benny,

My son had a stampede and he now has a tsunami and will be getting the avalanche for christmas. I can tell you that teh avalanche is built way better than a t maxx and stampede. I have a t maxx and it is nothing compaired to the avalanche. I bought another redcat because I have had good luck with them and like most here has. The avalanche I would put up against more expensive trucks because of the way its built. It looks very tough. I just wanted to know the normal things that go wrong just like any other truck. You always look to upgrade weak parts on anything. I REALLY like the avalanche even though I have not even driven it yet because I have been in rc for over 15yrs you can usually tell when something is really cheap. The Tsunami is a cheap but durable starter truck. Now my son has outgrown the speed and size of the tsunami so I moved him up to the avalanche. Yes I could have got him a monster gt, savage or aftershock but I trust redcat products, lots of support and ease of getting parts if needed. Plus I wanted him to have something different.

I took the avalanche to my local hobby shop to show the owner which has been interested in the redcat line. He wanted to see the top of the line redcats. Avalanhe, monsoon and hurricane. When he saw the avalanche he was very impressed on the build quality. He said he does not understand how redcat can have a truck like this at such a cheap price and he said it also came with a good name brand engine. He carries alot of name brands and said he would get rid of some of his stock to carry trucks like this. Now this is coming from the owner of the hobby shop and as we all know most owners or hobby shop employees frown against the chinese rc's.

I think if it were any other chinese brand I would look the other way. The stampede is a tonka toy compaired to the avalanche.