Advice on next nitro purchase

[demonio]

Hello all, I'm new-ish to the hobby, currently looking for my third nitro.

I have a new Revo 3.3 which I bought about a month ago, its been great and durable so far, just bashing around, have only killed 2 throttle/brake servos for being cheap and not getting savox right away, and a pushrod after 2 gallons (or maybe I'm not bashing it hard enough).
Also have an Hyper 8 buggy which I bought used off of ebay, but it doesn't handle well on grass, so I want to try something else.

I'm looking for something with the speed of the Losi Speed-NT or Jato 3.3 (or faster than the Revo at least), that will handle well on tarmac and grass (I'm in S. Florida, lots of that around). Truggy comes to mind but from what I've read most have about the same speed as the Revo, and as for MTs, most seem to be slower than the Revo. (from what I've read)
I am not interested in racing, just looking for something fun, fast and durable to bash around.

Any suggestions as to where I should start looking? I would prefer RTR, and I wouldn't mind a kit but I think it would be overkill as I won't be racing, or maybe not?

Thanks


EDIT: I have a 1/10-1/8 ofna starter box, and a Spektrum DX3C radio available, if that helps at all.

 

[alien13]

I have the Speed-NT. It's fast, but you'll want to get a wheel hex system for the rear. It uses the proprietary slot drive design for the wheel, meaning you can't have very many rim options. Other than that, it's an amazing truck and it's fast. And it's built on the XXX-NT platform, so compatibility isn't much of an issue, and there is aftermarket support.

 

[bplakers]

give up a little speed get the savage xl best bashing vehicle out there.

 

[moe7404]

jatos are not bad, but its still a traxxas

 

[demonio]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I get the "still a Traxxas" thing, I understand a bit better now but honestly for a beginner I don't think there's anything more user friendly, plus I learned how to tune a nitro on a trx 3.3 engine, don't think there's anything harder to tune out there..ha.

I'm pretty much set on sticking with Losi. I have 4 HS nearby, the closest one is huge and carries parts for Traxxas (of course), HPI, Kyosho, AE and Losi so I'm covered.

As for the Savage XL suggestion, right now I'm looking for something smaller and faster.
Though I already decided and added the Losi XXL on my wishlist after reading countless threads comparing the xxl, savage xl, lst2, mgt 8.0, etc.

Keep 'em coming

 

[Rooky]

Lucky.

 

[demonio]

I'll be lucky when I finally buy it! It's only on my wish list, still looking for something faster then my revo that will handle well on tarmac and grass.

 

[tmaxxfreek]

i would go with the savage X, the xl has had some heating problems, or if your set on Losi i had an aftershock and it was a blast, and tough as nails, just my .02

 

[demonio]

Thanks for the suggestions. Still would like something faster and more agile than my revo that can handle well on grass, not really looking for something even bigger, not yet at least.

I'm thinking a truggy, but I guess one with the speed of the jato or speed-nt doesn't exist huh?

 

[Greywolf74]

I own a Losi XXL and a Savage X SS. The XXL is my favorite out of all 11 Kits I own but the words Fast and MT dont really go together. At least not in the sense that you are trying to put them together. Your never gonna get Speed NT or Jato speed out of a monster truck. The general rule of thumb is the bigger the wheels and the more ground clearance the better the bash but also the slower the kit. From what you are describing you want to get Stadium Truck speeds out of MT kits. Closest I can think of to combining speed and MT is a Savage Flux or taking an LST2/XXL and converting it to Electric. Electric power is teh only way to get the bigger models going faster but even then your not gonna see LST2-Es and Savage Fluxs beating Jatos or Speed NTs in a race.

If you dont want to go electric and then your best bet would probably be a Truggy....better bashers than buggies not as good a MTs but the speed is going to in between the two. Truggies should work fine for grass as long as its not real tall and anything will run on tarmac as long as you have decent on road/ATX tires. My .02

 

[demonio]

I own a Losi XXL and a Savage X SS. The XXL is my favorite out of all 11 Kits I own but the words Fast and MT dont really go together. At least not in the sense that you are trying to put them together. Your never gonna get Speed NT or Jato speed out of a monster truck. The general rule of thumb is the bigger the wheels and the more ground clearance the better the bash but also the slower the kit. From what you are describing you want to get Stadium Truck speeds out of MT kits. Closest I can think of to combining speed and MT is a Savage Flux or taking an LST2/XXL and converting it to Electric. Electric power is teh only way to get the bigger models going faster but even then your not gonna see LST2-Es and Savage Fluxs beating Jatos or Speed NTs in a race.

If you dont want to go electric and then your best bet would probably be a Truggy....better bashers than buggies not as good a MTs but the speed is going to in between the two. Truggies should work fine for grass as long as its not real tall and anything will run on tarmac as long as you have decent on road/ATX tires. My .02

Sounds like you hit the nail on the head! Just came back from the LHS, one of the guys there told me the exact same thing. Only way to get that kinda speed (or close) is by going electric.
He showed me a Losi XXL and wow, it's gigantic compared to the Revo, hard to believe they are both supposed to be 1/8 scale.

He also suggested I do a truggy conversion to the revo to lower it and possibly get a better engine in the future if I want something faster, and get myself a real MT. It looks like I'm back to the XXL

 

[alien13]

Here's a Speed NT (mine)

[ame]http://youtu.be/hLzoDiyuyrU[/ame]

 

[demonio]

Just when I thought I had made up my mind..

