Best Nitro Touring Sedan?

[Ysr04]

I'm looking for opinions as well as information.........who do you think makes the best 1/10th scale nitro touring sedan? What brand and what model number?

I have been having a blast with my HPI's but just wonder what else is out there......I'm sure some big dollar machines that perform just as well as my economical HPI's?

I'm interested in picking up another 1/10th scale project and am wondering just which way to go........

Very interested to hear what everone has to say! Thanks for the input.

 

[Candyman]

There are a number of threads which might help you sort it out. Diver actually started one with some nice comparisons. The big question is are you going to race or bash? That makes a difference. For bashing, the HPI is tons of fun and parts are easy to come by. They're solid and stand up to that kind of abuse. More dedicated racing platforms may not take to being thrown around as much but the offer a ton more adjustability and are typically faster and better handling.

Here you go. Good place to start.
https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29583

 

[Diver6127]

Ok, a few questions first ...

• What's your budget?
• What do you plan to do with it ... mostly bash or race?
• If you plan to just strictly bash, do you see racing in your future?
• What's your skill level as far as building goes?
• What's your driving skills like? (novice, avg, above avg, expert) Be honest, it will really help determine the car best suited for you.

The "big dollar" machines are only as good as the driver. But the higher ticketed items give more adjustability that the guy running in organized races will need and constantly be changing to suit his/her needs on that particular track during the course of the day.

 

[Ysr04]

As far as budget, $500.00 including engine, pipe, manifold. I have another radio, receiver and servos so I will not need to invest in electrics.

I would like to get into racing or taking the car to the track, I think I have found a track that will let me run my nitro car at. They run nitro buggies on this track then take out the jumps for the nitro sedan guys. Only problem is that not too many guys run them there but there are a few. The track is about an hour from my house so I can see myself getting the time to go to the track maybe twice a month when winter rolls around. I have a pretty cool track of my own at the school yard but I am the only guy that runs there in the summer months.

I have been involved in RC for about 30 years, I have flown planes, helicopters, driven nitro boats but I have always consistently been invloved with RC cars. I used to race 1/12th scale when I lived out West and raced electric sedans at a very local track that only operates in the winter months and they race at night. I work nights so I was not able to get to the track very much so I got out of electrics and into nitros for something different and now I'm hooked.

I would say that my driving skill is above average at this point, when I did race electric sedans last season of the 5 race nights I made it to the track I finished in the top 3 each time out and pulled off 2 wins in the mains. There were usually about 7 - 10 drivers that participated in the electric sedan class.

I currently run a HPI Super Nitro as well as a HPI Nitro Pro Racer 2 that is pretty well modified. Pictures are posted in a thread here under Nitro Sedans.

So, that's pretty much my RC resume.....what are my options?

 

[rossb]

You have 4 good options. They are the Associated TC3 Factory Kit, the HPI R40, the Mugen MTX-3, and the Serpent 710. All are capable cars with the TC3 being the "worst" and the Serpent probably being the "best".

 

[Diver6127]

Well, there is always the more popular FT NitroTC3 and HPI R40. Both are very good cars. The NTC3 is shaft and the R40 is belt. There are also the higher priced Kyosho VoneRRR, Mugen MTX-3 and prospec version and the Serpent710.

The later 3 (all belt drives)are all very equal. Of course there are the pluses and minuses but over all any of those three are top competitors. All average about $350. For engines, you can look to spend anywhere from $220 and up. The engines will be up to you but to keep them in ROAR spec for theraces, .12 engines with 3 ports are the max and turbo plugs are allowed. If you go with a 5 port .12, you are in the outlaw class. 15 engines are outlaw as well and some places allow the .18 small blocks in outlaw (not all, check the track rules). Pipes can go for about $65 and up. Different pipes will make the engine perform in different ways but there are also ROAR/EFRA legal pipes and outlaw pipes.

Cvec pipes and any other pipe that allows you to tune the pipe with an adjustable inner diaphram are illegal since they consider that another port.

$500 is kinda low for a racer but probably can be met. Since you are pretty much at the tail end of the nitro season, I would suggest waiting for the Mugen MTX-4 to come out. That is the model that all the racers seem to be waiting for since it has a bunch of new designs based on the MRX-4 (1/8 onroad mugen).

Out of the models that I mentioned, the Nitro TC3 has the best instruction manual.

The Mugen is known to be a performer straight out of the box. Nothing much has to be tweaked to get good performance. Same goes for the Kyosho. The Serpent 710 is the car that needs to be tuned to the driver. Stock, it will be good but it takes a bit of time to get it to suit your needs.

I owned a Nitro TC3 and loved it. It was a tank and took to the track very well. It grew with me as I was making my way up the ranks of racing competatively but after a season, I moved on the the Serpent 710. Comparing the 2 ... well there is no comparison. The NTC3 had to be coaxed into doing a lot of things but was still limited. My Serpent 710 is a dream to drive. Only thing is that there are sooooooooo many adjustments that it's easy to get frustrated. Almost a full season of running it and I am just starting to really enjoy it.

The R40 is a nice ride as well. I can't really comment on that one since I don't own one and my "real time" experience with one is limited. The MTX-3 is very nice. I have had my hands on one (completely stock configuration) and it is a dream to run. The VoneRRR is also very nice.

I would look to rossb (r40), Team17(mtx-3) and Ratzo (VoneRRR WCE) for their input on those cars since they have raced and/or race them competatively.

