buggy purchase

[RobH]

I'm looking to buy a 1/8 scale buggy. I've heard that Kyosho is king when it gomes to these 4wd beasts of the road. You really can't argue with first place, but the Kyosho price tag is a stumbling block for me:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXUX44&P=7

$450 for the Kyosho Inferno MP-7.5. It needs and a radio ($190 after you get a high torque steering servo.) It needs a .21 buggy-style engine, manifold and tuned pipe. Thats another 3 bills I'm sure.

That makes the wonderful Inferno mp75 a not so wonderful $1000.

Will I get more bang for my buck with an OFNA buggy? are OFNA buggies that junky? What about other brands? Kyosho has first place and you know they are going to play that up in the price tag. Is there another respectable buggy out there I don't know about?

I'm just looking for some options. I'd like to spend around $600 including a radio, but I just don't see that happening. I suppose I could put my $600 in an IRA or 401K and play with my buggy when I'm 60.

-rob

[FastEddy]

If money is an issue, don't get it.
Its kind of like a mistress, the upkeep will kill you if your wife doesn't get to you first.

[RobH]

ed, I'll remember your advice.

I was looking at the ofna mbx 9.5 rtr. It seems that it only needs a high torque steering servo to complete the package. The radio looks like junk though.

I saw the gs storm rtr has that JR XR3 radio and humboldt talks highly of it. The only snag there is my LHS doesn't carry GS Racing parts I don't think. Also the servos are only 49oz from what I can tell. I might have to get that high torque steering servo after all.

rtr isn't required. I was just looking for a price including everything. Both of these buggies fall within my budget but just barely.

[HumboldtBlazer]

Here is a really good option to start with and later you can make it fully race ready

GS STORM RTR $430 with JR digital FM radio system. It comes with a 2.3 bhp engine that has plenty of torque and easy to tune. Later it can be upgraded to the Pro model. Also it is tuff as nails. It has a high torque steering servo and digital radio which are the main problems with most RTR's price for what you get is unmatched in my opinion.

The steering servo is 85 oz/inch in .15sec

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Either one is a GREAT choice! You cant go wrong for the price. Yes, Kyosho is nice, but as you said, VERY expensive. I lucked out. Picked up the Inferno MP 7.5, RZV01B, Paris pipe, proline tires for 4 bills. Added my electrics and RX, another 2 bills and was in for 600 total. Again, this was a 'in the right place at the right time' deal. Ebay may be more helpful if you are looking for a Kyosho.

The GS parts are VERY abundant on the web as well as the OFNA parts. You will find that you can even fit most parts from other manufacturers onto most 8th scale buggies. Which is a GOOD thing.

All in all, get either one and you will be happy.

[RobH]

I just knew humboldtblazer would chime in eventually. $430 is a damn good price. The radio is what's got me looking hard at it (it isn't 75 mhz though)

I just called my LHS. He said he use to sell the GS Storm. He's now moved onto the Hot Bodies Lightning Pro because it has more aluminium parts on it and you get more bang for the buck. (he said the Lightning RTR sucks)

http://www.hotbodiesonline.net/kits/lightningpro.htm

He said some of the mp75 parts are a direct fit. It comes assembled including a .21 engine) -- you just add your radio.

The LHS guys said he wouldn't write home to mom about the engine and that by the time I learn to drive it I'll want a better engine.

At $359, however, it sounds like a place to start. That would give me enough extra to get that XR3 or maybe even the XS3.

The XS3 comes with an 85oz steering servo too. I found someplace selling the XS3 for $240.

I donno. I thinking hard about this Hot Bodies Lightning Pro. It's not first place on race day or anything but my LHS guy (runs the local track too) seems to think it's an alright place to start.

Anyone have any info to add on it?

ugh. I could also just get the sport version of the mp75 for the about the same amount of money...

We'll I've got plenty of time. I'm not going to rush right into it. I have to hold back and think hard about it.

