4WD buggies, expensive to drive?

[tobbe]

Hi!

I have driven my Dark Impact now for a few weeks and I really got exciting about 4WD buggies, so I want something more advanced and a better buggy like a Tamiya TRF501X or a Hotbodies Cyclone D4 after I have sold my Dark Impact (if I'm going to...). Maybe later going to races and things like that. I have spoken with a few people on other forums and many guys that race with 4WD buggy says that it's an expensive class. They say that you need a lot of spare parts because the 4WD buggies drivetrain wear more than a 2WD. I can understand it is like that but it really scares me that they say that you need about 100-200€ extra just for spare parts!! Is that really true?

[bigred5765]

i wouldn't really say so, yeah you will need the odd spare that's extra to a 2wd but not that bad,and if your only running in one class it doesn't really matter

[ryan]

If you buy a top of the range 4wd it will cost you more to purchase. However i spend around the equal amount on my 2wd and 4wd. If the drivetrain is set correctly and built right it should be ok. I found the modern 4wd cars have quite bullet proof drive trains (excluding the BX lol) especially the BJ4 WE and i have had no problems with my xx4. I imagine the D4 drivetrain is also good as it very similar to the bj4. In my opinion the 4wds don't really cost you that much more money maintaining it, just tyres where out quicker lol

Ryan

[clunk]

hi tobbe, i only started racing 4wd last year,but in over 12 months of racing ive only broken 3 parts (all less than £5 each to replace).i think it goes for any form of racing,if you look after your equipment, you shouldn't have too many problems.i've certainly not found it expensive,
most of my expenses go on tyres !!!

[ashleyb4]

I started racing 4wd a few months ago and everyone was saying its so exspensive and it would make me skint. Well I have raced my 4wd at about 4 or 5 meetings and in total onparts i have spent about 30 pounds. And at york i had a major crash which cost me most of that. I do find 4wd to go through front tyres more than rears. But i havent any great exspence on the 4wd its very similar to the 2wd but the tyre bill does add up. running two cars.

A

[dan_kitty]

you are in the same position as me, racing a dark impact but about to upgrade (still waiting for my bj4). I cant imagine it would be more expensive than running the di, ive spent loads on upgrading parts to make it almost raceable, and worn out parts quickly. With the more competitive buggies you wont need to hop-up and they have stronger wearing parts, I hope anyway.

[tobbe]

Glad to hear that. I might sell my DI soon then and save for a better 4WD buggy. Thanks for the answers. Now is the question just which buggy to buy

[dan_kitty]

I hear the keen hawk is pretty good

[ashleyb4]

Losi xx4 we its the best car in the world. I did this late last year looking for the 4wd that suited me best well i found it and i am so happy with my choice. The x10 was in second place followed by the 501x but none of them are as good as the xx4 at Oswestry regional two sundays back there was 7 of them in the A final.

A

[grindog]

Originally Posted by ashleyb4

there was 7 of them in the A final.

possibly a little to do with the drivers running the Losi car!

Same drivers with most cars would still be in the A

[ashleyb4]

I know but it shows that drivers like the losi and people dont buy cars unless there good.

A

[jimmy]

Indeed an amazing coup for mr.land to (ahem) land so many good and upcoming drivers.

[ashleyb4]

A

[grindog]

Originally Posted by jimmy

Indeed an amazing coup for mr.land to (ahem) land so many good and upcoming drivers.

Yeah, he has an eye for talent!

[GRIFF55]

What about the preds and the tamiya in that final, all good cars!
There's plenty of other v good 4wd cars too.

[modelimages]

the xx4 is 10 years old, has weak wishbones, brittle shock towers and likes to eat belts, which are so easy to change. as soon as the xxx4 came out every one dropped it, small problem of course that the xxx4 whilst easier to work on didn't handle as good as the xx4 so everyone returned to it,
is it a good car?. it is for me as a shopkeeper selling wishbones and shocktowers at £14 a go, rear belts at a tenner etc. don't get me wrong i am not slagging the car just calming the hype. there is a large choice of 4wd's out there all have their good and bad points. if your going to decide to buy a car based on an internet forum question, then ask yourself some questions, A. man A is saying buy this, why? several optional answers including (i) he is sponsored by the car company concerned,(ii) he has one and therfor must have made the right choice.
B. how experienced is the person giving the advice? are we talking neil cragg, chris doughty etc or someone yet to finish in anything other than the bottom final or even someone who actually has never raced off road!.

as an example i will tell you what car you should buy and why, first of all i have been to every national for the last two years, euro's in austria. etc

so car to buy in order

xx4 (got 5 on the shelf need to shift them)
x10/xrs (got two but the x11 is coming out so need to shift them)
yokomo bx (quite expensive so are the spares, should make plenty of money out of you)

cars not to buy
slim 4 (don't sell them can't make any money)
hb d4 ( not in stock yet, might move to the top list when i get one)

oh and by the way although i go to every national etc i can't drive for toffee, i think you can see the point.
john

[jimmy]

Good points John, I'd agree with all of that

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by jimmy

Good points John, I'd agree with all of that

What, even that he cant drive.. theres "nowt like kicking a man who's down" eh Jimmy??

[DCM]

Originally Posted by modelimages

so car to buy in order

xx4 (got 5 on the shelf need to shift them)
x10/xrs (got two but the x11 is coming out so need to shift them)
yokomo bx (quite expensive so are the spares, should make plenty of money out of you)

john

So, reading that, are you open to offers on the XRS.... mars bar and a partialy sucked lollipop (be quick, the boy is sucking on it at the moment....)

[modelimages]

i can't. seriously useless, i fly 100" petrol engine aircraft and helicopters, i reckon i could get my heli round kidderminster in an A final time (might cut a few corners) but couldn't get a car past the first corner.