how to get into 1/8 ebuggy?

[TheRadWarrior]

i want to get into ebuggy, but i can't decide how. should i get an rtr(like the serpent srx8 e) or get one used? i have a budget of around 1,000$ (yes i know thats kind of low),
and i just need some advice and some kit/rtr options

 

[Littlemotor]

Welcome to the forum!!

A lightly used, or well maintained USED race grade (kit) vehicle will put you MILES ahead of any new, or even well equipped used RTR.. -especially in 1/8 E-buggy.. They’re gonna be more capable, reliable, easier to wrench on. -and if you go Tekno, Mugen, Sworkz, or HongNor, there isn’t an RTR out there that is more durable.. Xray, and Kyosho are super nice vehicles, but absolutely are a bit less resilient than those I just mentioned. I won’t even mention Losi, or Associated in regards to durability, -let alone; continued parts support..

 

[TheRadWarrior]

thanks man, though i do want to know, are losi and all those other brands really that bad?

 

[DavidB1126]

thanks man, though i do want to know, are losi and all those other brands really that bad?

Nah LM is just a brand snob . Associated is really good platform, it's just people are picky about discontinued parts which me personally, I never had an issue with Associated. Losi on the other hand which is owned by horizon, horizon ruined them over and their parts support is non existent and their kits are years outdated and behind. Other manufacturers like Tekno X-ray Mugen Kyosho, they are ALL dialed in with what you need.
Different brands do have different types of suspensions. There are pillow ball cars and C hub cars. All I know is that AE and Xray are pillow ball and Tekno and I think Mugen are c hub cars. People have different likes, pros and cons of each. Just depends what you like best. I suggest going out to your local track and asking to test drive a few cars to see how you like it.

But I do agree with LM on the buying used part. Buying used would be the best bet to get it in cheaper. You can find a decent EBuggy on eBay or marketplace or maybe a local racer is selling off their previous gen/model kit on the cheap usually around 200-500 depending if you get a slider, roller, ARTR or full RTR.

Me personally I built up a Typhon 6s from parts and Jenny's RC. Not the best in terms of for going to racing and being competitive but it's a decent track buggy. Plenty have tuned their Typhons to make them more race ready, especially with getting the weight down as the Typhon is a fairly chunky bug. I know it's Arrma which is owned by horizon but Arrmas part support is WAY better than Losi in today's terms and market.

 

[Littlemotor]

thanks man, though i do want to know, are losi and all those other brands really that bad?

Losi has had issues keeping parts support going on current vehicles, as has Team Associated. They both cease manufacturing on new parts for “legacy” vehicles VERY early as well, after they release a new chassis. This forces many owners to buy ANOTHER new vehicle just to stay in the hobby.. This is what happens when some longtime, reputable outfits are bought up by massive corporations (like both of them have), and it’s very unfortunate. Losi, and Associated are both typically the first companies that people look to when they begin to naturally progress above the RTR grade vehicles. Tekno, and Mugen would be my first two choices (in that order) to recommend to someone looking at getting into a race grade vehicle, every time.. Durability is literally NIGHT AND DAY. You will also never have any issues with parts support, or absolutely ludicrous pricing, as compared to other capable 1/8 race grade/competition vehicles.

The durability of Losi, and Team associated, as well as parts quality in general is light years behind both Tekno, and Mugen..

 

[TheRadWarrior]

ok thanks(sorry questioning your authority, it's a habit of mine)

 

[TheRadWarrior]

Nah LM is just a brand snob . Associated is really good platform, it's just people are picky about discontinued parts which me personally, I never had an issue with Associated. Losi on the other hand which is owned by horizon, horizon ruined them over and their parts support is non existent and their kits are years outdated and behind. Other manufacturers like Tekno X-ray Mugen Kyosho, they are ALL dialed in with what you need.
Different brands do have different types of suspensions. There are pillow ball cars and C hub cars. All I know is that AE and Xray are pillow ball and Tekno and I think Mugen are c hub cars. People have different likes, pros and cons of each. Just depends what you like best. I suggest going out to your local track and asking to test drive a few cars to see how you like it.

But I do agree with LM on the buying used part. Buying used would be the best bet to get it in cheaper. You can find a decent EBuggy on eBay or marketplace or maybe a local racer is selling off their previous gen/model kit on the cheap usually around 200-500 depending if you get a slider, roller, ARTR or full RTR.

Me personally I built up a Typhon 6s from parts and Jenny's RC. Not the best in terms of for going to racing and being competitive but it's a decent track buggy. Plenty have tuned their Typhons to make them more race ready, especially with getting the weight down as the Typhon is a fairly chunky bug. I know it's Arrma which is owned by horizon but Arrmas part support is WAY better than Losi in today's terms and market.

yeah that's kind of what i expected. it's what horizon hobby does best!

 

[Littlemotor]

FWIW-it should be noted that my experience is just that; first hand experience from owning, driving, and maintaining every vehicle I am giving my own two cents on. This also includes many other manufacturers that I didn’t feel the need to mention, as they wouldn’t benefit you in my opinion. The only one I spoke on that I have not OWNED, is Sworkz. I HAVE had them on my bench however, and HAVE driven them as well-so I can attest to their quality.

I base 1/8 off-road opinions on what I have ran, and maintained for the past 20+ years. The brands that I am partial to have earned that BECAUSE of the time I’ve had with them, and through weighing ALL of the options (cost, durability, parts support, ease of setup, capability on the track, etc.), make the most sense for me to support.

