minute to stop during the week. Nitro requires planning, cleaning, etc, etc.

I have been checking those out but can you even get a good brushless setup with some lipos for $450?

 

[DaTT]

Want a used one? I have a GS Storm I haven't run for awhile.

Most important part of a RC car is local parts supply. If your local shop doesn't stock it, I would seriously consider another model. You can order online, but its annoying when you break a part and want to run that weekend.

Other bit is I would highly recommend one of the brushless electric models. They are soooooooo much easier to take care of than nitro cars. An electric you can just throw in your trunk and keep it there for when you have a minute to stop during the week. Nitro requires planning, cleaning, etc, etc.

Bolded x 100000

I have a Traxxas Nitro Rustler with the new 3.0 race engine. Fast as hell, but it breaks every time I use it. I have not used it quite some time as it needs new shocks and tie rods. But damn that thing moves.....

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I wouldn't touch Nitro with a 10 foot pole. Go for the electric brushless.

 

[fstime]

I have experience with both 1/8 scale off road and on road. Not the cheap ready to run Traxxas stuff either, usually Mugen Seiki. It is a very expensive hobby.

Seeing that all the big top names like Kyosho and Mugen offer 1/8 off-road electric versions now, I see that as the way to go. It is just so much more convenient than nitro. No more breaking in engines, tuning engines, changing glow plugs, fueling, hauling starter boxes, smelling like exhaust, it is much, much cleaner overall.

Just charge your batteries and you are ready to go.

But I see buggies as more for racing than casual messing around, maybe a monster truck would be better.

Honestly though, for me, I don't really see high end R/C as a worthwhile casual hobby. Either join a community and go to weekly track events or don't bother.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Want a used one? I have a GS Storm I haven't run for awhile.

Most important part of a RC car is local parts supply. If your local shop doesn't stock it, I would seriously consider another model. You can order online, but its annoying when you break a part and want to run that weekend.

Other bit is I would highly recommend one of the brushless electric models. They are soooooooo much easier to take care of than nitro cars. An electric you can just throw in your trunk and keep it there for when you have a minute to stop during the week. Nitro requires planning, cleaning, etc, etc.

:thumbsup: Nitro is dirty, smelly, loud, plus there is a lot more maintenance you have to do to a Nitro engine to keep it running. I have 2 nitro cars and they are kind of a pain in the ass. If I had it to do over I'd go electric.

One of my cars has a 2 speed transmission and it will hit speeds of over 40mph. It is fast, almost too fast to drive really. It is very easy to crash.

It seems that nobody flys nitro copters or planes anymore either. They are mostly electric.

 

[gus6464]

I found the Kyosho DBX VE 2.0 and it looks interesting for $325. Takes both 2S and 3S lipo as well. As far as run time what do you guys think I can get from a 2S 5000mah battery?

 

[msmy300z]

Another vote for brushless electric! Bought a 1/8th Traxxas Slash brushless when looking for something affordable and FAST. I highly recommend the brushless d/t acceleration, maintenance, and flexibility (with lipo in mind). I bought the Slash d/t initial cost and durability for bashing. I couldn't afford one of the bigger ones with dual brushless (e-revo etc)

I recommend towerhobbies.com as a place to consider for purchase. If you join their super saver club they often have coupons that make it worth your while. Purchased for 1 year ~$10 which includes free shipping on items >$150 and there are coupons for $50-65 on purchases of $300+ and scaling down accordly with $ amounts spent. I can't guarantee that one of those coupons is always active but I know that I had the option several times over the course of a year.

Lipo is as great as they say... speed and power gradually die with Ni-MH but never do with Lipo until depleted. I have a 7.2 volt (2S) 5000maH lipo that runs longer that my dog or myself can handle 30+ minutes.

 

[funboy6942]

I been doing the hobby for over 30 years. I have had nitro and electric from many different manufactures, and if you know what youre doing nitro can be alot of fun. Noise, adjusting settings, oil on everything all adds to the flavor of them. And when tuned in properly can be a ton of fun, but you need to know what youre doing. BUT if you want to have a lot of fun, not have to tune in all the time, and want balls out speed $500 off ebay gets you one of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsIgwmth3EM

That is mine and runs about 40-45 minutes on a tank of gas, yes gas, with 2 stroke oil mixed in. Its a weed eater motor strapped in a 1:5th size buggy and I can tell you its more fun then electric or nitro. You can pick it up from a guy called rovanrc on ebay, he has a ton of them and well worth the price considering the HPI build will cost you $1200 and not have a kick ass 2.4ghz radio, or updated exhaust. I have wrecked it, hit a tree, and flipped it end over end MANY times and still wants more. So if you have the room for one, thats what I would say pick up. Uses pump gas vs nitro, and 4x the run time electric would give you, plus when you pull that sucker out and people hear it be ready for a crowd. All you need to get started is a bottle of 2 stroke oil ($2), and 2 gallons of pump gas (high octane), batteries for the controller and go out and bash the sucker.

