Hi, ive been racing (or trying) my kyosho mp7.5 ready set buggy for a while now and have decided to look for a kit. Ive researched for a while and come up with these three buggies, team associated rc8b, losi 8 2.0 and the kyosho mp9 (not sure if its worth the money). any other sugestions for a what buggy to get will be appreciated also. i have access to spare parts for all three buggies and money is not an issue (ive been saving for ages haha) thanks for the help

Any of the three kits you mentioned can win and be competetive
providing you do your part. To this list you could also add the
X-Ray 808, Mugen Mbx-6 and Jammin X-2. All are good kits.

It all comes down to parts support and driving style as to what
one is going to suit your needs best. Personally I would never
own a car that I had to send back to the old country for parts
so without local support the X-ray and Mugen are out of the
question for me. We have racers using all of them in our state
Pro Series and any of them can hold there own so long as the
driver holds up there end of things.

Of the three you mentioned I will give my observations.

Kyosho Mp-9
Ultra low mass and drag drivetrain requires more maintenance
than other cars but the rewards are worth it. Great shocks and
overall high quality of parts. Conventional drivetrain and weight
balance makes for a somewhat aggresive car. Likes to turn in
hard and be rotated through corners.

Losi 2.0
Offset drivetrain makes for a slightly more forgiving car to drive
fast. It wont turn in or rotate as well as others but is far more
stable and fast coming off corners. Very popular car here in
the States so there is an large amount of setup data avalible
for just about any track. Very tough plastics.

Ae Rc8b
Heavy, but bullet proof drivetrain. Conventional drivetrain layout
favors an aggressive style like the Kyosho. Nothing turns inside
an Rc8b, of course you pay for that with a car that requires a firm
hand to exit corners with any speed. Much improved car over the
original, that car was not bad once you took care of a few details.
The new Bs are just a much better car out of the box. Like the
Losi they are popular and setup data is plentiful.

I would recommend you stay with whatever car is most popular
at your local tracks. Spare parts and knowledge can be very helpful
somtimes so it makes sense to run with the crowd.

This [link=http://xtm-dealer.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=32]ZanMa "SH"[/link] is also an excellent kit but unless you live near a dealer you will have to rely on the internet for parts

o'donnell z01-b- very durable and competitive, the mp9 is the most overpriced hunk ive ever seen... its a nice buggy but there's no reason it should be 900 bucks or w/e thats retarded dont spend that much when you can get something way more durable and perform just as well for WAY less

How easy is it to get parts for the Z01B?

i've yet to have to buy any, but the only place i can go is tower or just about any other online hobby shop, due to my lhs is deep throating traxxas and losi, and the other good one moved 40 miles away. if you get the team kit you get a fully hopped up buggy- very very durable. i basically just went out and bought an e-revo vxl to mess with in case anything broke to wait for mail. But imo its the best bang for your buck, that or the mugen buggy, but the odonnell also weighs 1 lb less than the mugen.

hey, thanks for the info. i think the most popular buggy at my track is the losi so i might go with that.

what's wrong with your 7.5 RTR? This is my Kyosho Inferno US Sports (RTR) version 1. It is competitive as it is.. (only the driver needs to improve, me )

Thats a nice looking buggy. theres nothing wrong with the mp7.5 but i want to get a new racing buggy so i can just use the 7.5 for bashing

duly noted bro... yeah I might also consider another buggy.... 8ight 2.0 looks very promising to me. How long have you been in this hobby? I started Dec07, and I also ask a "PRO" driver that i want a new ride. He informed me, to just save up the money (in case of emergency), and enjoy the hobby. A new kit does not mean its bulletproof/indestructible, it will have its "own" share of problems along the way. Enjoy the hobby bro, and unless you're a sponsored drivers.... I work to earn and to enjoy this hobby. Most especially if i have to buy baby milk and diapers for the baby boy in my avatar.

Ive been in the hobby for about a year and a half or so. Yeah the losi does look pretty good.

it would be ideal (and cheaper) with a 8ight 2.0 kit since you can still use some parts you have on the 7.5 to the 8ight. Engine, servos, Tx and Rx.

Yeah thats a good idea. Thanks

in order:

Xray 808 09 spec-strong, light, extreme high quality, cutting edge tech and features. Last time I tried breaking this car I needed stitches!

