Looking for opinions on FMS F-100, I just bought one

[Fms lover]

Just bought an FMS F-100, want to know your opinion.

 

[Tunedfrog]

Honestly I don't know of too many guys that has one. What's your opinion?

 

[Fms lover]

They are great, but the servo saver is garbage

 

[jojobeans]

I have one... the thing is bomb proof. Only real weakness is the washer they use on the servo saver spring. If you WOT into the corner of a wall fast enough with a brushless combo, you'll break that washer and lose the spring. Good luck breaking it any other way though... Everything on it is NOT built like a budget car. It's built every bit as well as my more expensive rigs with quality plastic compounds.

My only real complaint was the suspension and the motor mount. Shocks pretty much have water for fluid, I threw in some 40wt oil and it feels a lot better. Before it would bounce around a lot and bottom out on every bump. I'd say thats pretty much a requirement if you plan on jumping it in the slightest bit. Motor mount has very limited, if any adjustment for a larger pinion. So, keep that in mind when upgrading to brushless. I put a 3900kv GoolRC combo in mine and with the stock gearing, it runs cool with plenty of power on 2s. Could probably get away with 3s while still running cool... but thats a little much for a HCG 2wd monster truck IMHO.

 

[Fms lover]

That's good to know.I took it to a skate park this last weekend, and it bottomed out hard

 

[WoodiE]

They are great, but the servo saver is garbage

What servo did you upgrade to?

 

[Fms lover]

I just put a metal washer in

 

[Cheetah928]

So explain to me why something like this is $190 and the Traxxas stampede is $40 more and is probably worse quality? Lol, the fms reminded me of that thing.

 

[CertifiedMike]

So explain to me why something like this is $190 and the Traxxas stampede is $40 more and is probably worse quality? Lol, the fms reminded me of that thing.

Traxxas has a LOT of lawyers so thats prob a lot of it right there.

A newer company looking to compete with big dogs will do things like that.
Not to mention, Arrma has the Gorgon for $169 and the brushed version for not much more.

Theres a fair amount of competition in 1/10 MT.

 

[Doom!]

So explain to me why something like this is $190 and the Traxxas stampede is $40 more and is probably worse quality? Lol, the fms reminded me of that thing.

FMS is based in China, so they don't have to deal with R&D being done in the USA, and then working out of all of the bugs, while going back and forth with the companies in the USA before production gets the OK in China.

FMS can design in house, and that saves a lot of time going back and forth to get things right, also makes it easier to make running changes during production. FMS is known for improving their product mid run.

 

[jojobeans]

So explain to me why something like this is $190 and the Traxxas stampede is $40 more and is probably worse quality? Lol, the fms reminded me of that thing.

In the Stampedes defense, that $40 more gets you a LOT more aftermarket, local parts support, metal gears in the trans, shared platform, etc. The Stampede has its perks. But, its also almost 3 decades old at this point and realistically shouldn't cost more than $200 RTR (more like $170 if Traxxas was actually concerned about being competitive) for a basic brushed model since the initial cost of development has long since passed. The value of a stampede doesn't exist when buying new... but you can go on Ebay and get a good condition used rolling chassis due to the age of the platform for literal pocket change and end up with a brushless powered runner with good tires, some upgrades and a better drivetrain than the FMS or the Gorgon for well under $200 if you shop around and are willing to put some work in. The stampede is like a Nintendo Wii in 2015... you buy one and suddenly 3 more of them show up at your house. Buying a brand new one is about the dumbest thing you can do with your money.

The same can't be said for the FMS or the Gorgon however. People seem to think their used and abused Arrma's are worth MSRP and the FMS isn't popular enough to find on the used market reliably.

 

[WickedFog]

This looks like a decent budget entry into the 1/10 MT market. And it does look like a direct competitor to the Stampede 2wd. I only ha e an FCX24 monster truck, but I was was really impressed with FMS quality. Not to mention, their 24th Smasher is actually closer to real 24th scale that the other 24th scale offerings, like the SCX24 is actually closer to 22nd scale or so.

It would be really cool if FMS would do a 1/10 and 1/8 version of the Smasher, to compete with the Losi Diggers. The twin plate chassis design and solid axles would make for some easily upgradable components that I think the aftermarket would go nuts with. Could you imagine this in 1/8 scale?