Predator Question

[Gareth Jones]

Hello,

I have recently got back into racing and want to move onto 4wd offroad as this was my preferred class of racing back when I used to race properly around 10yrs ago.

I remember having a predator that i swapped for a Schumacher Cat 2000. With the predator on my first run I qualitied pole in the A at a regional - which was a first for me at that time!

Therefore I would like to go back to owning a Predator. However being out of racing for a while I have no idea what the current version is and also if its suitable for stick Lipo's.

Can anyone advise me? I want to buy second hand and would like a car with plenty of spares etc. My old car was very fragile, I beleive the new cars are a lot better - but its always good to have a spares package.

Gareth

[Bungleaio]

X11 08 is the current model I believe and you can get a stick pack chassis for it too.

The cars are a lot stronger but I was constantly working on my car. I admit I'm not the best driver and I hit things so it probably wasn't all down to the car but since I changed to a different car I've not had to do anywhere near the maintenance that I did with the pred.

Getting spares directly from xtreme was a painful process, it would often take 2-3 weeks for them to ship parts out. There is another place to buy now http://www.the-pred.co.uk/zencart/ I've not used them personally

The car is still the best looking RC car out there though and is very quick when everything is going right.

[Lowie]

the Pred has improved lots.
It has become a strong car. Spares were a serious pain in the *ss for sure!! but with the new webshop that is luckely a thing of the past.

And the new pred does indeed fit a stickpack. Originally it is still a Sadle-pack designn but AFAIK all topdrivers run it in stickpack-configuration. It makes the car better as a matter of fact.

What hasn't changed however is that the Pred is "difficult child": you'll have to spend time on it. Finding a perfect setup is not always easy but once you find it; tha car is a rocket. It' s a bit like a F1-car.

[Rebelrc]

Ludo what car do you run now?

[Lowie]

no Pred, that's for sure.
The lack of parts-service AND communication about it did it for me.

But the, after I sold all my gear, the new shop: InsideLine was created and the service went Ok again.
However I have stayed in touch as one of my best racing buddies kept on racing a predator.

I run an 2wd Kyosho RB5 MCS and that car rocks! My results have improved significant since I run this car.
Also, I have bought a 4wd Tamiya DB-01 (Baldr) for my oldest son ... and just to test it, have also raced it with almost stock setup: right out of the box ...
and Q'd immediatly one finale higher then i did before with the Pred.
That Tam DB-01 is much more forgiving then the Pred was. I still feel that my Pred could go sharper and faster .... but have now much more fun with the DB-01 (a plastic car) and will certainly improve with it and get better results then with my Pred.

The Pred is great when in the hands of a Top-driver, of someone who knows how to tune the car ...
Out here, I was alone (allthough with help of one good pilot Bat Feniks Van Echelpoel when we met at meetings) ... and my very strong motivation and love for the Pred got broken down to - 20% after having to deal over and over with parts-problems.

"need new blades for my outdrives??" --> "Sorry, don't have any in stock" ... and this for months! blades!?
Having some urgent orders delivered 1,5 months later.
Having promised help/maybe even a car for an endurance-race for a special international Pred-team we organised ourselves... and never recieved any parts/car nor respons on all our mails on what happened ....
AFter having been on the barricades defending the car on more then one forum.
Even after defending the people from Team Xtreme against people offending them for their lousy support ... to having to discover later on that these people very probably were right. :$

And then one day, it was enough, and I sold everything.

Well, not everything ...
I still kept some preciousssssss parts
and some tyres .... one may never know.

Happely those days are over now with InsideLineRacing doing an excellent online shop-job.
I really hope that one day the Pred can become a every-day racer-car, with decent backup (over here on the continent).
I'm sure those Pred-tires in my basement will become handy again then

But for now? ... well the DB-01 has convinced me again that 4wd can be fun after all.
For some time I didn't want to touch a 4wd no more. I was so fed up with it.

[Rebelrc]

Hello Gaz
Yes the new car is very durable (completed the Ebor 24hr race in standard guise with a range of skill leveled drivers unlike many other mainstream manufacturers that year)
Inside line racing is who you need to contact ( Kev Lee )

[Fabs]

LOWIE

[Lowie]

and what car do you race, Rebelrc?

and as I have been away from the Pred-scene some time now, Maybe you can also tell me what has become of Team Xtreme? The people behind it? Are they still producing the Predator? Still in business?
Has been a while that I heared any news from or about them.

[Gareth Jones]

Thanks for the quick responses.

I believe it was Kev racing a Pred at the Moto Arena on Tuesday. I have to say the car does look very strong and awesomely quick!

The strength must have been improved considering the jumps the car was making. Back 10yrs + ago with my original Pred you were advised to boil all the parts to make them less brittle! Even then wheels would shatter, wings regularly snapped and the gears needed replacing every meet.

I do however enjoy the preparation side of the hobby - so I am looking forward to getting another one. Maybe I can get back to doing regionals etc.

If anyone has a car or parts for sale please let me know.

Gareth

[Rebelrc]

Yes Ludo they are still in business with many exciting new things to come
remember Team Xtreme has nothing to do with me
I my self race many cars badly now as i seem to be getting rapidly older
I have many weird homemade cars along with an X11,X10,2xDurango dex410,prototype Durango,Bmax,academy,XXXcr,4xB4s,Traxxas trx1,rc10 gold tub+lots of other crap!
The pred is still having some fantastic race results
Kev Lee at insideline racing is doing a great job also supplying the kits and parts
Cheers

[Lowie]

Originally Posted by Rebelrc

...
remember Team Xtreme has nothing to do with me
...

with all due respect. Fact is that you are a family-membre of the Team Xtreme-people and that I can honestly say that I do not believe in you being 100% objective in your responses.
I recall, some time ago, you commenting on a critical post I made ... after which my following responding-posts all were deleted, ... and not yours.
I NEVER received an answer about what happened there but it was no correct or just action.
So I do respect your opinion, but can not forgetting what I have seen and read in the past. Anyway, that is not important.
You race, I race, and we both can give info.

Team Xtreme and new things to come? I'm glad and hope this time it will 100% be true and that support will be OK or even excellent.
Then I give them much credit in succeeding on those "new things"
It is clear for me that there will always be a soft spot for the Pred in the UK

Back on topic:

@ Gazmidas: actually, I do know a guy that will be selling all his Pred-stuff: Running car with PLENTY!! spares and tyres.
He had bought the car from a former Belgian Top-driver, Bart 'Feniks' Van Echelpoel, and recived about enough spares for the car to make two or three Preds.
My mate told me he wants to sell the car & spares because he wants to do other things.
He has not put it on sale yet, because he is a students and has some important exams upcomming, so is studying hard.
If you want, I can contact him for you and make him contact you

[Gareth Jones]

I would definately be interested - any chance of some pics and details to [email protected]

Cheers
Gareth

[Gareth Jones]

Hello,

Can anyone advise if my LRP Sphere TC will fit in an x11? I have not seen many electric installs, but have heard the speedo needs to be as small as possible.

My speedo has no fan on the top as I have only ever ran it with my 2wd. Will I need to use a fan.

I am now on the verge of buying an X11, but just want to sort out these last few details.

Gareth

[footey]

hi there yes the esc will fit no problem as for a fan it depends on what turn motor really weather it gets hot inside

[KevLee]

As footy says you should have no problem fitting a sphere. It is tight but it will go. Ellis was running a speed passion in his this year and I'm pretty sure he wasn't running a fan so I'd imagine you'd be ok.

Kev

[Gareth Jones]

Thanks for the quick answers!

Looks like I have no excuses now - which is good news... Soon to be a Predator owner again

Gareth