Which 4WD Buggy? Want to sell my 2WD.

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Porschester

Porschester

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Guys,

I have a FG Marder but find it hard to control. I put some disc brakes on the front wheels and an adjustable diff, but still find the 2WD very hard to handle!

Is it just me?

I have had 4WD nitro models in the past (the XTM XLB was fantastic!) and really enjoyed them .. so I'm thinking of jumping ship to a 4WD petrol .. someone talk me out of it!

Whats the best 4WD kit out there at a reasonable price? I have seen the FTX Punisher's (Nutech Thunderbolt 2) reviews and they are really good! any suggestions?

I could spend the extra cash on an FG 4WD conversion I suppose ..

I'm just in 2 minds what to do .. but really feel I don't get enough controlled fun out of the 2WD Marder. Spinouts GALORE!

Porschester
 
the 2wd cars can be a handfull at times i found with my car the more alloy bits i added made it handle better as the extra wheight helped it out but then i got used to how it handles and changed the engine to a oddified 23cc 4 bolt 6+hp with the victory pipe and ecu its fun i you just cant get used to it the cheapest option for you is 4wd conv or sell youre car and get a 4wd theres a conversion kit on ebay at the min @265 plus postage
 
Porschester said:
Guys,

I have a FG Marder but find it hard to control. I put some disc brakes on the front wheels and an adjustable diff, but still find the 2WD very hard to handle!

Is it just me?

I have had 4WD nitro models in the past (the XTM XLB was fantastic!) and really enjoyed them .. so I'm thinking of jumping ship to a 4WD petrol .. someone talk me out of it!

Whats the best 4WD kit out there at a reasonable price? I have seen the FTX Punisher's (Nutech Thunderbolt 2) reviews and they are really good! any suggestions?

I could spend the extra cash on an FG 4WD conversion I suppose ..

I'm just in 2 minds what to do .. but really feel I don't get enough controlled fun out of the 2WD Marder. Spinouts GALORE!

Porschester
Click to expand...
Was talking to a few guys about best 4x4 2 stroke and if it's just for bashing the Punisher is very good, though they recommended that you replace the servos as they are very weak but for the price it's a good looking well engineered car. Freeprawn Racing (just tap into Google) have got the full spares back up with many upgrade parts in stock.

If racing is your thing with a bit of bashing the MCD's are hard to beat, MMR have the RR V3 on at about £700 which is pretty good.
 
if uve already got the marder id buy a conversion kit for 4WD. its an excellent bit of kit, belt system is very reliable.

and FG's are tough bashers straight out of the box.
 
i too would like to get a nutech ..from the vids ive seen its really good..i used to have a rampage and its also a pretty good 4wd buggy/truck.
 
To the OP, I think whether you go for the upgrade on your FG (great cars), move over to the Punisher or try the RR V4 you will be happy, none of them make bad cars. Let us know what you go with.
 
the fg belt drive is not that great, a few run on our clay track and when its dusty it gets into the drive system and causes the 3 bearings in the tensioner to seize up. its the rear diff cover that lets it in as it does not seal well enough
 
Thanks guys,

Its not only that though .. the FG Marder I have is a 23cc .. would not the 4WD system sap some of the power? I may end up having to get a pipe for it and who knows whatever else .. plus, adding new parts to an already old car may just reduce its reliability (my car is starting to be unreliable).

I saw there were 2 4WD systems for the FG as well .. a belt drive and a chain drive .. which one? Someone also commented that NOT all the parts come with the 4WD conversion .. I'm worrying that it will cost me more than I thought to get it running as there may be a bunch of 'extra' parts that I have to get

And the FTX has 'drivetrain' (internal by the center diff) braking whereas the FG would be independent front tyre braking and the standard brake .. seems to get it all setup it would be just more complex .. and expensive to get all those disc brakes .. (humm .. those 'extra' parts!)

I'm looking for a weekend park basher, no racing, just good reliable, fast, and controllable ... fun! .. if it helps.

Porschester
 
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Porschester said:
Thanks guys,

Its not only that though .. the FG Marder I have is a 23cc .. would not the 4WD system sap some of the power? I may end up having to get a pipe for it and who knows whatever else .. plus, adding new parts to an already old car may just reduce its reliability (my car is starting to be unreliable).