 

[Littlemotor]

ok thanks(sorry questioning your authority, it's a habit of mine)

You’re good brothaman-nobody has any “authority” here lol… you're asking specific questions, and I’m simply doing my best to answer them as best as I can, and without any miscommunication. Don’t wanna cost you extra money, or wasted time because I wasn’t clear in my explanations.

 

[TheRadWarrior]

and that right there is why i think rc is one of the best hobbies; the people are great and are always willing to help a total noob

 

[RustyUs]

i want to get into ebuggy, but i can't decide how. should i get an rtr(like the serpent srx8 e) or get one used? i have a budget of around 1,000$ (yes i know thats kind of low),
and i just need some advice and some kit/rtr options

Do you have any radio, charger, or gear at all?

 

[TheRadWarrior]

Do you have any radio, charger, or gear at all?

nope. i coming from absolutely nothing

 

[TheRadWarrior]

also another question, what will i need besides the kit and everything needed to run it

 

[81exige]

if you want to go racing, have a look at whatever brand is the most popular at the track near you, since it's much easier to get setup tips from other racers that way; if you're asking in general, parts availability is also another thing to consider, I suppose that depends on which part of the US you live in

also another question, what will i need besides the kit and everything needed to run it

a decent set of tools (hex drivers, shock/ball end pliers, turnbuckle wrenches, the whole 9 yards), you don't need the absolute best but build quality shouldn't be shoddy either

 

[hood52]

If your lucky you might be able to find someone getting out of the hobby, who is selling everything you would need. Buggy, remote, charger, tools rtc... Good Luck

 

[332_RC]

Serpent, Mugen, & Tekno. All top of the line.

 

[Lukedavis]

Losi has had issues keeping parts support going on current vehicles, as has Team Associated. They both cease manufacturing on new parts for “legacy” vehicles VERY early as well, after they release a new chassis. This forces many owners to buy ANOTHER new vehicle just to stay in the hobby.. This is what happens when some longtime, reputable outfits are bought up by massive corporations (like both of them have), and it’s very unfortunate. Losi, and Associated are both typically the first companies that people look to when they begin to naturally progress above the RTR grade vehicles. Tekno, and Mugen would be my first two choices (in that order) to recommend to someone looking at getting into a race grade vehicle, every time.. Durability is literally NIGHT AND DAY. You will also never have any issues with parts support, or absolutely ludicrous pricing, as compared to other capable 1/8 race grade/competition vehicles.

The durability of Losi, and Team associated, as well as parts quality in general is light years behind both Tekno, and Mugen..

Would hobao be a better choice than Losi and associated?

 

[Littlemotor]

Would hobao be a better choice than Losi and associated?

No.

 

[Lukedavis]

No.

would main reason be parts availability? or is it something else? I'm just trying to pick your racer brain, so I can know more on what I should choose as my first 1/8 buggy or truggy

 

[Littlemotor]

would main reason be parts availability? or is it something else? I'm just trying to pick your racer brain, so I can know more on what I should choose as my first 1/8 buggy or truggy

I don’t have a racer brain lol… Not sure why everyone thinks that.. I stopped mounting the transponder to the vehicle when it became all about the podium, and the fun went out the window. There’s also FAR too much drama at the local club race level for this good ol’ boy. I’m not gonna be locked up over a fight at an RC race.. No thanks. I run on MY private track, or at friends’ backyard tracks. with like minded buddies. It’s a large time, and been the way I do this for over 20 yrs with 1/8 off-road, and I’ve been pretty damned serious in RC for 40yrs total.

I run what I do because it makes the most sense for me. Race grade kits are more capable, durable, faster, reliable, and easier to get parts for than anything else. The fact that I was referred to by the peanut gallery as “a brand whore” in this very thread makes me laugh.. . I’ve ran MOST competition grade chassis manufacturers-save a few; Sparko, Agama, Sworkz, Mayako… I am partial to who I run because I have experience running them, and I have experience running Losi, and Associated. To say there’s no contest between them and Tekno is an epic understatement. When someone runs them all, they too can form an EDUCATED opinion..

Hobao is (and has been) primarily an RTR outfit that makes some very nice vehicles.. They are STILL primarily an RTR manufacturer. They do some silly, and some archaic things that are proprietary to their vehicles-that there is no solution for. They’re also not nearly as easy to get parts for. They do not out drive, nor outlast (who I feel to be) the “bottom of the barrel” 1/8 race kits.. Just how it is, and again-I’ve owned them, raced them, and worked on them (all vehicles being discussed) to form that opinion. I stopped running Losi 20yrs ago when I saw the writing on the wall. I’ve ran Associated since 1986, and their 1/8 off-road stuff for years now. I still own their 1/8 stuff CURRENTLY. I will never run it again, nor recommend it, when there is better stuff, and for less money/less headache. Period.

Unfortunately, your exact question gets asked once a week on this forum, but VERY FEW ever take the advice, grab a vehicle, and run it.. VERY few.. Makes those of us who take the time to answer questions about it pause, and have second thoughts to wasting time answering those same questions in the future… Some of us that is-I am a glutton for punishment.. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get back to my Tekno tattoo of Maifield’s face on my chest because I’m a bigtime fanboi/brand whore like that..