Which 4wd & Why?
 

Hi,

Possibly looking at a new 4wd kit, with which to do some regionals. I am not really interested in vehicle specifics/models, but would ideally like some opinions on spares, vehicle cost, reliability, ease of setup, UK tracks setup sheets, required extras etc etc, ease of maintenance etc, imperial or metric?

I have driven all sorts of 4wd buggies over the years including Predators, XX4, Cat 200 EC (still using it today), Lazer ZX-R, Bosscat etc. I have both Stick and Saddle lipo's, brushless kit, PT and spektrum, so no worries about kit.

I was looking at:

RC10B44 (Cheap, but may need some upgrade parts?)
Predator X11 (Expensive kit?)
Cat SX Carbon (Seems expensive?)
Yokomo B-Max (not too sure on setup sheets/parts?).

Thoughts and ideas?
Thanks
Mark

Well, I am a little biased as I run a B-MAX4, but I think it is worth considering.

Performance-wise, you have to say that it's record is brilliant. And it has now won BRCA nationals in the hands of 2 different drivers (Tom Yardy now as well as Neil Cragg).

Spares support is not the best. Standard parts are out there at a few shops but options are hard to find in the UK. Mechanically the only thing I have an issue with is the transmission, a few mods to the top deck and a pack of fine shims should sort that out. Setup wise, you just need to stiffen the front end and soften the rear, otherwise the Champions pack has all the parts you need.

I've never owned the others but the only one of them that has consistently impressed me trackside (ie flattering the skills of an average driver) is the B44. Parts seem easy to get for that too.

I have just bought a bmax and am very impressed with the thought and quality thats gone into it....very rugged:thumbsup: at a great price
but its proper ugly shells not good though:D

Mark, Have a word with WEZ about BMAX, he was running one indoors at Ludlow.

Cheers Neil! Will see him next Friday
:thumbsup:

The B-Maxx looks a pretty good car, but if you like lots of steering it may not be for you.

There will probably be a few running at Ledbury on Sunday.

Jason's looked to be very stable over the bumps last Sunday, (compared to his Durga), but it was very heavy in the hands.
Not too sure now! :confused:

Really? Mine had so much steering that I spent the first few runs working out ways to get rid of it!

I hope the B-MAX4 you are referring to was running the rear bar... the car is a dog without it.

Another convert to the Bmax camp here , i raced a yok bx before which was a lovely car but it could be a handful .
The bmax is a very predictable car and once set up its a fantastic drive.:thumbsup:

Mark that was the first time i had drove the bmax and i was pretty happy with how it went it is stable on the track,and easy to drive

the durga was its usual self a missile and animal all in 1 but i had no intention of racing it sunday but i went out to try and break the atomic carbon tower or gearbox top but neither broke:lol:

the bmax is :thumbsup:

Thanks Jason, the Yok looked very stable and ultra fast. During the final, the durga looked a bit of a handful IMO.
I guess the champ pack is the one to go for (if you don't have any decent donor shocks?)

Ta
Mark

Get a Team Associated B44...

1) Parts are readily available
2) Its an Associated (a newer version won't be out every season)
3) Its raceable completely from the box- nothing extra is 'needed'
4) it's a world champ
5) The kit setup is spot on for many tracks
6) it retails for £240ish - cheaper than many other buggies
7)I've found it very reliable with great handling

The only additional parts you might want are:

1) The lipo cradle, if you intend to run lipo (£17)
2) Its optional, but you might want to double up the front shok tower. (£10)

Nothing else is 'needed' (in my opinion)

You also need the anti-roll bar - which you will struggle to find as a spare. The wheel hexes make sense for compatability. Ti turnbuckles and alternative kingpins are nice. Spur gear will probably stay in the box.

Definitely get the Champions pack.

joe runs a standard bmax, using associated shocks and no roll bar, qualified D3 at taly, no hop ups, no breakages, spares are available but are slow coming, just buy the car and run it without any unneccessary add ons or extras and you will find the car excellent

Also
the car TQ'd with Mr yardy, was top F2 with Mr wood and top F3 with Master cockill, so not a lot wrong with it

I got a B44 Mark and I agree with the above quote. I think Marc at MK has a good deal on them at the moment....The only think I would suggest is make sure your locktight the grub screws on all the drivetrain, apart from that a really good car - On the Bmax side of things, that car looks good and I hear good reports as wel.....I think the spares for the B44 are easilly available compared to the Yokomo tough.....lastly if you get a B44 and your going to run Lipo then don't get the carbon tray, have one of our trays as it's 70g weight for sure makes the car better - pic attached and good luck Mark
Regards Tony Evdoka

Thanks for the advice Tony! Good to see you back on the scene again, after so long!

