Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredrik Emilsson
If you look at the new models, you donīt think Tamiya is trying to attract more customers?
They are not just making new models for current customers, biggest market should be "non Tamiya" drivers?
They will have shaft-driven 4WD buggy for those who prefer that. They have belt-driven buggy for those who prefer that.
They strip of the 201 all the expensive parts and release an entry level TRF 2WD to attracts beginners. Lower price, but upgradable.
Tamiyas success on the racetracks must be easy to relate to. If you have same car as Lee Martin, but with less option parts, it is still easy to do that.
The DB01<-->TRF501X is not same. You can never upgrade your DB01 to TRF specs. Close maybe, but still just close...
Wouldīnt be surprised if the 502X will be released as a "Basic" model too. Shaft-driven makes it easier for beginners.
Just some thoughts...
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I totally agree Fredrik. These would be thoughts of a company. Why not share lots of parts have only low costs of development because things like suspension geometry, damper, general layout are already fixed and produce a car that is for all people who donīt like belt drive or race on very loose dirt tracks like mine here in Austria or many tracks in Australia or in New Zealand as some people wrote. Sure with the diff cover also a 511 can be racxe on dirt but without a doubt a shaft driven car is bulletproof in that case.
All people who race 4WD buggies either race belt driven or shaft driven cars. If you can offer both from one company you have at least the potential to influence 100% of buggy drivers.
Itīs just like VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi and partial Porsche. They share many same parts but are very different. Low costs for Audi but a much higher price in the end because of the big familiy. Seems Tamiya is doing similar things.
As for the jumping i drive a B44 at the moment and the Tamiya TRF502X will be very close to this. All i can say is that it jumps absolutely neutral. You can easily affect jumping so i donīt think the shaft drive along with another motor position will jump much different as the B44.