Hi,

I'm new to the R/Ccommunity and would like to get into the hobby of nitro R/C 1/8 Buggies. I've been researching the different models for quite some time and since discovered this forum which has a lot of useful informaiton, hence the decision to ask for some pointers here. I've found a few models that seem to be good quality and I would like a couple of opinions from some more expereinced enthusiests.

I'm looking for a Nitro RTR that is about $500 or less.

What I've found:

The Losi 810

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...-4WD-RTR-Buggy

Associated RC8 RS

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...Spec-RTR-Buggy

And the HPITrophy.

http://*********.com.au/store/produc...ducts_id=39571


Still open to other choices, any tips or information you could pass on would be appreciated.

Thanks,

/Leadfoot/

Those are all top brands......... what are you going to do with it bash or maybe a little track time...... For the track I would go with the RC8 or maybe a kit for bashing go with the HPI. The Losi is a great buggy too.

To start off with I just want it to race around a paddock or something like a BMX track just to get used to it but after that I'd like to join a club to race.<div>
</div><div>Thanks for the reply, </div><div>
</div><div>Leadfoot</div>

Great if you have a LHS with a track then just join the club or pay whatever fee and run on the track I race at my LHS but I also just go play and practice on there too. I got the yr membership about $100 and I can run all year!!!

LeadFoot, out of your choices, I would go with the Losi. It comes with Spectrum TX, the Associated with a 'digital' FM Tx.

The buggies are apples to oranges mate. Both are very good. Personally, I'm not a big fan of HPI (and no, I can't quantify that with experience, it's just my personal preferences)

What does everyone at the club/track near you run and what does the Hobby Shop near you carry the most spare parts of? It's nice to have a LHS or mates that have spare parts they can help you out with when you're in a pinch....

When it comes to RTR, understand that there will be a few things that will let go pretty quick, like servos.

As another idea, have a look at the Jammin (Hong Nor) X2 Buggy.

Another thing to keep in mind if you're going to be racing, some clubs/race tracks follow specific rules regarding engine size.

Good luck mate...and again, welcome to the addiction.

i agree with goint to your local track. from what ive heard about the losi 810 is if its a sactioned event they are not sure if the 810 is 1/8th scale or not. durango puts out a great looking buggy. mugen mbx6 is a good one hotbodies also does good. the best deal for someone startingis the losi eight 2.0 is the best deal. you get the spectrum electronics a good motor starter box. its around 650.

agreed x 1

Dude, you forgot the KYOSHO MP7.5 Inferno, there are quite a few different models out at the moment so your choice is rather large, the main difference is the size of the engine. Check em out, tuff as nails and a blast to race.
By the way, with KYOSHO RTR means Ready To Race where as with the rest it just means Ready To Run.[8D]

I've heard a lot of mixed thoughts on the inferno's. Some people say its a great buggy but a lot of others say there are better ones for the price. I've also heard it's quite hard to find parts for them.

Hi LeadFoot, the Kyosho Inferno IS one of the best buggies on the market at the moment. It is also the platform from the 8 times world champion, I have had mine for a couple of years and I'll tell you what, its a really tough buggy.
If I was you I'd check out anything from the KYOSHO, MUGAN or LOSI line up of buggies, they are the top.(I picked the KYOSHO)

Hi Mate,

What sort of mods can you do to it and have you had any trouble sourcing any parts?

Leadfoot<br type="_moz" />

Hi Laedfoot, we have our own forum here on RCU called "Kyosho Inferno U.S Sports", it has all the info that you will ever need or want for the buggy.
As for sources I usually use WWW.INFERNOSONLY.com to find parts or just go to my local hobby store who has all the parts and options from KYOSHO in the shelves.
As for tuning, my buggy is a mix mash or the Inferno MP7.5 KANAI and the MP777.
First thing I beefed up was the transmition (diffs), I put in extra spider gears inside as I had moded my engine and it became a bit to powerfull, also changed the Steering servo for a FUTABA S3305 metal gear high torque, I also put in Ceremic bearings(bit expensive but worth it in the long run and they are ultra smooth and easy to clean), Titanium Tie Rods all round, magnesium nuts and bolts(hex heads) all round(very expensive but I want to save waight), KYOSHO chassis brasses from the MP777. At the moment I am on the look out for a Carbon chassis and radio plate to get rid of some more waight. I have actually done alot more to it (not that it was nessicery but I want to personalise my buggy).
Out of the box it is already a fantastic buggy well capable of winning sportsmans class races and is great for just thrashing around the track or street.
As for the price, compared to other manufacturers, it really can not be beat and there are so many versions on the market its just great.
Nothing NEEDS to be done but you now how it gets, its pay day and you want some thing exclusively yours.
Big boys and there toys.

By the way, it started out as a standard MP7.5 MK3.

The Inferno's seem to be a good car but the version I could get doesn't seem to have a very good motor. I've also found a Hyper 7 Black Edition but that seems to have the same problem as the inferno, not a great motor.

I don't think any RTR comes with a "great" motor. Just run them and enjoy until themotor wears out.