But what ever you pick out you will have fun.

What I own right now is:
Kyosho Madforce Cruiser
Kyosho Madforce version one
Kyosho Mini Mega Force
HPI MT2
Traxxas T-Maxx 3.3
Traxxas Slayer Pro 3.3
Ofna Hyper 8.5 Pro
Ofna Picco Off Road
Redcat Racing Earthquake. Going to be here on the 5th and can tell you if its junk or not. First one, and couldnt pass up a big block, 2 speed MT for $265 including the starter pack and a quart of nitro fuel. Had to give this brand a go.
Rovan (HPI 5B Clone) Baja 26cc
Rovan Baja 30.5cc with a ton of aluminum. BTW ALL HPI 5B parts will fit the Rovan, or King Motor builds. Video of this one coming soon.
And once I sell my planes and HT Amp Im going to buy a Ofna LX2 Nitro.

Check my sig if you like to see most of them in action. And with nitro, break in is very important and if you skimp on it, it will give you problems down the road, like not keeping a tune, lack of power, blowing out glow plugs often, and so forth. So make sure that if you do do nitro to follow the instructions from the manufacture closely and to the letter. It will pay off in the long run.

 

[SSSnail]

For your price range, just grab an RTR kit and hit the dirt.

 

[gus6464]

Thanks for all the info guys. I have decided on the following:

Ofna Ultra LX2e roller kit
Tenshock X802 V2 motor
Hobbywing Xerun 150a ESC
Flysky FS-GT3B Tx/Rx

My only question which I can't seem to find the answer to is I know I need a servo as well but the kit is not clear if I need one or two servos?

 

[DaTT]

I don't have experience with Electric cars, but I would imagine you would need 2 if they have brakes.

Nitro cars need 2, 1 for steering and one to operate the carb and the brake.

 

[DaTT]

:thumbsup: Nitro is dirty, smelly, loud, plus there is a lot more maintenance you have to do to a Nitro engine to keep it running. I have 2 nitro cars and they are kind of a pain in the ass. If I had it to do over I'd go electric.

One of my cars has a 2 speed transmission and it will hit speeds of over 40mph. It is fast, almost too fast to drive really. It is very easy to crash.

It seems that nobody flys nitro copters or planes anymore either. They are mostly electric.

I believe mine will do well over 70 mph with the new motor.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I've seen Electrics well into the 60mph range as well.

 

[funboy6942]

Thanks for all the info guys. I have decided on the following:

Ofna Ultra LX2e roller kit
Tenshock X802 V2 motor
Hobbywing Xerun 150a ESC
Flysky FS-GT3B Tx/Rx

My only question which I can't seem to find the answer to is I know I need a servo as well but the kit is not clear if I need one or two servos?

Since you went electric you need just one for the steering. Good choice of buggy btw, your going to be happy with it.

 

[DaTT]

I've seen Electrics well into the 60mph range as well.

How about 100mph electric

 

[Pneumothorax]

Electric is nice, but if you do get into racing, nitro has much more track events than 1/8 electric. Don't forget the lipos and a fast lipo charger/power supply is still pricey these days even if you go full China brands like hobbyking. Do me a favor and get a good balancing lipo charger. Still cringe when I see guys charging expensive 4-6s lipo batteries with a cheap 50 watt unbalanced charger. I have 2x1344Watt lipo battery chargers than charge my biggest packs in <15 minutes.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I believe mine will do well over 70 mph with the new motor.

I haven't clocked it personally and was being pretty conservative with my estimate, it will probably hit 50mph but by the time it kicks into second gear it is halfway down my street and that's when it really takes off. It really is too fast to use anywhere around here. You would need a large and very smooth parking lot. I have a Viper body and a Lotus Exige body for it. The Viper is red and the Exige is yellow. It looks pretty bitchin' with the Exige body on it. :biggrin:

The car itself is an OFNA. I bought it a few years ago, it was an RTR model with 2 speed transmission.

 

[DaTT]

I haven't clocked it personally and was being pretty conservative with my estimate, it will probably hit 50mph but by the time it kicks into second gear it is halfway down my street and that's when it really takes off. It really is too fast to use anywhere around here. You would need a large and very smooth parking lot. I have a Viper body and a Lotus Exige body for it. The Viper is red and the Exige is yellow. It looks pretty bitchin' with the Exige body on it. :biggrin:

The car itself is an OFNA. I bought it a few years ago, it was an RTR model with 2 speed transmission.

My cousin has a 2 speed transmission on one of his trucks. From what I remember they were a pain to tune, and if not tuned properly, it would not hit 2nd gear.