Nitro Buggy Choices

[ProfsrKos2012]

I'm looking to buy a nitro buggy, mainly to see if I like them. I'm not looking to spend a whole lot but have looked at a Redcat Tornado S30 for 189.00, or an Exceed Forza for 159+shipping. I've also looked at a Traxxas Bandit VXL but I already have a Slash and a Tmaxx 3.3 and would like to broaden my horizons a bit.
Any advice?

This is really helping me make my decision!!!

 

[Mickstix]

I have the Tornado S30.. (The exceed is basically the same, but I dont know about the support for those?) Only real problems I had with my S30 (other than getting sand in the motor and shortening it's life) was the front dogbones can fall out under the right circumstances.. This is solved by putting a little rubber "o" ring inside the drive cup, before the dogbone.. But I didnt know what until I'd already lost one.. I've not hit anything real hard, but I have cartwheeled it numberous times.. Only issues were bent bones, which I straightened out with a few taps of a hammer, and a cracked wheel.. It's a pretty tough little buggy from what I can tell.. After some of the high speed cartwheels, I was sure I was gonna find some broken a-arms or shock shafts or something, but so far alls well.. I think there more than worth the money, but I bought one so I'm biased.. I also just got a Redcat Monsoon (1/8 truggy) that I've yet to finish breaking in, due to cold weather.. It looks top notch as well, as far as I can tell.. I dont know if there is a forum for Redcat here on NitroTalk or not, but on the RCUniverse forums, there's a Redcat support forum, with lots of info and some very cool folks as well as dealers, who post all the time and help with about anything ya need.. There support is top notch! In respect to this forum, I wont post a link to there's, but if you need it, send me an "I'm" I'll send ya the link! Good luck and welcome to the world of NItro Buggies!!

 

[ProfsrKos2012]

I linked to the site through redcats website. I think the tornado may be the "cheap" buggy winner. They're here in phx, so I can just go down and pick it up after paying for it. 10 mins from my house, parts are going to be easy to get for it if anything should happen to break.

Anyone else possibly have any information or any other "cheap" buggys they'd recommend?

 

[Scrogg]

Ofna Picco buggy, no other RTR buggy around 300 dollars can touch it. Great suspension, 16mm big bore shocks from the Jammin series buggies. A very strong, reliable, 3 port Picco .21 engine. The buggy itself is solid, you won't break anything unless you hit something really fast. It comes with standard servos and an AM radio set. Those are it's only downfalls. For the price, you can't beat it.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVGM6&P=0

 

[SteelCityNitro]

there's a guy on craigslist selling a legacy traxxas nitro buggy for 60 bucks

 

[ProfsrKos2012]

Ofna Picco buggy, no other RTR buggy around 300 dollars can touch it.&I=LXVGM6&P=0[/url]

Thanks for the link Scrogg. I think this is the Third buggy I've seen that wasn't 800.00.

there's a guy on craigslist selling a legacy traxxas nitro buggy for 60 bucks

Thanks but I'm trying to stay away from traxxas on this one. I already own 2 and want to open up my eyes a lil bit.

 

[Scrogg]

The Ofna will make you realize what quality is, it's a mix of older buggies but it is a good one no doubt. Parts will never be a problem. Those shocks if kept clean, last forever.

 

[CosmosGoat]

I had a Redcat Aftershock, which is basically the same chassis as the buggy, and i liked it. I found the SC style trcuk wasn't for me but i was not at all unhappy with the performance.

 

[ProfsrKos2012]

The Ofna will make you realize what quality is, it's a mix of older buggies but it is a good one no doubt. Parts will never be a problem. Those shocks if kept clean, last forever.

Sounds like it may be the winner then. I mainly want to see if I like buggies. I guess a decent buggy at a decent price may be the better way of testing the water.

 

[Mickstix]

I bet that Ofna Picco is a WHOLE lot more buggy than the 1/10 Tornado!! Just being 1/8 scale makes a big difference in parts size and quality.. I was amazed at the size of the 1/8 truggy I got. It dwarfs my 1/10 buggy.. (The 1/8 arent nearly as twitchy as 1/10 scale either, in my limited experience.. But ya need more space to really get the potential out of them.) Good luck in your choice! If your still interested in Redcat you could check out their 1/8 Hurricane XTR buggy, but it may be more of a basher than a racer?

 

[Scrogg]

Very true, one of the R/C mags radared and reviewed the Picco buggy @ 39 mph on 20% fuel with the stock pipe. I ran 30% in mine with a different pipe, the 086. It was ballistic with that setup.

 

[Mickstix]

Whats the benefit of upping the nitro%? Does it mean there's less lube in the mix or make them any more suspitble to premature failure? (In other words, are there any downsides besides costing a couple extra bucks a gallon?) I've got a fresh gallon of 20%, so its probably too late for me to switch anyway..

 

[Scrogg]

You can switch fuels no problem, just richen it up first. Run it easy and retune it. There is no downside to 30% fuel. Same lube, more in fact due to running a slightly richer mixture vs. 20% fuel. The nitro allows more air to be used in the burn.
I ran about 8 different brands and blends of fuel through one engine. It never died from the fuel. User error is the most common problem associated with switching fuels. Some fuels do suck, that's another thread entirely.

 

[Mickstix]

Oh, that's good to know! Maybe I'll give the 30% a try next time I need fuel!! Thanks for that info!! On another side note.. Is it bad for an engine to run/idle upside down?? In these videos I always see the operator hussling over to right their truck, after a flip.. (Not racing, just bashing) and wondered if there's a reason to get it righted, other than just wanting to get back to the fun, or not wanting it to shut off?? Silly question I know, but figure what the heck, I was curious and wanted to know.. (I'm lazy and usually just take my time getting to it, if it's flipped over and still running..) lol.. Thanks, as usual!!

 

[Scrogg]

It will run out of fuel eventually, this leads to a lean condition which sometimes blows the glow plug. No major damage will occur. Most people just hate restarting their r/c's. While racing a flameout can cause you to lose a lot of time.
Edit; you may need to drop to a slightly cooler plug with 30% fuel depending on the engine. I use medium plugs in everything I run with 30% fuel.

 

[Mickstix]

Cool! I think it's already got a medium plug in it, and the spare I got is also a medium!