Best buggy for the buck

[Ajeauxdn]

Sorry to put another thread up asking this I am suer there are a ton out there but i wanted the most recent. I am up for a new RC at first I was sure I wanted the losi XXXNT but after seeing 1/8 scale buggys, well you guys no what happens. I wan to get the best buggy RTR for the buck, I don't have alot to spend either. I am more in the 300-400 dollar range. I also don't have a place to race and it wuld be mostly for bashing, So i want something to hold up and if I ever get a track be able to race. One more question can a buggy preety much run on any area, or mostly race track type terrian. sorry for the newb questions, but I want to make sure i make the right choice.

 

[hotbodydude]

I would go with the hotbodies lightning pro. it is about $350 or so it might be cheaper online. but it is very tough and gose fast and has tough stock parts. I have fliped mine numorus times and it is fine. I would say that buggies are the best all around type of car. this is my opinion so there will be others who say the oposite but I am very happy with this car.

 

[1meathead]

I second that you can read a bunch at http://www.radiocontrolzone.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=135717&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
or look at the HB post on this page.

 

[CRSMP5]

ill make it a 3rd.. HB lightning pro..

 

[TexSavage]

I agree with the Lightning Pro. I have not heard anything bad about them. Just be aware that the Lightning Pro is not RTR. You still need a radio.

Tex

 

[robriguez]

Because of the ground clearance you may not be able to run on extremely rough surfaces or deep grass but as long as you have the right tires you can run just about anywhere. You dont want to run soft knobby off-road tires on pavement.

 

[RobH]

I'll 4th that. I love my the Lightning Pro. The RTR buggies (including the Lightning RR) have durablility issues and don't come with proper radio equipment. Furthermore, a lot of these buggies cost $400-$500.

for $340-$360 shipped, the Lightning Pro come with everything but a radio to get you started. The chassis on the Lightning Pro is the real gem. You pop the lid and you start to druel over the shear amount of aluminum on the chassis. 4mm 7075 shocktowers. front and rear chassis braces. 7075 3mm chassis pan. even the non-aluminum pieces are beefy.

i have yet to break my Lightning Pro and i've been bashing and racing it since april.

i will admit that the stock engine, body, wing and other parts are not exactly ready for high-level buggy competition. the chassis, however, is a steal if you're looking to race. the other pro kits start at $500 and don't include an engine, pipe, radio and tire in some cases.

if you just want to bash, buy the lightning pro and toss a cheap am 2ch radio in it and you're comming out way way far ahead of the RR version.

sorry for the long post, this thread just happened to hit a nerve.

-Rob

Originally posted by robriguez
Because of the ground clearance you may not be able to run on extremely rough surfaces or deep grass but as long as you have the right tires you can run just about anywhere. You dont want to run soft knobby off-road tires on pavement.

agreed. the stock tires are soft compound for racing. you'll want to buy a set of Pro-Line Knuckles (hard compound). They have excellent wear.

 

[Nitroaddict]

Aj - keep in mind, that if u intend on bashing almost exclusivly, u will eventually break something. The most important factor is what your local hobby shop stocks, in the way of parts.

Although i dont normally recommend the Ofna Buggies, the newer ones are starting to get halfway decent. You price range is quite low, so its tough to get a great buggy. Something u might want to consider is saving a bit more, so u can get what u want.

The Lightening Pro is a great buggy, but remember the add on costs. By the time you are done, you are going to be spending about 550.00 - this will be the case for all but the bottom level buggies, which u dont want to get.

The New ofna hyper 7 pbs is a great buggy with a great engine, much better engine than the lightening. The lightening RTR is another good buggy for bashing, but parts are limited at most LHS's. The storm RTR is awesome, but at the top of the price range. Dont forget to look at the New Kyosh inferno Sports too.

All the Buggies i am gonna list will be in the 450-550 range, but these are the ones i would recommend in order.

• Hot Bodies Lightening Pro
• GS Storm RTR
• Ofna Hyper 7 PBS
• Kyosho Inferno Sports

 

[RobH]

i disagree with the $550 esitmate for the Lightning Pro. a simple 2 channel radio ($45 on tower) will make the wheels turn.

NA makes a good point on the availability of parts. If you can't buy the parts when your buggy breaks, you'll be bummed to have to order them. it's hard for most to believe, but the Ligthning Pro doesn't break. therefore, available parts aren't of much concern.

also, i need to let you know that Lightning Pro isn't a newbie-friendly RC. the book that comes with it has next to no words (only pictures showing how parts go together). on top on that it's the book for the RR version not the Pro. installing a radio can also be a pain if you've never done it before. there is no set of break in instructions.

if you're still kind of new to the hobby, check out some of the RTR options.

good luck,
Robert

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

get the HB lightning pro:llama:

 

[Nitroaddict]

Rob - the cost i was coming to, did not include a base radio, as these are usually not adequate for a 8th scale buggy. If u did choose a base radio for about 50-70 bucks, u would still need to supply upgraded brake and steering servos, which would add almost 80.00 to the cost. Plus, a rechargable rcvr batt is a MUST. Too much jostling going on to risk AA cells from popping out, even if they are taped up. That would be another 30.00 cost addition. Finally, the tires that come with the buggy arnt gonna last much past break in, so there is another 40.00 cost.

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

Originally posted by Nitroaddict
Aj - keep in mind, that if u intend on bashing almost exclusivly, u will eventually break something. The most important factor is what your local hobby shop stocks, in the way of parts.

[/list]

This is so true, if you listen to anybody in this thread listen to this.............................

 

[RobH]

Hot Bodies Lightning Pro $340 (shipped)
Futaba 2ch am radio $45 + shipping
hitech 133oz steering servo $40 (LHS)

that's the equipment i used to turn the wheels on my buggy when i first got it. i'd still be running that if didn't go to the track and need the extra $600 worth of hopups.

 

[Nitroaddict]

::sigh:: i like u rob, do u really want to get into a pissing match about this?

add: tires - 40.00, unless of course u are using the same tires since new, which i know u arnt.

add: heavy duty throttle/brake servo, if u havnt done this, do it, as it makes a huge difference in braking, i saw how long ur buggy took to slow down.

there is the other 100.00, which now totals the exact number i listed before. let it go.

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

its stuff like that that brought us where we are today...............:thumbdown

 

[RobH]

Originally posted by Nitroaddict
::sigh:: i like u rob, do u really want to get into a pissing match about this?

i'm chuckling over here.

no pissing match needed. i'll let it go.

 

[Nitroaddict]

:thumbup:

 

[RobH]

oh BTW, my current setup:

Lightning Pro
Hyper .21 8-port Race
THS Off-Road Racing pipe
JR XS3 75mhz FM radio
(using the metal gear racing servo from the XS3 as a throttle/break servo.)
Hitech HS-5945MG steering servo
proline knuckles from and back
kyosho mp 7.5 diff gears
kyosho wing

so no one thinks i'm trying to race with an AM radio and a slow ass steering servo. LOL

many times, I find myself thinking about the first thing eddy every said to me when I asked this same question:

Originally posted by 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.

sooo true.

 

[Nitroaddict]

Originally posted by RobH
oh BTW, my current setup:

lol - we wont get into mine, then ill start thinking about the dough i have in them, and cringe

 

[1meathead]

the pro can be found for like 325.00
Radio JR XR3 I got one for about 120.00 (just need to look. The servos that come with it are fine. so we are at 445.00. I would keep stock tires till they are trash in that time you can save for new ones.