The guys that I have raced with, here on this forum, are RossB, Team17, RatzoRC, Sl0eg1n (my brother and also runs a 710) and 710baby (ran a 710 but now runs a VoneRRR). There is also another one that lurks around, Adlawoo. He runs a Kyosho FW05 but can't remember if its the R or RR version. All these guys are pretty much the known racers of the on-road scene (myself included). Ratzo probably has owned the most out of all of us and also has the most racing experience with nitro's. I would wait for those guys to chime in as well with the other cars and their racing experience with them.

 

[Ysr04]

Wow, great information....thanks Diver6127 and Rossb. At least I have some choices, I like having several models to choose from. I am interested to hear what some of the others have to say, especially those who may own the R40 as I have become pretty familiar with the HPI set ups. I went to Nitrohouse.com and checked out the Mugen's, I have not been able to find a Serpent vendor yet but I really have not looked too hard for the Serpent side of things.

I would like to get into something a little more over the top than a TC3.

Looking to hear what everyone else has to say.

Thanks again, this is some great information to start getting me thinking.

 

[Diver6127]

TO order on line, bruckner hobbies does sell serpents and serpent parts on line. They're located here in NYC (bronx and westchester as well). www.brucknerhobbies.com or you can order from www.stormerhobbies.com .

Serpent puts out a "crash pack" full of parts that are most commonly broken during races. My brother and I got an extra kit just for parts. The kit is cheaper than buying the parts seperately and you know that you ahve everything you need. lol

 

[joey]

I've owned a R40 its a good car and i liked it alot but i am selling it due the fact i have no need for 2 nitro touring cars...

 

[rossb]

The R40 is a very good car that is inexpensive and the parts are cheap and easy to get. It is a little on the heavy side out of the box but there are light weight options available that I have been told will bring the car right to the ROAR legal minimum weight. The car did win the ROAR Nationals 2 years in a row so it obviously is a pretty good car. The number of suspension adjustments you can make are well beyond the cars you currently own. It is also much more advanced than the TC3. You can do pretty much anything with the suspension.

The Serpent and the Mugen are considered by some to be better cars out of the box. This is probably true, but in all honesty I am not sure what the exact advantages the Serpent and Mugen really offer. Let me be clear and state that I don't doubt that the advantages do exist. Someone else will have to point out the advantages of those cars.

The bottom line is when you get to the cars on this level the driver makes the biggest difference. I was just at the HPI Challenge last month and guys with the same exact car as mine were blowing me into the weeds. The best advice anyone can give you is to pick the car that has the best local support in your area. You really can't go wrong with any of the suggestions made in this thread.

 

[Bouzouki]

It's mostly prefrence.

I am a Mugen guy.

I personally don't like Serpent and do not like HPI,

Others love Serpent and HPI.

The Mugen has been solid and has been a performer for years, now that the MTX-4 is coming, it should do even better for the next 4 years.

 

[rossb]

The 2005 ROAR Nats TQ was a MTX-3 and the car probably would have won but the receiver pack dumped. I think a Kyosho ended up winning the event. The V-One RRR is a very good car. I don't see Atsushi Hara on the entry list this year.

 

[Diver6127]

As I said, I would wait for the other guys who have raced these cars to chime in. So far, the R40, Serpent 710 and Nitro TC3 have been covered. RatzoRC is a big kyosho fan and races them or has raced them on bot on and off road. Team17 has an MTX-3 and it is his current racer. He loves it just as I love my Serpent. It is all a matter of preference but I guess you'll have to look passed that and get the technical aspects as well.

I know we all like what we do for our own reasons and my only advice to you is look at the specs of the cars. See what the LHS has or what is available online if that is your only other option. Take these two and compare notes and make the decision based on what you feel is a good, educated decision.

The reason I went with Serpent instead of Mugen is parts availability at the LHS. I prefer not to do on-line shopping as much as possible. I like dealing with the people and most of all, my LHS just kicks ass. I had the NTC3 because it was a good car for the price at the time I had it. It is also great as a begginer car because it's that versatile. It can be used in the park or on a track with a few simple suspension changes. It's also very well suppoted by many aftermarket companies as well as Associated.

The R40, I don't count that car out but it was my preference to not get it.

 

[rossb]

The Kyosho ran in 6 of the 12 A-main spots at the Nats and got 1st and 2nd place. Impressive.

http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/StayCurrent/news2.asp

 

[Ysr04]

What are the thoughts on the Sepent Impulse? Is this an older model? How does it compare to the 710?

 

[Diver6127]

diffrent class. it's not a touring car. parts are even harder to come by.

 

[Ysr04]

How about the Trinity G4? I have heard a lot of good things about Trinity, what's up with their nitro cars?

Thanks for the information Diver, you will get me sorted out one of these days. Trying to do my homework and consider every option out there!

 

[sl0eg1n]

every racer that drove the G4 switched to another car for some reason. not too many racers were happy with it. if i were you i would save up more money and get a car that you would be really happy with. i would look into the mugen MTX-4 or kyosho triple r. if you don't have the setup skills and patience, i would stay away from the serpent 710. the FT NTC3 is a nice car, but you may grow out of it very fast. it is also a very fragile car compared to the mugen, serpent, and RRR.

 

[Remy]

R40 owner here. It amazing how good you can get a car to handle when set up on a huddy board. (Thx Diver) I now have my own . If you are thinking of getting a touring car the huddy or integy is a must. Also this is second season racing with it and I have no intentions on getting anything else anytime soon.

Good luck.

 

[Diver6127]

R40 own here. Second season racing with it and I have no intentions on getting anything else anytime soon.

Good luck.

Hahahaha ...

















Oh wait a minute, you're being serious. :boxing: Then get some spare parts.