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All Forums >> RC Cars, Buggies, Trucks, Tanks and more >> RC Rock Crawlers >> Why is TXT so expensive? Page: [1]

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Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/11/2004 9:18:14 PM   
ihaveatxt1wow


 

Posts: 89
Joined: 5/10/2004
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Do not get me wrong here. I love the design and quality of TXT, to the point that I do not even what to look at an E-Maxx. But why is it so expensive? E-Maxx is $300 and TXT is $350. But E-Maxx comes with a radio and an ESC. These 2 things easily cost over $160, leaving rest of the E-Maxx costing less than $140. That is $210 cheaper than a TXT! Can you imagine the fat margin Tamiya is enjoying?

< Message edited by ihaveatxt1wow -- 6/11/2004 9:22:09 PM >
       Post #: 1

RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/12/2004 2:22:32 AM   
Wookie



Posts: 887
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Status: offline 		My guesses:

The TXT uses a whole lot more aluminum than the E-Maxx does, which drives the price up fairly quickly. Aluminum is a lot more expensive than plastic.

The radio gear and motors that come with the E-Maxx are not really worth $160.00 and when you throw in the fact that they don't pay near that for the RTR truck package the difference isn't that great.

Chances are there is maybe a $100.00 real world difference in price between the two if you take away the radio gear (look at the Savage RTR's and the Kit, only $60.00 - $80.00 difference).

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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/12/2004 4:53:53 AM   
ihaveatxt1wow


 

Posts: 89
Joined: 5/10/2004
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Wookie

My guesses:

The TXT uses a whole lot more aluminum than the E-Maxx does, which drives the price up fairly quickly. Aluminum is a lot more expensive than plastic.

The radio gear and motors that come with the E-Maxx are not really worth $160.00 and when you throw in the fact that they don't pay near that for the RTR truck package the difference isn't that great.

Chances are there is maybe a $100.00 real world difference in price between the two if you take away the radio gear (look at the Savage RTR's and the Kit, only $60.00 - $80.00 difference).

Well, I was not talking about the motors even though E-Maxx's 550 is still a little better than TXT's 540. I am talking about the ESC (list price $119.99 on tower hobby) and the radio (the cheapest you can find on tower hobby is $39.99).

You are right that TXT uses a lot more aluminum than E-Maxx, that is why it looks so good! I simply could not justify paying $210 just for the good looking.

(in reply to Wookie)
       Post #: 3

RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/12/2004 7:36:09 AM   
Wookie



Posts: 887
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Well first of all you are equating RTR quality with aftermarket quality. Even though it's marketed as the same name the specs are generally different (they may be the same in this case, but I doubt it).

The Savage example was only to show you that the electronics included with a RTR really isn't worth that much. The 39.99 radio that you can get off of tower is of higher quality than the radio that comes with the E-Maxx.

You also have to remember that Traxxas doesn't pay anywhere near the equivalent price that it would take to purchase those parts separately.

Basically the electronics that comes with the E-Maxx is pretty much junk, and the actual cost difference between the two chassis is closer than you think.

The real difference comes from what you want to do with them. The E-Maxx is a better all around truck than the TXT-1, but the TXT-1 is a better crawler than the E-Maxx and has more potential in the end.

I would of course rather pick my own equipment just for the simple fact that I would end up replacing all of the RTR gear pretty quickly anyways. I'd rather start with good stuff from the beginning than pay for crap in the beginning and replace it anyway.

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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/14/2004 3:39:14 AM   
fastfred



Posts: 480
Joined: 10/7/2002
From: Modesto, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Aren't those two trucks considerably different? Different platform, drivetrain, suspension, etc?

If you're looking to save money, this is the wrong hobby...

m

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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/15/2004 5:14:47 AM   
ihaveatxt1wow


 

Posts: 89
Joined: 5/10/2004
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: fastfred

Aren't those two trucks considerably different? Different platform, drivetrain, suspension, etc?

If you're looking to save money, this is the wrong hobby...

m

I have a $1,000 heli. So you can see that I am not that concern about the absolute dollar amount of an TXT or E-Maxx. But I do want to pay only the fair value of the trucks. IMHO, compared with E-Maxx, TXT is priced a couple of hundred dollars over its fair value, since I have to pay $200+ on the extra components (ESC, radio, servo, motors, etc) for TXT in order to match E-Maxx.

(in reply to fastfred)
       Post #: 6

RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/15/2004 5:27:03 AM   
fastfred



Posts: 480
Joined: 10/7/2002
From: Modesto, CA, USA
Status: offline 		They're different trucks. Had they been readily available, would you have bought a RTR Heli even if it saved you a few hundred bucks?

Personally I'm not too interested in RTR stuff. I want to choose my servos, receiver, motor, etc...

Oh, you better figure on more than $200 for the electronics...