[FlyinRazorback]

Check around on ebay. You can find alot of new or like new buggies on there at real good prices. I paid $380 for a Mugen MBX4 XR roller, which is a steal at that price. IMO, along with the 7.5, it is the best buggy out there and built very, very good.

[RobH]

I've read good things about the Mugen products.

I see ebay, however, as an oportunity to buy someone else's problems. I've already had personal experiences with used R/C's and I've learned my lessons.

I right now I'm kinda tossed up between the MP75 Sport and the Lightning Pro. I can't believe I can even compare the two, but the Hot Bodies has a lot of potential.

I'm trying to talk myself into the Hot Bodies:

................Hot Bodies Lightning Pro.............MP 7.5 Sport

Chassis:.....3.175 mm thick (countersunk).....2.5 mm thick (not countersunk)
Engine:......OFNA .21 (kinda sucks)............ Kyosho GS21R (runs hot)
Shocks:......Needs better shocks............... Needs better shocks
Main Gear:..Metal 47T..............................Plastic 46T

Other stuff I know about the Lightning Pro and donno about the Sport:

Double-Decker front brakes
4mm alumimum shock towers front and rear
Front & Rear Chassis braces (or, anti-bending rods )
Aluminum front-rear pivot points
Aluminum Rear-front pivot points
Machine aluminum steering knuckles

I wish I could see em side by side.

[HumboldtBlazer]

Originally posted by FlyinRazorback
Check around on ebay. You can find alot of new or like new buggies on there at real good prices. I paid $380 for a Mugen MBX4 XR roller, which is a steal at that price. IMO, along with the 7.5, it is the best buggy out there and built very, very good.

Yah but the new MBX5 is out in just a week or 2
[/b][/quote]

And Rob please dont ROB yourself and get a Hotbodies. That is their second car they have ever produced period.
Get the Ofna, get the Kyosho, hell even get yourself a Mugen or a Thunder Tiger just dont get that HB's I promise you the thing is in a differrent class.

[RobH]

humboldt,

That has been in the back of my mind. That and the lack of aftermarket support.

I wouldn't mind a comparable OFNA, but all of them are RTR with a crappy radio. The pro kit costs just as much as the koysho. I'm looking for something WITH an engine for around $400. (leaves $200 for a good radio and steering servo)

Your GS Storm is a good option. It comes with a good radio and an engine. The thing is my LHS doesn't carry the parts. LHS is the one that told me about the Lightning Pro so he would support it.

choices, choices. maybe eddy's advice was best.

[HumboldtBlazer]

Originally posted by NoviceRob
humboldt,

That has been in the back of my mind. That and the lack of aftermarket support.

I wouldn't mind a comparable OFNA, but all of them are RTR with a crappy radio. The pro kit costs just as much as the koysho. I'm looking for something WITH an engine for around $400. (leaves $200 for a good radio and steering servo)

Your GS Storm is a good option. It comes with a good radio and an engine. The thing is my LHS doesn't carry the parts. LHS is the one that told me about the Lightning Pro so he would support it.

choices, choices. maybe eddy's advice was best.

Here's a little story I got to tell: My LHS wouldnt even carry 1/8 scale anything. So I drove 3.5 hrs and bought my Storm. I researched for a month before I bought my buggy for obvious reasons ITS FRICKIN EXPENSIVE (espically since I have over 2G's into mine now). So I would go into my hobby shop and show it off and buy some parts for my T-maxx and always ask the owner "you buy from Horizon Hobby why dont you stock some GS parts for me" He was relucktant (sp) but I came in more and more and he kept seeing the process of me hoppping it up to pro. He's like where you get this and where did you get that. I told him I bought it off of Horizon Hobbies. So to make a alreadly long story short he carries ALL of the Storm parts. Me showing off my buggy got him 8 orders for GS Storm kits. With a lot more people having buggies now some are wanting different ones so he stocks Ofna's now.

