disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

Hey Guys,

Just out of curiously how important is brand loyalty to ya'll? I mean there is pros and cons to brand loyalty but I wanted to know how it affected the RC community here. I know when I was getting into Nitro, I first looked at Duratrax because I was really had happy with the electrics I had gotten from them, not only for the stress tech warranty but also because they ran very well. It was no racing RCs but for back yard bashing they were fantastic.

I ended up getting the Duratrax Raze after reading some favorable reviews, however I felt the buggy was not good for me and ended up selling it. I know run purely HPI Nitro vehicles, and while I am having difficulties with one of them, the other one my Firestorm is a tank of a RC. I have cartwheeled that stadium truck a few times and never on purpose, and I have yet to break anything. I love that truck. I just to iron out some issues on my Savage and I confident it will be the same way.

I want to give other companies a chance for Nitro such as Traxxas and Associated, but I have to admit I always go to look at HPI first.

Just wondering what other people thought and did as well.

Thanks
Disjaukifa

Barber420

My Feedback: (1)

Personally, I'm an AE and Tamiya guy all the way. Just look at my sig! I've been a die hard fan of both these brands for about 20-21 years now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon, or ever for that matter. I've never had major issues with these companies products or designs and after so many years of being impressed it's hard to change now. I don't think it's necessarily important to be brand loyal, but it does have its benefits. When you start ending up with extra parts and hardware you'll find many uses for them overtime. It's nice knowing all of the stuff you have is going to work on several of your vehicles, just because it's the same brand of stuff.

While I know Losi has great products, I don't know if I could ever own one. Losi and AE have been arch rivals forever it seems, and I remember back in the day it was ten times worse than it is now. I still live back in the day.

I can't stand Traxxas. They're towards the bottom of the barrel in hobby grade RC as far as I'm concerned. I appreciate how easy they make it for new people to get into the hobby, and they do some serious R&D to come up with innovative ideas(like the lockers on the Summit), but I just find them inferior. No offense to the Traxxas lovers, it's just my opinion.

I think HPImakes good stuff, but why am I going to buy HPI when I can get the same kind of products from either AE or Tamiya? I would take an HPI over a Traxxas though for sure, any day of the week. I wouldn't mind owning a Baja 5T someday, but if AE came out with a 1/5 scale I would definitely take it over the HPI.

Sometimes I do envy those who have absolutly no brand loyalty. I know I limit myself by trying to only stick to two brands, but AE and Tamiya have treated me so well over the years I'm a little scared to stray. My friend has a Nitro Rustler that's awesome, but it's only because 90% of the parts aren't Traxxas parts!!!! Why buy anRC for $250 only to have to put another $300-400 into it? I can go buy a T4 and put about $100 or less into it and destroy the Traxxas.

Their is my take on brand loyalty. Not neccesary, it can be helpful, and it can hinder. It's all in how you are and what you want.

kistner

My Feedback: (10)

I have no particular brand loyalty, but I won't buy cheap crap that has no support either.  All of what I own was bought 2nd hand, and its nice to be able to go to the LHS, or at least tower hobbies, and get a part for them.  That is my primary concern.

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

Thanks for ya'lls replys. Two very different looks and I like that.

I have to admit that I have owned Traxxas stuff in the past and I have never been very impressed with them. My wife owns a Traxxas Slash and I love it minus the motor. I just think if you are going to design something that nice, you should make the motor rebuildable.

When I was doing electric onroad, I was a Tamiya person through and through, loved the kits and how well they went together and how durable and cheap parts where plus there was always a good selection of hop ups.

I really do want to consider switching to AE, I like alot of there stuff especially the RC10GT which is the same class as the Firestorm, and I will admit I like the fact that there is only one deck t othe chassis instead of two like my HPI.

However I love how HPI and I would be really hesitant to give it up. I get this smile on my face when I use my Firestorm that I have never gotten with any other rc I have ever used, its fast, nimble, durable and fun, and not that difficult to tune.

I'm not saying the RC10GT isn't, its just I got a Firestorm before the RC10GT.

Kistner, I agree with your point about parts availability. You really do have a wide range of companies. How do you like you RC10 vs your Rustler? Also how do you like the HPI RS4 MT????

Thanks
Disjaukifa

redfisher1974

I love my firestorm it never breaks and it just keeps on going...just have to change tires and drive cups once and a while....So i think i will stick with hpi for awhile.

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

Agreed, what tires do you use???

-Disjaukifa

redfisher1974

I am running Pro-Line Dirt Works.....They hook up Awsome.....</p>

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

I didn't realize you had the E-Firestorm. How do you like it? What batteries do you run and how long is your run time?

-Disjaukifa

Barber420

My Feedback: (1)

One of the reasons I said I would take an HPI over a Traxxas is, because HPI has race inspired chassis and suspension designs, but the durability of the more basher based brands such as Traxxas. You kind of get the best of both worlds. If I wasn't such a die hard AE fan I wouldn't mind having an HPI, but as I said before, after so many, many years of owning AE it's real hard to make the leap to another brand.

You never know though, I used to be a big time GM guy when I was younger and would have never dreamed of owning a Ford. Now, after having worked in garages over the years, you can't get me to buy a GM made after the very early eighties. Seemed like all I ever worked on was GM's(frequently MAJOR work too)and if a Ford came in it was for something very minor. I'm now a Ford guy through and through.

redfisher1974

I have put in a Novak Havoc 8.5 sport brushlees system and use a Elite sxs 7 cell 5000mah battery...it runs for a soild 20 minutes and tops out around 35mph......I really like it it runs smooth as butter and lots of torque...I might upgrade to the new 3s havoc so i can throw in a 3s battery once and a while and hit 55mph for giggles.

