S-K

OK guys, here's the skinny:

I have exactly FOUR DAYS (96hrs, 5760min, 345600sec, etc...) to tell my fiancé what I want for Christmas.

I have built many kits in my day, but this go-round I am leaning towards a RTR (due to the amount of time I have available to build). A kit is not completely out of the question, but it's not at the top of the list.

REQUIREMENTS:
It must be 1/10 scale, it must be electric, and must be either a truck (2WD or 4WD) or a buggy (4WD).

Here's the tough part: I want to stay under $400.

TERRAIN:
For the most part, running will be done in/on sand pits and dunes. Ocassional flat dirt/grass, but very rarely any pavement in the mix.

The poll is my three main pics for now. One is a kit, I know (DF03)...but I had one before and liked it. Not sure how it would fare on sand though. If you choose other, please specify =)

Oh, and NO ARGUING, no name-calling, no my-truck-is-bigger-than-yours...and no hear-say. I don't want to hear that your XXX-T never broke jumping off your roof, but your uncle's neighbor's nephew's step-father's ex-roommate had his rustler burst into flames because he jumped a speed bump.

Oh...and THANKS!

ElectricGuy007

E-Savage...Oh I want one too....

brushlessboy16

gotta say vxl rustler, durable and fastest outta the buch

Takedown

My Feedback: (23)

Rustler VXL all the way... It will be the most fun you've ever had with an r/c period.

calvino

I second that, it is 4WD, so that is perfect for sandy conditions...., VXL pede sounds nice but it is 2WD so, that can be a prob when it comes to different conditions, ok, prob breaking the "rules", ok, e-savage it is[8D]

S-K

I don't mind comparisons...Just don't get pissy towards anyone and all is well =)

Always Dreamin

i voted other. stampede vxl. it wont handle as good as a rustler but it's a lot of fun and does great on jumps or whatever you throw at it.

billdee

go with the new e-maxx

Always Dreamin

that would exeed the buget (with batteries and charger)

S-K

Plus, I did neglect to mention I'm not big on the new E-Maxx's design. OK, it's waterproof...But I'm not keen on it...and I won't be seeing much water =)

If I scouted a deal on the old design NIB, I'd be on it.

cheech4

E savvy hands down.

S-K

Wow...the E-Savage is pulling away hard. I honestly didn't expect that!

ChuckDeez

e-savage. its pretty solid for what you want it to do.

Takedown

My Feedback: (23)

Your also kinda comparing to completely different trucks. Ones 2wd the others 4wd, ones brushless and the other isnt, ones alot faster than the other stock, ones more powerful... It all depends on what your looking for and/or what one you want most..

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

Hey man, havent talked to you on aim in a while I would go with the e-savage or df03. I have driven the vxl and it's not too impressive unless you're running a ton of power through it. I think you'd be better off getting a df03 and throwing in a used mamba or novak system.

S-K

Well, that's why I asked, and stated my running terrain. I figured some people might have experience w/this terrain and have a formed opinion =)

S-K

Wow, it has been a while, hasn't it?

The one thing I see posing a problem w/the DF03, the more I look into it, is ground clearance. W/the surface trxture of the valleys in the dunes, I feel it would constantly bottom out...And I kinda feel the same way about the rustler now, too, after a mmber sent me a vid of a Rustler w/a mambe 5700 running on dunes. Same dunes w/a Stampede VXL, however, were very easily managed...so now I'm thinking Pede (but I may go XL-5 and get a Mamba Max system in a month or two).

ElectricGuy007

The E-Savage is WINNING!

S-K

But only by two votes ^_~

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

The e-savvy would be nice, but I think any 2wd truck will do fine in dunes. The stampede would need sand tires because the stock ones arent too meaty. It will probably flip easy in sand too, so you're probably better off getting a rustler in the first place and just raing it a little. Have you checkout out the e-firestorm? I bet that thing would rip with a mamba.

nikg

My E-savage does well in the dirt, the sand, the woods and even the street. The Rustler VXL will positively kick its but on the road, but in rougher terrain the savvy is awesome. A friend has the rustler vxl, and it has broken each time we ran together. I think this is not common because most people think it is pretty durable, but he broke an axle carrier once and screwed up something in the tranny after landing a bad jump the other time. My e-savage has taken a beating and all I've replaced is a couple plastic axles. My bodies are trashed to the point where I have elctrical tape holding them together (because I don't much care what it looks like when I'm bashing and I'm cheap and bodies are expensive)

One thing, though, the e-savage is very heavy compared to the rustler. It does not jump as quickly or gracefully. I think a Stampede might be an option, but again that is 2wd.

I got my e-savage used for $220, but new ones go on ebay for $300. Not bad with batteries and everything.

S-K

I've heard good and bad about the E-Firestorm. I like HPI though, so I gve them the benefit of the doubt. It's cheap, which is good...But I'm not sure how much I trust the stock electronics. Plus, I am starting to feel strongly that a stadium-style truck may not have enough clearance for the "wave" texture of the sand. I did, however, find some dunes today that are ~1.5mi from my house that are kind of a clay/sand mix that's very smooth, pretty firm. A lot of dirt bikes and four-wheelers go out there. Could probably pull off even a DF03 on that terrain.

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

I'm in your shoes too, only have a few days left and there's so many choices it' tough to decide. I really wish I could finish converting my tnx to brushless, but i kinda want something new and I need stuff for my quad too. So much too buy but such a budget : /

S-K

Well, I know the old man (father) is getting me a Micro Baja...But I won't be to his place to get it til probably 2wks after Christmas. That's going to be my piss-off-the-cat RC =) I was surprised by how quick those buggers are stock!

It just needs a big brother ^_~

CustomTamiyas4Life

My Feedback: (34)

haha ya I'm currently trying to trade my mini quake for a mini-t because they're alot easier to get parts for in my area. Plus I can slap any mini brushless in there, it gets complicated with the quakes.