Getting back into rc, looking for a RTR

[wpmegee]

Hi all, I've been out of the RC hobby for about 6 years, gave it up when I was 14 because I hit high school and didn't have the time. I'm new to 1/8 scale, and nitro, my last car was a Losi XX-T 1/10 electric truck. My boss took me out to our LHS and I drove his ofna buggy for 3 tanks (don't know the model, it's at least 2-3 years old), and I'm hooked.

Anyway, I'm looking for a reasonably inexpensive (not necessarily bottom of the line) Nitro RTR. The big brands here are Ofna and GS Racing (Storm). My budget is roughly $450 for just the rtr (not including a decent starter, fuel, and maybe a better steering servo).

Update: I'm not buying an Ofna. I'm getting either the XTM Deluxe for 429 locally or a storm for $350 or so off ebay.

[Waste Land]

Well I've drove quite a few RTRs and I know this is gonna sound like I'm pushing my car on you but I'm not. Go for the Storm. They are really nice cars, come with a nice radio thats 75mhz FM. I havent touched my steering servo because personally I dont think it needs a better one. The engine on this car is really reliable and easy to start and tune. I've replaced my pull starter with a Svage roto start. The X-Terminator from XTM is not a bad choice either. It's a Hoped up RTR. It comes with graphit radio trays and such and aluminum Shock towers and a little bit beefy parts but they dont take landing hard ont he wing to good and they go threw diff cases like I change my underwear. I still recoomend the Storm because of the toughness, the quality, good radio gear and motor. Here is a video of my car running around int he front yard getting the tuning right before a bash. Everything on the car at the time was stock, even tires.

[Storming]

Originally posted by Waste Land
Well I've drove quite a few RTRs and I know this is gonna sound like I'm pushing my car on you but I'm not. Go for the Storm. They are really nice cars, come with a nice radio thats 75mhz FM. I havent touched my steering servo because personally I dont think it needs a better one. The engine on this car is really reliable and easy to start and tune. I've replaced my pull starter with a Svage roto start. The X-Terminator from XTM is not a bad choice either. It's a Hoped up RTR. It comes with graphit radio trays and such and aluminum Shock towers and a little bit beefy parts but they dont take landing hard ont he wing to good and they go threw diff cases like I change my underwear. I still recoomend the Storm because of the toughness, the quality, good radio gear and motor. Here is a video of my car running around int he front yard getting the tuning right before a bash. Everything on the car at the time was stock, even tires.

One word:

Storm

[wpmegee]

Waste Land, guess you've got one like this one here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=19168

with the XR3i radio? Also, can anyone point me to the GS Racing Website? All I've found is the GS Europe at http://www.gs-europe.com

I've heard the XTM is hard to get parts for, and it isn't race legal with that big engine (I need to check the rules at my LHS). It does look like a nice buggy, and quite cheap.

Thanks for the quick responses. Any opposing views? Who's got one of the Ofna's I mentioned.

P.S. - Storming, with that name I never woulda guessed you were a Storm fan!

[El Pirata]

I have a storm also and right out of the box that thing rocks. Here's the GS home page:
http://www.gsracing.com/gsracing/page.asp

[cbreaker]

I own a Storm as well, and it's very nice!

I'd have to say that in terms of quality and performance it's got an edge on the MBX Pro and the 9.5 Violator. Both of those are decent buggies, but in RTR form of the Storm you get a very upgradable buggy, with a sweet radio and a better steering servo (which makes a nice throttle servo when you upgrade it.)

The JR XR3i is almost identical to their widely used XS3, except it uses crystals. If you own a lot of RC's this can be an advantage but if you just own one it's not a big deal. Crystal sets are pretty cheap.

Don't be phased by the Avenger and the discontinuation of the Storm Pro. Storm parts will be available for a long time to come, at least as long as most other buggies still being sold now.

Just be sure that if you get a Storm, you take some measures to address some of it's weaknesses. Hinge pin braces, new shock towers, and maybe a few other minor hopups and you're good to go.

[nitromaniac]

STORM! Oh Yeah!

My lhs got a deal on 12 storm rtr's a couple of weeks ago, They blew them out of the store for $399 each, I was on my way back to get one just to have another one, They were gone in three days! I love my storm arr, its been a great car! Get one! (or two if the price is right)

[El Pirata]

I did forget to mention you could also get other buggys right out of the box that are just as good, say the ofna hyper 7 prc or the kyosho inferno sports rtr.

[DarthRacer]

Dude, I'd hop on that ebay link that was posted. A Storm RTR for $379!!

And, umm, I too own a Storm. I love it.

[militarymaxx]

Storm here as well. It might be a little more than other RTR's, but you get a great buggy, a great radio (probably one of the best RTR radios out there), and terrific aftermarket support. Could you do better than a Storm RTR. Maybe. Could you do worse. Oh yeah.

[wpmegee]

I don't have the money, well I might after I see how much I owe the IRS . I'm not buying one till after college lets out for this semester. So I'm not buying it till May or therabouts.

[cbreaker]

I really think that the radio makes a big difference when comparing RTR's and prices. The Ofna RTR's come with an AM radio that although seems to work *okay* it's really cheezy looking/feeling and you're going to want to replace it as soon as possible.

Just to get the same radio that the storm comes with will cost you another hundred bucks. If you want something more professional then that you're looking at maybe $200 or more. If you had the JR XR3i then you'd feel less compelled to go out and get an expensive synthesized one.

What radio does the Inferno come with? How about the Swift? I'm curious.

[El Pirata]

The inferno comes with a futaba.

Correction, a Kyosho wannabe futaba radio.

[wpmegee]

I agree about the radio, which is why I'm leaning more and more towards the storm. My boss has the XR2, the 2 channel, AM version and it's very nice indeed. FM's eat batteries a lot more compared to a AM, right?

[Malakai3]

where can i find the storm for sale? tower and hobby people don't have them, i'm clueless! where else? could i get an RTR for under 450?

tia.

HOLY JUMPIN SQUIRREL NUTZ!!!

550 for an rtr? i'll take a fully hopped up XTM plus a new steering servo, and fuel for less than that. thanks!

no offense, just not enough dough right now, maybe if i get into it more.