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

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Agreed about HPI vs Traxxas. I am the same way about going to AE, they have some nice looking stuff but I already have stuff for HPI so yeah.

Funny enough I hate Ford with a passion. My parents owned Fords and they were all utter crap. I will never own a ford . . . especially now that run Windows Sync. I hate Windows. I like Chevy and Jeep. I have driven alot of Chevy pickups with over 200K on the motor and then ran great.

Just depends on the cars you happen to drive I guess.

-Disjaukifa

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

How long does it take to recharge the 5000mah Lipo though???

-Disjaukifa

redfisher1974

its a NIMH 7 cell pack not lipo...I charge it at 5 amps for about 0ne hour....you could go 6 amps and do it in under a hour.</p>

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

WOW I have some 4200Mah for my wife's Slash but they take about 80 minutes to charge. I thought you were suppose to charge over like 4 amps or something . . .

-Disjaukifa

Barber420

My Feedback: (1)

You should be charging them at 1C, which means that you're 4200mah batts should be charged at 4.2 amps and take an hour to charge, give or take a few minutes. Charging at over 1C will give you more punch, but shorten the life(not runtime) of the battery. Charging at under 1C will give you less punch and increase the life of the battery.

redfisher1974

1C is the standard so a 4200mah pack would be 4.2 amps my 5000mah would be 5 amps etc....</p>

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

well that explains why my 4200mah seem well sluggish, what sucks is my charger either does 3 amps or 5 amps so I set it on 3amps . . . maybe I just set it to 5amps, shorten the life and then get 5000Mah batteries next time . . .

-Disjaukifa

Barber420

My Feedback: (1)

I would set it to 5 amps for sure. .8 amps over 1C isn't going to shorten the life too much. Sometimes people will charge as high as 1.5C and that will definitely shorten the life of the battery. You're charging at 1.19C at 5 amps, and that's not too harsh.

suburban_hooligan

<div>brand loyalty not so much. the only thing im absolutely 100% dead set on is it has tocome as akit. there are 3car manufacturesi like more than the rest but im not going to stick to just those 3. the 3im into are associated, losi and tamiya. but lets say kyosho comes out with a new stadium truck and starts kicking the crap out of the competition and starts winning a lot of big races. my moneys going to kyosho cause i want that truck. i look more aton track performance and racing statistics (more so on a pro level than the club level). as well as kit quality (parts fit and finish) and durability. flexiblesuspensionand chassis parts, excess suspension and/or steering slopare all unacceptable in my book</div>

Access

To me every vehicle stands on its own. Many of us have very mixed or somewhat negative feelings about Traxxas, but that doesn't mean I don't like my Summit or my Revo. Likewise for the brands with positive sentiment, I'm not going to make a buying decision based on the brand I'm going to compare the vehicle to similar vehicles and make the buying decision based on that specific comparison. Brands so have to meet some minimum requiement as far as future parts support, custome service, etc., but most already do, so this isn't typically a problem.

kistner

My Feedback: (10)

My kids drive the rustler and lunchbox,although you can catch me driving the lunchbox on any given day.  It might be my overall favorite for the fun factor.  Of the rest I go through phases of what is my favorite of the week.  I go back the the eagle a lot, although older and similar to the rustler, it is a much better handling ride.  This past winter the rs4 was my favorite.  I winterproofed it and ran the heck out it.  the four wheel drive pulling through the snow was cool.  I baby the rc10, after breaking a ton of parts ont he eagle, I worry about doing that to it.  and the rc10 parts are harder to come by (and more expensive) than the traxxas parts.<br type="_moz"/>

nitroade

I am not loyal to any brand in particular.I will buy just about anything and my wiferefers ti this hobby as my addiction. I think every car has its merits and the only thing Iwon't do is buy unknown brands. Made this mistake once with a Redcat.

Airbus 9e

My collection has Associated, Custom Works, Losi, and OFNA cars and trucks.....I have an E-Maxx, but that was just a project because I had a broken T-Maxx and needed something to do....I agree with some opinions here that Traxxas is strictly an entry level brand....My dirt oval cars are all Custom Works, though the one I currently race is Custom Works based with Kranzel's parts. Since my RClife began more as a dirt oval racer, most of my cars are hybrids, taking certain parts from AE and using oval conversion chassis.....After my experience with Traxxas, I'd probably never buy another..

Traxxas4fun

My Feedback: (3)

TRAXXAS IS NOT entryl are not entry lvl cars. they dont make any good racers but i can bash my rustler harder than your desert truck or an equal car and not break

disjaukifa

My Feedback: (14)

I'm not sure what you were trying to say with the second part of you first sentence . . .

I still don't see why Traxxas designed the Slash so well, which they did, and did not give it a motor that was rebuildable. That really bothers me about that truck. I bought a Venom Fireball to replace the previous motor. Its strange, I asked about replacements in another thread, and I was told to just buy another 12T Titan, but I wanted something I could just rebuild for my wife instead of chucking up another 18 ~ 24 bucks for a motor every time we went though one.

I honestly like the way the Slash was designed, I like the suspension and the steering, they all seem very solid, but I also wish that Traxxas did not make the chassis out of plastic. Most electric off-road vehicles I don't care about if the chassis is plastic but the Slash will move fast and it will just high and far. I am just waiting for my wife to land the Slash wrong once and I will be off ordering an after market metal chassis.

-Disjaukifa