hulan

Hey all,

I'm starting this thread to seek some help in a purchase I'd like to make. I've been flying nitro and gasoline helicopters/planes for over 20 + years so I have a general knowledge of r/c equipment but have NEVER laid my hands or eyes on a nitro truck or car.

I'd like to pick up a used one for my young fella and I came across this ad. It's located about 2 hours from me so I didn't want to waste the time driving if it's not worth it.

He has an HPI savage 25 for sale: (His Ad)
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Make a offer many parts come with the truck theirs enough parts to make about 3 of thies trucks andtheir is many aftermarket parts installed on the truck in the picture including a HPI big block engine payed 300$ for the engine. The truck was well taken care of it runs verry good. It's a wheelie monster if you can get traction it's a 4x4 with a 3 speed transmission. Reason for selling is that i lost interest in this RC hobbie and I want to move on to another hobbie. No reasonable offer will be turned down
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I was chatting with him and he assures me everything I need is there to build two extra trucks including radios & engines with good unbroken parts. I'm always skeptical of this because if you just assume, you'll be placing $200 orders in not time haha.

I honestly have no idea what to look for other than the items that are common with aircraft (not much). Basically I'm asking all of you, what should I test or inspect when I'm looking at the running truck itself? Suspension wise, drivetrain wise etc?

His bottom price is $460.00 CAD (~$370USD). Is it worth it if there is basically 3 trucks? I don't mind the work, in fact would love it with the young fella.

He's sending me photos of everything laid out and grouped this evening. If I posted them, could you all help me identify if he is indeed accurate in stating there's enough for 2 more builds?

How do you identify a "big block" engine? he says the body is off a .21? and the engine is upgraded.

I've attached his ad photos.
Will post the photos of all the parts as soon as I get them.

Thanks in advance all! Cheers!

1QwkSport2.5r

You would need that many parts to keep one Savage running for a few years. I'm not a fan of the savage at all - anyone that I've known that had one spent far more time fixing it than driving it. Personally, I'd stay away from HPI. Losi has much better parts support (they're still in business and making parts - HPI changed hands, but isn't making parts currently) - And Losi stuff is built far better (stronger) and is much easier to work on.

hulan

The whole lot is all junk haha. Glad I didn't make the trip. Cheers fellas

bobbd

good choice

nightspeed98

I have an RTR Savage i bought in '04 and modded during one of my Army deployments. only thing it has EVER broken was a spur gear. i put a metal one and i have never broken anything on it. I stopped using mine in 09 and its been on a shelf ever since. I put a lot of money into that thing and i still also have a fair amount of original parts in a box. Most durable truck i've ever owned.

[email protected]

Ive bin runnin two savages about 15 years no problem gettin parts. It runs from march to september. I tare down over winter replace some bearing /few plastic parts arms mostly and bumper ive redesign the hole role cage out of stock parts to minimize damage. Also run bajarey rims and tires. I make under heads and alumunim exhaust and port exhaust from piston sleeve to tip of exhaust. Far better than Losi. Just take little smarts to make superior truck. All stock r/cs need changes here and there.