I live in a remote area of California a his was the only hobby shop but it just goes to show you that these guys dont want to order parts and let them sit. So I showed him he wasnt making as much as he could off of me because he was only able to supply my T-Maxx parts and not my buggy parts. So show him there is some demand. This kinda applies to the whole hobby but I have seen it more with 1/8 buggies. When people see them they got to have them espically if you run it for them and show how sweetly they can clear and land a tripple jump. Horizon Hobby is super easy to order off of and they have 2 wharehouses one in IL and one in CA so I can always get parts and next day them if I want. Granted its funner to go in the LHS and BS with people while you buy but dont let that ruin your decision on buying a buggy. Dont let your LHS hold you hostage and narrow your choices. A good idea if you get something that you cant pick up parts for at the LHS when you buy something online buy 3.

[RobH]

Originally posted by humboldtblazer

So I drove 3.5 hrs and bought my Storm.

did you drive to medford? :P Thats about 3.5 hours away (1.5 hours to crescent city and then 2 hours up 199 to medford) and I know of an RC store there too r/c adiction or something. Think they have a track.

Thanks for the story on the GS Storm that you made pro. You have a link to the pro version? price and specs maybe? i really should compare the storm as much as I did the sport. I don't want to rush anything. I know what my options are for the $$$, I just need to find out what's best.

[HumboldtBlazer]

the 3.5 hours was driving south. I bought it at Jakes Performace Hobbies in Santa Rosa. There is no going to Oregon for this California boy! The GS Pro was for sale there for $389 and comes with all CVA's drive axels instead of dogbones. It comes with all graphite radio tray and brake assembly. It has the 7075 aluminum chasis which is much stronger that the RTR. It has 7075 wheel nuts and shock towers. It comes with quad brakes instead of dual. The torque braces are 7075 aluminum instead of the metal rodded platic ended torque rods on the RTR. It comes with upper front shock tower brace that is 7075 instead of plastic. The hingepin holders that attach the lower A-arm to the chasis are 7075 aluminum instead of plastic. Center diff mounts are 7075 instead of plastic. The wing braces are 7075 aluminum instead of plastic. The radio tray standoffs are 7075 instead of plastic. The breaks and steering is ball bearings instead of bushings. Thats all the differences I can think between the 2, ooh yeah the steering knuckles are 7075 instead of cast aluminum. The Pro comes with no tires, engine, pipe, manifold, radio and gear. I really though about it if I would have just bought the pro I probably would have saved like $400 since I upgraded it all the way. Heres a link this is the hobby shop I bought it from the will ship to you for super cheap http://www.jphracing.com/Page.cfm

I am finding it on the web for like $450 which is about $70 too expensive since he is selling it for $389. Horizon's web site has it here for $429 http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=GSC2004

[RobH]

You should have signed up as humboldtstorm.

I see four 1/8 buggy markets:

Ultra Pro - kits: (only one buggy in this class )
- no egine
- no radio
- $1100+ to run
- $0 to compete

Pro - kits:
- no egine
- no radio
- $800+ to run
- $0 to compete

semi-kit / prebuilt: (entry level or high level bashers)
- poor engine
- no radio
- $600 to run
- $300 to compete

RTR: (bashing buggies)
- poor engine
- poor car
- poor radio
- $500 to run
- $500 to compete

I could buy the Storm Pro. However, it would have to sit their next to my new radio mill-less until I could afford an engine.

That would be lots of fun:

"Hey kids! watch this." Dad pushes the buggy down the driveway and tries to steer it a little bit before it rolls to a stop.

-rob

[HumboldtBlazer]

I admit and have admitted I am biased to the Storm since I own one. I did do a lot of research before I bought one though and for my price range and the upgradeability it was a no brainer for me. I do like other buggies and a few are better. I say get a Kyosho, Mugen, Thunder Tiger or Storm. As far as I am concerened those are the best buggies because thats what buggies are raced and win at professional levels. The rest are a variety of "bashers" some better than others. The only Ofna in my opinion that I would buy is a Hyper 7 pro because that is their only model being raced professionally. I'm no pro but in choosing my equipment I use that as a judgement because why are pro's choosing these rigs? Because of years of experience and vast knowledge of of how they work and why they work well on the track oh and its probably a little to do with the money the company offers them to race it hehehe.