Is a buggy for me?

[T-maxxJared]

I currently have a t-maxx, and I like to go to the track and run around with it, but it seems like every time I go something breaks, and when I fix that, something else breaks, and it's a never ending cycle. If I just bash around with it in my warehouse and out in the street, it's great, it never breaks, but I want something for the track so I can actually enjoy the track, not the pit table.
My main concern is RELIABILITY, I don't want to have to fix it every 30 seconds if I am not even hard on it (certain driving situations will call for breakage no matter what you are driving I know). When I am at the track, I see the 1/8 scale buggies racing around and taking spills and hits that would rip my truck in half, and they go ALL NIGHT running as hard as they can, where if I did that with my maxx, it would be done in 5 minutes. The buggies also seem to handle and jump a ton better (due to obvious physical characteristics) and look to be more fun and forgiving for a learner to drive. I am totally entry level into the hobby, so I don't think I can handle something that takes a lot of knowledge and skill to keep up with right out of the box yet, but I am really thinking about buying an 1/8 scale RTR. I don't know anything about buggies, but just because I have read some good things and it looks like it comes with almost everything I need while being fairly affordable, I was thinking about the sportwerks mayhem RTR. Some insight from buggy drivers who may have been in my shoes would be great before I go spend another chunk of cash would be great.

P.S.- Plaid, shut up. Yeah yeah, you told me so.

 

[ImBroken]

Once you drive an 1/8th scale buggy, you'll never look back... They are just intense to run... Speed, agility, a just down right nasty when you blip the throttle... Here's a thread on the Mayhem... Read up...
https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24935&highlight=MAYHEM
Good luck..

 

[savagefan04]

alright...first question. how much are u looking to spend? under 450?? take a look athte ofna hyper series buggies/. tough buggies that can be made race worthy with just a few mods. after that, look at the mayhem rtr. again, solid buggy and will hold its own in club level racing.

I'm not sure about the mayhem since i don'e have one, but the Hyper 7 PBS comes with startbox and is fairly easy to work on and drive. biggest thing u should consider when buying a new toy is checking out what other people in your area drive and what the LHS supports best. my place is stocked with ofna parts, but no mayhem or losi parts.

hope this helps...oh, and sell you your maxx and get a savage. tough truck that u can take to a track and beat to death....

 

[T-maxxJared]

I am looking to spend probably 500 or lower to get it in run and drive condition and this doesn't include using some track support things I have for the maxx that may be usable for the buggy, and I don't want to buy anything that I have to put together, I feel that a place that builds thousands of them does a thousand times better of a job than I personally could right now, so an RTR is what I want.

 

[AC48]

A buggy sounds like waht you need. Is your track organized? Or just run what ya brung? If you are allowed to run over a .21 sized engine the X-Terminator buggies are the most reliable I've ever had. They are not the fastest, mostmible buggies out there but they are FAST. They come RTR with a awesome 24.7 enigne which is the easiest engine I've ever broken in and tuned. Completely problem free was my experience with the X-Ts, well maybe a thing here or there but still much better than anything else I've had. Go for the Deluxe version, it runs aorund $400 completely RTR. Its a great deal, mine is arriving tomorrow, and I can't wait to see all the upgrades over the regular X-T I had.

 

[T-maxxJared]

I run the same track as Plaidfish, mills pond in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and I am pretty sure there is a rule where you can't have larger than a .21 to run in the buggy classes. I can hardly get the t-maxx around the track 1 time without crashing, and when I do, the buggies have already lapped me 3 times, so I think the motor doesn't matter right now, it will probably be at the end of it's lifespan by the time I learn to drive and tune the car well enough to think about even entering it in a race. It doesn't have to be the fastest right now, but just tough and reliable, able to stand up to a lot of the beatings that a beginning driver and tuner would usually give it

 

[AC48]

Ok, then you could go with a X-Terminator Pro. Its a 80% built buggy. Its all built but it doesn't come with a engine/radio/tires. You could get an O.S. .21 RG which I hear a reliable engines, tires to fit your track and a decent radio and be right around $500. The X-T pro only costs 250$ and it comes with even more hop ups than the Deluxe does.

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/145603.asp

 

[CorradoPsi]

leave the exterminator out of the equation. simple as that.

why not buy plaids mbx5? I'm sure he could cut you a deal on that, and his RG if its still in running condition with replacing the rod in it. otherwise buy an RG new for around 110, and a decent fm radio for 100 a hitec 645mg steering servo for 35, and a glow driver since your tmaxx uses the ezstart and you wouldnt have one yet. once your all up and running start saving for things like a starterbox and spare parts, and extra tires. with a good buggy you will find you wear parts out faster than you break them.

 

[Plaidfish]

HAHA I told......I won't say it.....yeah jared I have soo much stuff and it's all in awsome condition...I can make you a Almost RTR OFNA 9.5 w/ some killer stuff for less than 5 w/ a brand new engine and Hi-tec servos....you won't need a box for.....LMK I can bring tons of stuff over to your place and let you check it all out one night......you do really want to get a pro kit buggy if you can....I have that mugen too but it's pending a deal...I'll know tonite.....you can make your maxx real mean too but you hit it the buggies are just built for the track.....way more power than the MTs even w/ the cheaper mills.....I made the mistake of trying the lower end buggies too and finally went w/ a pro buggy....oh and remember that mill I bought monday night...the rear main bearing is going on it already....FRICKIN FRACKIN FRUCK!!!!!!
oh well welcome to performance buggy running 101...

