bte214 I know that they wouldnt make a very over obviously bad engine. But a lot of noobs when buying a new engine will go bavk to whats familiar, and also because a lot of times a noob will know that it's his/her mistake but wont admit it they will still go back and buy a stock engine. I mean look at the traxxas ERP plane, you can by a O.S .18tz for the prize of a replaced 3.3 but yet a lot of people still get the 3.3 Why cause it's what they know and are comfortable with. Now as you said HPI isnt all that bad of a company, but when comparing there engine's to lets say O.S you will have to admit they erent even in the same catergory. Could HPI make engine's like that yeah tthey could, but they dont.

As for the bad reputation look at Picco with there .26 sized engine's. they had so many air leaks with them it's almost impossible to buy one that didnt have an air leak problem. Yet a ton of people still buy them, same thing with the VXL rustlers. The traxxas had more lemons with there VXL's then they have ones that are good, but yet people still buy them. Now as said I'm not degrading HPI at all, as I believe that all major company's do it really. But there engine's are not the best in quality nor are they the most powerful engine's out there on the market.