When I say great i mean they don't hold a tune/ don't have as good performance as other engines on the RTR market.

Hi Leadfoot, the Kyosho MP7.5 Inferno MK3 has the older Kyosho GX.21 which is actually a very nice motor, no not the most powerfull high screaming plant on earth but with a bit of modding it can quickly be turned into a little monster. Yes it does hold a tune so long as you look after the rubber seals inside the carb. Its the GXR.28 that seems to have all the major problems but seems how I havent had one in my hands I cannot really say nothing about that engine. Probably just new people how have no experience with nitro engines not knowing what they are doing and cannt get them to run good.
Also the older GX.21 is bolted straight to the chassis where as the newer version has engine mounts, so do the all new .25 and .28 engines, which is a good thing. The .21 is the one to get though if you want to do the odd race here and there. It is fast enough straight out the box to win clubman races.[8D]

<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; ">Hello once again! I've considered my options and done some more research and using the website I was going to go through (Amain) worked out to be too expensive in the end. I've decided to look around locally and I've found two main possibilities. The GV Dominator and the Thunder Tiger EB4 S3. The Dominator is apparently a copy of the XT2 Terminator 2 which seems to be a good quality buggy for bashing but not necessarily good for racing because of it's weight. The EB4 seems to be good quality although people say it will need a few upgrades from stock.<div></div><div>The Dominator has the Force 25 motor and the EB4 has the TTR PRO-21. They're both around the same price ($450 AUD) but for an extra $50 the Dominator has an electric start, although is also available with a pull start for $450.</div><div></div><div>I've considered the Inferno but the only model my LHS stocks has the .28 engine which research shows isn't the best.</div><div></div><div>As before any opinions or tips would be much appreciated.</div></div>

Does anyone have anything else to add?

Only my shock and surprise that given your available budget (evident from your original choices in the OP), that people throw in the MP7.5. OK, it's a good car, but it's not a patch on those models you selected.

Out of the three you chose, I too would ignore the HPI as some others have said, they just don't have the (racing) pedigree of the other two brands. As also mentioned, the Losi comes with a nice radio, which you will be very grateful for. Good radios are not cheap and you will not need to replace the one that comes with the losi until you are running in the a-main.

Aside from that, the choice between AE and Losi should be down to what has the best support locally. People often say that doesn't matter anymore, and to a point they're right. You can order any part for any car online these days, but there are two very good reasons for choosing a car with local support...

1) Local hobby shops are disappearing. Support yours if you have one.

2) You may have to wait a long time for parts that you order, and mistakes do happen. If your platform is supported locally and you need something urgently, you can go pick it up, sure that you got the right thing and sure that you can get customer service immediately in case there are any problems.

Lastly, on the off chance your local store(s) support the brand Xray, or if local support is not a factor in your decision, they are awesome machines (Xray XB808).

Thanks for the reply.<div></div><div>I agree with you in supporting the LHS' and the parts side of it too, hence changing my mind to go with a model the LHS' support. I'd prefer to be able to take the car down should there be a problem and order a new part or ask for advice.

The reason I'd asked about the TTR and the Dominator is because they are the only buggies other than the inferno the two local hobby shops stock/support (not the best, I know).</div><div></div><div>Thanks again for the replies and tips.</div>

So foxy, you would sujest buying the LOOSI because it has the better radio, why is it better than the one from KYOSHO??? Because it has all that telemitery and a nice little LCD screen. COOL, you look at you LCD screen and I'll look at my buggy, we'll see who reachs the finish line.

The losi doesn't even have telemetry. What on earth are you on about?! Also, when a car has telemetry, you don't look at it when you're racing ROFL. IT collects the data and then you examine it when you're in the pits. The way you talk about racing, I wonder if you're ever been to a track!

I recommend it because its 2.4ghz. 2.4Ghz is just pure peace of mind. Never have interference, never have to check frequencies.

The kyosho is good for the money, but is rubbish compared to the other cars he was mentioning in the OP, and he won't be able to get parts for it. Please stop fanboying. Thanks. When someone asks you if they should buy a Lamborghini or a Ferrari do you tell them to buy a Ford? No...

Ready to race...I lold. I bet you think Ryan Mayfield should be driving a Kyosho mp7.5 instead of the RC8 too...rofl. Stop giving people flat out bad advice please.

You mean he's not???

To the O.P, Leadfoot.
Your LHS has the U.S sport, can'nt you ask if he can get hold of the NEW KYOSHO MP7.5 RACE SPEC, you'd be suprised at what it has,
AND for the price you still have a bit of cash over to buy 6V hump packs x2 and spare wheels and rechargable batteries for your 2.4 pistol grip remote control plus a charger and fuel and glow plugs, buy the way, the INFERNO's GX.21 engine likes O.S A3 and A5 glow plugs and SIDEWINDER 25° fuel.
What ever you get, welcome to the hobby, have fun.[

P.S, check out my garage, I've got one(KYOSHO INFERNO MP7.5 mk3) It's an old one but still runs great.(+/-5years old)