Mugen MBX6- close second, extremely strong, well built, good desighn, much more aggressive than its predesessor, more nimble.

Losi 8 2.0-can do everything as well as the 808, except stay together, wears faster than the Mugen/Xray. Yet it costs more!

Hotbodies D8- good price, light on its feet yet very stable, reliable desighn. Can be setup very aggressively without becoming hard to drive. Excellent beginners buggy because of this handleing trait.

Kyosho Mp9/ AE RC8b- fast but flimsy, The Mp9 comes with diff gaskets made out of $100 bills and they have to use a certain part of the bill so apparently they have to use three c-notes this along with Gold plated sway bars and the $90 Kyosho sticker makes the car kind of pricey.

The Rc8 handles similar to the Mp9, costs less, but is made out of thin glass, crystal, and ice cubes.


Parts are available at amain for all of these.

^^ I here what you are saying about the Xray. I may be gettting a newer race buggy in the next few months. My problem with the Xray is that it doesn't seem to have a very good Ebay chop shop. I kinda want to get a buggy that I can ebay parts for. Paying full shipping price from Amain just doesn't sound fun.

I have to disagree about the rc8b being made out of 'thin glass, crystal and ice cubes'. My friend has one and he hasnt broken anythin except for the wing which hapened in an end over end.

I run the older RC8 FT, and it's very tough and reliable.. As with truggies, there are big advantages to running popular brands like AE and Losi - specifically, part supply.. I race mostly my RC8T and use the buggy for practice and breaking in engines, etc.. - but I love how so many parts are interchangeable... Don't know about the new B buggy, but in the others the diffs are even identical to the ones from the TT ST-1 - a truck with a notoriously bulletproof drivetrain.. So anyway, I run AE, and am thoroughly satisified.. If I had to start over I'd look at Losi if I didn't go AE again.. Toss-up between those two. Mugen would be my dream brand, but it's a bit pricey and parts are not as widely available as Losi and AE..(e-bay, forums, etc..)

I used to run an RC8 so I get to pick on old melty. Great car. Just not a Mugen or Xray. If they had X-ray plastic and the servo sideways like the D8 and the engine further forward......I'd still be running one.

I also didn't like all the pills and shims. The RC8 deosn't need that much adjusting. And my car devoloped play quicker than I liked. after a few gallons I could feel the extra play making the car sliggish, grippy, but sluggish.

Theres still are alot of ancient Mugens running around. Can't argue with that kind of long term life.

I feel that the Losi 2 is the fastest right now. But I would not buy one.

The new RC8B supposedly has a much higher quality feel.. X-ray and Mugen like in part-quality, fit and finish is what some people have said.. Can't confirm it though - but from what I'v read and seen, supposedly the RC8B is more than just new battery placement, shock towers, etc..

Im still running my old Mp 777 Sp2, the only issues that I have had with kyosho is the price of there parts. The kits are kinda a challenge to figure out the parts due to the diagrams but after you get it together it seems to be a prity solid buggie. I run a long technical track with alot of timming most of the time but every once in awhile I like an insanely fast track with some long jumps and crazy straight away's. I have found that there kits are easy to change the setup and the oils in the difs when needed.
Personaly I believe the only kit I would have chosen over the Kyosho is the Mugan's. I have seen some nasty wrecks and hard hits on the tracks. The only cars that I have seen drive away without something broken or motor mount slip has been the Mugan.

That is a very nice RTR but it does not come with a pro chasis and missing other pro parts which are vital in racing. Motor Mounts, steeing knuckles, Chassis Stiffeners and driveshafts are not quite what the pro kits are. All in all you are paying for this in a RTR: Motor say -$120.00
Electronics- $100.00 Tires say -$30.00 Roto starter-$35.00. (These being estimated only) So If you pay say $400.00 for your RTR about $285.00 of the price is Motor, Radio,Starter & Tires and $115.00 is what you are paying in the vehilce itself. A pro kit is going to cost you around $600.00 just for the Chassis alone due to the parts that the kit comes with. That is just my thought on the RTR vs Pro Kts not to mention the hedachs of servo failure and the roto starter nitemares everyone has with a RTR. Not bashing on your RTR by far it is a very nice Vehicle and it is alot of fun, they just do not hold up in racing.