Greetings. Ex Nitro MT racer. Left racing to go ST bashing with my sons. Now considering going nitro racing again... this time as a family. With two boys in the hobby along with myself, the most expensive buggy is out of the question. After doing some research, I've settled on two choices. The CEN Matrix RTR or the Hyper 7 TQ Black RTR.

1.) The Matrix appears to be a better value. Better electronics, larger diameter shocks, etc.

2.) Hyper parts are abundant especially at the LHS.

Keeping in mind that I'll need three buggies and that my kids will most likely need repair parts regularly, especially starting out.... which way do I go?

I will be using my Spektrum electronics, but my sons will have to use the RTR electronics. If they stay interested, I'd buy them a good radio in the future.

Based on value, durability, competitiveness which of the two do you recommend?

i would go with the hyper 7, it is a prover performer, and is pretty cheap. the matrix looks cool, but cen products can be a little shaky. i love some of the cen line up, but i have heard horror stories. maybe their buggies may be better, as their is no tranny, and less to go wrong, who knows.

The Matrix has better servos and radio, the Hyper is better in all the other departments. I had both and had much less issues with the Hyper, parts are cheaper and easier to get and it just seemed a more durable buggy. Was always braking the Matrix's front knuckles and it didn't seem to handle as well. (probably my setup but the Hyper handled better out of the box).

I think the Ofna will be pretty hard to beat. Seems like Ofna makes pretty good stuff with good parts support. I do think CEN makes a decent buggy too though. If parts are abundant for the Ofna at your LHS, then its a no brainer to me. It just makes more sense to be able to get what you need right when you need it than to have to wait forever.

Good luck with whatever you get.

Eric

I have the hyper 7 TQ sport and freakin love it. I've had it for a while now and haven't broken a single thing ( knock on wood ) of course now that I said that, watch me take it out tomorrow and break something....lol....no, but I love it, I've never owned a CEN, but I hear they're pretty good too ( the Matrix anyway ) I would say just go with whichever one you LHS carries the most parts for. I don't think you can really go wrong with either one.

Well, I've done a complete 180. After talking to the shop owner about the decision and the availability of parts, etc. I am now almost completely devoted to buying a 8ight RTR. Looks like it has a great radio, even comes with a starter box, is an excellent buggy to start with, and the LHS stocks the parts. Although it's a little more than I was planning on spending, it seems a much better value.

I think you made the right choice. I have a CEN Matrix that I race. I have to conclude what you break on it depends on your driving style. The SH 28 seems indestructible to me but the pull start had to go because it is so hard to start. My friend's wife breaks the rear hubs on her CEN constantly, but I have never broken them. I haven't broken the front hubs either, although I did strip the threads and had to replace them. I broke a lot of plastic parts, a lot of DNF's and the hop-ups fixed the problem. The 2 lhs that carried CEN stopped, even the lhs I bought it from. In retrospect, I would have spent more at the beginning and saved in the long run like you are doing.