 

[godale03]

Ok, then you could go with a X-Terminator Pro. Its a 80% built buggy. Its all built but it doesn't come with a engine/radio/tires. You could get an O.S. .21 RG which I hear a reliable engines, tires to fit your track and a decent radio and be right around $500. The X-T pro only costs 250$ and it comes with even more hop ups than the Deluxe does.

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/145603.asp

I run the Xterm pro with an OS RG X and it is wicked fast and one tough buggy. I am only practiced with it, and raced it just once, but it is a great all around bug. I personally recomend it. It gets a bad rap from the folks that run the more expensive more well known Mugens, Ofnas, and Kyosho's. Those guys have obviously never driven one. I was one of those non believers too until I took one for a spin before I bought it. XTM is highly underated and I think the XTerm Pro is a great choice for the beginier or the hardend racer. In my first race I was smoking the guys with the High Dollar buggies. In fact they spent more time in the pits than on the track. In fact Jon2 has a brand new OS RG X P for $100 bucks shipped. You could be racing with a very capable race worhty bug in no time for well under 500. Not that I think the expensive buggies are crap, cuz they definately are not, I just think they are expenisve to maintain. Parts can also be hard to find locally. I think the Xterm is one hell of a buggy. Just my

 

[jon2]

I run the Xterm pro with an OS RG X and it is wicked fast and one tough buggy. I am only practiced with it, and raced it just once, but it is a great all around bug. I personally recomend it. It gets a bad rap from the folks that run the more expensive more well known Mugens, Ofnas, and Kyosho's. Those guys have obviously never driven one. I was one of those non believers too until I took one for a spin before I bought it. XTM is highly underated and I think the XTerm Pro is a great choice for the beginier or the hardend racer. In my first race I was smoking the guys with the High Dollar buggies. In fact they spent more time in the pits than on the track. In fact Jon2 has a brand new OS RG X P for $100 bucks shipped. You could be racing with a very capable race worhty bug in no time for well under 500. Not that I think the expensive buggies are crap, cuz they definately are not, I just think they are expenisve to maintain. Parts can also be hard to find locally. I think the Xterm is one hell of a buggy. Just my

I drove the Xterm Pro. My buddy has one. Its definitely a great starter buggy. Better than some Ofnas IMO. There are weak points on it that can be made better. I prefer the Hyper 7 series from Ofna. Mugen well...I will let you know. I have driven the Kyosho line but one that was hopped up pretty well and it was nice. The GS Storm is a nice ride and can be a GREAT basher rig.

BTW the RG is sold...sorry fellas.

 

[cobra198]

I started out with a tmaxx also and ran into the same problem as u did Jared. I am a big basher, and it just kept breaking on me. I also wanted better handling and control. I decided to go with the X-terminator also. I did this cause i heard that they were good buggies, and i didnt want to spend a fortune. I got it around christmas, and have not had one regret sofar!! Its awesome! I bash it 5 times harder than i do my maxx, and i have only broken 1 part (due to a run away right into a curb). The handling compared to a maxx is also amazing. If i were you i would most definitly try a buggy. I dont think you will regret it!

-Cobra198

 

[T-maxxJared]

Thanks for the input guys, I think I am going to go the buggy route soon. It will be a couple weeks yet, I just bought the t-maxx 2 weeks ago and have been spending on it ever since, so I will have to slow down on it and rebuild my little stash of disposable income. I am going to probably go with the mayhem, but am going to look into the x-terminator. Thanks,
Jared Williamson

 

[mikeburgin]

my awnser to this thread is
If you dont like speed, power, agility, Reliability dont dont buy a buggy

 

[olds97_lss]

2 whole weeks!!! Wow! That's a new record for a t-maxx owner to want something else! Even I lasted a month... then I converted to a 21 maxx, then I bought a savage and sold all the maxx stuff.

If you bash on rough terrain at all, a buggy is hard to use because of it's low ground clearance. Don't get me wrong, they will go in a lot of places, but a MT goes in more, just not as fast...

But, if your interested in the racing scene, 1/8 buggies is where its at. I"m a basher only, so a cheap buggy and my savage are all I need. I'm running a HB Lightning (version 1) with a OS 21 RG in it and it really screams. I'm pretty hard on it and haven't broken anything yet after running a couple gallons through it. I broke one rim, but that's it. And I drive it just as hard as I drive my savage. It's a total blast>:

 

[savagefan04]

just throwing this out to ya, might want to wait and see how the new line of truggies do. ofna and maybe are do to release theirs this summer. this way u get the blend of both worlds...speed and handling of a buggy and terrain eating MT in 1...just a thought

 

[OFNA buggy basher]

I love buggys. I have a ofna hyper 7 and its great. race legal 2. I'm sure ny buggy you get you will be happy with.

 

[AC48]

I just got my X-Terminator Deluxe in today, it looks awesome. GOt 5mm towers, CF radio tray...its awesome for the money.

 

[Buggyracer28]

Hell yeah... X-terms are THE best bashers in the world.

 

[Hypedonrc]

Buggies are by far my favorate type of RC, but I still can't get rid of my Maxx.