I guess I can always get a speed-nt first, an XXL later on, and hope I don't get kicked out of the house right?

 

[Greywolf74]

If you want speed go with a stadium truck like the speed nt or the jato. if you want to put your kit 14+ ft in the air then buy the XXL or the Savage. Speed is a lot of fun but it gets old pretty quick. Your not gonna run a speed nt or a jato through much grass. If I were you I would start with the XXL and I would either convert it to electric or I would put the biggest engine on it I could and lower the gear ratio for higher top speeds. That way you have the advantage of having the best class of basher (The MT) and you could get more speed out of it. The ATX tires on the XXL will perform decently in grass, dirt, or on the tarmac.

After you get that big beast squared away then you can try for something faster if your still feeling the need for speed. If you get a stadium truck though you're gonna either wanna put really good on road tires on it and keep it on the tarmac or your gonna wanna run it on a good dirt track. Its not gonna do jumps like the MTs nor is it gonna run through much grass.

Or if you want to go middle of the road again go with a Losi 8ight T Truggy and bring down the gear ratio a bit for some extra top end and then kinda of get the best of both worlds. Some ability to jump and go off road and also faster than MT.

Heres a little footage of me playing with my XXL. Now bear in mind that this is only the second tank after breakin so I am still running it pretty gently here. it will go alot faster and jump higher than what I'm doing here but play this clip and play the clip of my playing with one of my buggies and see which one looks like more fun.....running around fast or driving over huge gravel piles and jumping it high into the air. which ever one looks more fun go for that one first. (For the buggy vid skip about half way through it and I do a few speed runs). The video actually doesn't really do it justice though. its actually fast IRL than what it looks like on video.

And just for kicks If your really interested in speed Ill throw in a clip on my Rustler Stadium truck that I converted from Nitro to Electric. Bear in mind that I'm only running on 7.4V battery with a 2 pole motor and much lower gear ratio than stock. I have since upgraded my Rustler stadium truck to be able to run 11.1V on even lower gear ratio. Its freakin insane. Then again I crash alot and break it a lot too. More speed usually = more accidents and higher repair bills.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhQFkLRKKcM"]XXL Bash Vid - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia_3MM0zzSE"]OFNA 9.5 w/Dynamite .26 Bashing Vid 4/6 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HGtQtJ_1R0"]Rustler Electric Conversion bashing vid 2/3 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[moe7404]

dont forget jatos like to bump into posts. DO up grade the break. there is nothing better than a good hobby shop. mine is the best i could ask for, more important than the brand of car/truck.

 

[demonio]

Thanks for sharing those videos alien13 and greywolf74, they really helped!

Yes please, I'll take 14+ feet jumps over speed. The Losi XXL with a bigger engine sounds like the best choice.

Don't really want to get into electric. I enjoy the tuning/wrenching/maintenance side of nitros as much as I enjoy driving them, though I may have to buy a losi mini 8ight or something similar to mess around the house . . . took the revo inside today and drove it around for a few min (don't ask, I don't know why either) and almost ended up sleeping with the dogs.

And if I ever find that I need more speed, the XO-1 looks like it'll be a beast. I can only imagine hitting a post at 100mph..:

EDIT: Question is, get a new XXL or look for a nice used one? hm...

 

[Greywolf74]

Definatly get a new one. you never know what kind of problems you'll inherit with a used one. The Stock XXL engine is actually a pretty damn good powerplant if you ask me. I have no issues running my 454 and dont feel the need to go bigger than the stock .28 motor. I only suggested that incase you wanted to try and get more speed out of it but with a good break in and proper tune the stock 454 will push it to 30-35MPH Id estimate. I suggest giving it a go first you might be happy with it. I wouldnt trade me XXL for anything and with you, even though I own both I much prefer my nitros.

2 things to keep in mind if you get a XXL. Change out the front Arms with RPM arms because you'll break the stock ones you first time out putting it up in the air. 2 or 3 bad landings and I promise you'll break one. Also if you get a new one turn your HSN and your LSN all the way in counting the number of turns in takes for them to get all the way to the bottom. Write that down in your XXL manual or some place you wont loose it. Then return the screws to the normal positions. I say this because I found out through personal experience that what the true stock settings are and what the manual says are not the same. When I set my HSN to the 2 3/4 turns out from bottom like the manual said it was so lean I could barely get it to run and when it did it got hotter than hell. I had to set my HSN to flush with the housing to get the proper stock tune. Just a couple things to keep in mind. Other than the Arms the XXL is a really solid rig.

 

[demonio]

Well new one it is then. Yeah not sure why that thought even crossed my mind, had more than enough problems with the used hyper buggy I bought, but apparently not enough to learn a lesson.

Just printed your comment for future reference
Saw a "NIB" XXL listed here I think (or maybe it was on a different site) for $575, about $100 less, anything I should be aware off when buying from other people?
Or should I just pick one up from the LHS?

 

[Greywolf74]

If you're buying one that is NIB from a person just make sure you use paypal to pay for it that way if they were lying about anything or you dont get it in the mail then you are protected by paypals buyer protection. If you're paying the same amount as what the LHS charges then I would buy from them that way you can exchange it if its broken etc etc. You can Also order from somewhere like here http://www.amainhobbies.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=losi+xxl+rtr&x=0&y=0
and get free shipping. Again I like to pay with paypal which most websites take these days. Id say as long as you buy from LHS or use paypal to pay then go for the best NIB deal you can find.
http://www.amainhobbies.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=losi+xxl+rtr&x=0&y=0