I think I have come down to either the Yokomo Bmax or the B44, as both are a great price. The Yokomo seems to be nicely built, and I actually like the Plastic chassis, as it also acts in keeping dirt out of the car withou the need for an undertray. They both have a slipper that can be adjusted on the car which is good. Spares do seem harder to get hold of for the Yokomo, and some different straps would need to be had, to run Lipo in the Yokomo.

More options seem to be available for the B44 (and bling..): Swings and roundabouts?

What about wheel fitment? Do they all have std hex size fitting wheels, or can adapters be had for either car?

Thanks again,
Mark

If you have the hexes from the Champions Pack, the B-MAX4 takes the same wheels as the B44, which in turn takes the "Losi" standard fitting (small hex front, pin drive rear).

Otherwise, the B-MAX4 is pin drive all round, that means you need to buy Yokomo front wheels, which are not so widely available.

the B44 uses a pin for the rear wheels so many different brands will fit (ae, jconcepts,losi,schumacher etc etc... the fronts wheels uses a standard hex so you got alot of choice of brands for wheels again easily available :thumbsup:
If you want lots of carbon fibe and blue alloy bling then theres plenty available for the b44, (hubs, shock tower mounts, centre bulkheads) all you really need for the b44 after buying the kit is the roll bar kit and the lipo brace or you can just cut out the two centre cell locators off the nimh tray and thats just as good!

well, I'm no expert and haven't driven the other cars, but I do drive an X11-08 Predatoir with all team-mods and that car is VERY nice to drive.
I'm still learning, crash quite regulary but have onlyonce broke a part during competition, after racing 2 years now (first with the X10 and now the X11).

Only once had severe diff-problems, (EIR '09) but once the problem was diagnosed (thx to teamdriver Nathan Ralls) never hd diff-probs again.

The team-drivers have developped a standard setup that really goes fab everywhere and only needs minor tweaks.

Parts are no problem as I order them all from the UK and have them within the week. So shouldn't be a problem for a UK-driver i think.
It is however more expensive as a B44, that's true.

But ... it's such a nice-looking and exceptional car :)

i have drive for 3 years predators: x10 and x11 with some mod and optionals, now from four months a schumacher cat sx, but this is more better for me, very easy to drive, the car jump, landing, and go over the big bumps without any problems have more steering and fast in the overall lap...I.M.H.O the pred for me and our Italy track is...:thumbdown: and very expensive.:D

x11
 

hi max.

i see by your comments you were disappointed with the pred?
I think that the pred is a great car, infact i'm now in the process of doin a 2wd chassis wich will have the shocks in a similar lay-out. ;)

Alan :thumbsup:

ps..i put on ebay my pallino. LOL

Ive only driven the B44 and the X11 from your list...

For me its the X11 for every reason that Lowie states! I found that the car is very driveable and you can always keep pushing it, when your driving it you get a lot of feedback from it and feel 'part of the car' so to speak...

When i drove my B44 it was a very good car, smooth and quick... It just felt, boring and as if i wasnt really involved with it, not my cup of tea in all honesty...

Best thing to do is try them all out if you can then make your choice from your experiences with them

pred x11
 

hi tom.

well said mate. i've had a few 4wd cars but for me to the pred wins hand down.

i have found with the pred you can continue to get quiker and also get more aggressive along the way.

with other cars i.e xxx-4, b-44 i felt they would only allow me to push them so far.

i do get slated for being the only pred driver in my club but i do come-out on top most of the time, cant beat it when you prove em wrong!!!! ;)

ALAN :D

the 90% of the problems are the different of the surface where you drive your car....;)
i have drive: yokomo bc, bj4 w.e., pred and cat sx....and pred is not the better in a no-grip track, with very incredible jump, and bumps...i speake with time results in my hand....:p
i have drive for 3 years the car, but now i have open my eyes...;)

exactly!
... but I'm still working on the winning-part (and thus proving them wrong) lol

the force to win!!!!
 

lowie,

You seek the force..my friend has kindley left his works number for you:

(0044) 0800 742742.

ps..he is alittle on the short side!!!! LOL :D:lol::lol::lol::p


Alan