I saw there were 2 4WD systems for the FG as well .. a belt drive and a chain drive .. which one? Someone also commented that NOT all the parts come with the 4WD conversion .. I'm worrying that it will cost me more than I thought to get it running as there may be a bunch of 'extra' parts that I have to get

And the FTX has 'drivetrain' (internal by the center diff) braking whereas the FG would be independent front tyre braking and the standard brake .. seems to get it all setup it would be just more complex .. and expensive to get all those disc brakes .. (humm .. those 'extra' parts!)

I'm looking for a weekend park basher, no racing, just good reliable, fast, and controllable ... fun! .. if it helps.

Porschester
Click to expand...

I think if bashing is what you want and your stuck on having 4wd and don't want to run to a grand or so the FTX Punisher is the best bet. Saw one in Rossendale Models and for a split second I was tempted but I want the option of racing and I had my heart set on the MCD. The Punisher is a great car and FreePrawn are donig some very good deals where they let you put the electrical package together. Rolling Chassis starting at £375. This is good as the servos on the stanard car are crap.
 
BiggaJ said:
I think if bashing is what you want and your stuck on having 4wd and don't want to run to a grand or so the FTX Punisher is the best bet. Saw one in Rossendale Models and for a split second I was tempted but I want the option of racing and I had my heart set on the MCD. The Punisher is a great car and FreePrawn are donig some very good deals where they let you put the electrical package together. Rolling Chassis starting at £375. This is good as the servos on the stanard car are crap.
Click to expand...

OK!, so the FG is history .. sold last week .. ;o) .. so I'm getting my funds sorted and looking at the FTX Punisher or the MCD Race Runner ..

Anyone know anything about the MCD models .. they look really good as well .. how do they rate up? Whats their build quality like, do they come as uprated as the FTX (helical gears, etc)? what needs to be modded from the standard? or is it just about ready to go out of the box? and what are these different versions I keep reading about .. the 'evo', etc

Oh and where to get one .. at a reasonable price .. ;o)

I'd be interested in yer comments ..

Just looking at my options and keen to get something new soon!
 
Does it have to be 4x4, why not try the HPI baja as they are a lot (a lot) more stable than the FG's, if you watch some of our footage on youtube you can see how much they slide around the corners, great fun.
Whatever you get they'll all have the same motors in, 26cc/29cc zen's/cy's etc etc. The handling is all about set-up and throttle/steering control.
 
Porschester said:
OK!, so the FG is history .. sold last week .. ;o) .. so I'm getting my funds sorted and looking at the FTX Punisher or the MCD Race Runner ..

Anyone know anything about the MCD models .. they look really good as well .. how do they rate up? Whats their build quality like, do they come as uprated as the FTX (helical gears, etc)? what needs to be modded from the standard? or is it just about ready to go out of the box? and what are these different versions I keep reading about .. the 'evo', etc

Oh and where to get one .. at a reasonable price .. ;o)

I'd be interested in yer comments ..

Just looking at my options and keen to get something new soon!
Click to expand...
Hello, I have the latest RR V4 and it does not need anything upgraded from the start, so far I have found it to be very tough despite a number of high speed rolls. brakes and handling are second to non. The stock pipe seems pretty good but I have put on the Samba 4 power which is a tight fit and does need some under body heat protection but you could try the TGN pipe.

You will not be disappointed.
 
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Porschester said:
It may be a bit silly posting here as this may get purchsed! but what do you think of this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230513060460&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123

or this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MCD-Race-Runn...sGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item45f4f8ef4e
Click to expand...
I know nothing of the car in the first link. The MCD is the previous model to the V4 and from what I can gather has mixed reports. I think it was designed primarily as a race car hence the bad press from those that bashed it. The V4 is a lot more robust as reported by those that have used both. The V3can still be had at good prices off the shelf.

For good general advice check this website out.......

http://www.mcdrc.com/forum/index.php

You get the full unbiased picture from them. It's worth joining and messaging a guy on their known as Harry hakenbacker (not his real name)
 
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