(Motors $35+ EA for stockers, ESC $150+, Servos $60+ each, receiver (synthesized of course) $100+, wire & plugs $15)

I'm going to buy the best crawler I can afford, and its guaranteed that it'll be more expensive than an e-maxx - or txt for that matter...

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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/15/2004 5:00:31 PM   
ihaveatxt1wow


 

Posts: 89
Joined: 5/10/2004
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: fastfred

They're different trucks. Had they been readily available, would you have bought a RTR Heli even if it saved you a few hundred bucks?

Personally I'm not too interested in RTR stuff. I want to choose my servos, receiver, motor, etc...

Oh, you better figure on more than $200 for the electronics...

I'm going to buy the best crawler I can afford, and its guaranteed that it'll be more expensive than an e-maxx - or txt for that matter...

What can I say? You are the ones who always want the top-of-the-line stuff. Good for you! I am a little pickier than you: I like all the good stuff, but please, I only pay the dirt-cheap price.

(in reply to fastfred)
       Post #: 8

RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/15/2004 6:31:55 PM   
Wookie



Posts: 887
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Status: offline 		The question that begs to be asked again is what do you want the truck for?

Considering this is the rockcrawling forum, I'm guessing you want a rockcrawler or else you would have asked this question in either the Electric forum or the Monster Truck forum.

You have totally discounted the fact that the E-Maxx is not a great rockcrawler out of the box and would require the price difference between the two trucks, if not more to make it into a good good crawler. The TXT-1 works great out of the box for rockcrawling.

In this hobby it really is spend a lot in the beginning or spend twice as much later.

You seem hung up on the fact that one truck comes with electronics and the other does not. You also don't seem to realize that the equipment that comes with the E-Maxx isn't worth as much as you think it is (it's really crap and will need to be replaced).

These are two completly different trucks that are designed to do two completly different uses.

You also have to take into account that the TXT-1 is a higher quality truck with more aluminum and attention to detail than the E-Maxx. This will quickly increase the price of any truck. The E-maxx is basically completly plastic (other than the differentials), which is great if you need to make things as cheaply as possible and market them towards the beginner.

The TXT-1 is not marketed in this fashion nor is it built for the beginner (they have lots of other trucks for beginners). The TXT-1 is marketed towards the enthusiast who more than likely already has extra equipment lying around or will want the best equipment installed in their vehicles, so to Tamiya installing the equipment is a waste for them and their consumer.

You really need to stop getting hung up on the bottom dollar when it comes to this hobby. You appear to be a bargain hunter by your posts and if this is the case why are you even looking at new trucks? Why not just by an already modified used truck. A lot of bargains can be found in the used market and you can save twice as much money doing that than you can purchasing new equipment.

_____________________________

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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/16/2004 3:54:50 AM   
Wicked!!



Posts: 994
Joined: 4/14/2004
From: North Bay, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Because it can look like this.






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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/16/2004 11:54:40 AM   
Element



Posts: 1262
Joined: 9/26/2003
From: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Wookie pretty mcuh laid it out if you are hung over on the price then jsut dont get the truck, You are basicly asking why quality come at a cost.

Wicked yuor reason si good enough to get a txt

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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/16/2004 6:31:50 PM   
ihaveatxt1wow


 

Posts: 89
Joined: 5/10/2004
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Status: offline 		WickedTxt,

I love your truck, man. How much did you spend on this one? $1,000?

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       Post #: 12

RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/17/2004 10:17:27 AM   
rileyrat


 

Posts: 64
Joined: 5/19/2004
From: Peterson AFB, CO, USA
Status: offline 		Ok, I don't have a rock crawler but the same principals aplly to any r/cing when talking about this stuff. First off you comparing 2 trucks that aren't even nearly the same quality. By the time you up-grade that maxx to the same lvl as the TXT the cost starts drawling closer together. Once you did that you will learn that the servo(s) doesn't really give you enough torque and that will be upgraded. Then you will want better motors. Then you realize that the new motors just fried your old ESC so now your dropping a few shinny pennnies on a new ESC. Then you get tired of looking at that crappy radio so you get a new one with a new receiver. Lets face the facts, most of us can't afford top of the line all the time but none of us like bottom of the line, and thats what you get in about 99% of your RTR's. I made the same mistake. I got my CEN for about 200 bucks. The servo crapped out on me so I got a really nice one. The stickers on that crap radio I got started comming off so I replaced it and the reciever. Decided my motor was too slow so I got a better one, this made me have to get a new ESC as I cooked my old one quickly. Basically what I have now is a $650 U.S. electric GX-1. Yeah its nice, but if I woulda started with something like an HPI PRO4 I would have gotten more than I have now for less even if the pro4 is only a rolling chassis.


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RE: Why is TXT so expensive? - 6/17/2004 11:39:20 AM   
Element



Posts: 1262
Joined: 9/26/2003
From: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Status: offline 		no offence but why in the hell would you buy a new radio just because a sticker is coming off?

< Message edited by Element -- 6/17/2004 6:39:37 AM >

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