A buggy to convert

Well WHEN/IF i do a conversion, it will probably be a buggy. I was looking for some buggies that would be good to convert. I love Parts support. I was looking at maybe a first gen 8ight, that way for upgrades I could use the 2.0, and I would have great parts support. If I can find a good deal on a used one. What are some good buggies for a basher? I would like to buy one of Mikes mounts, no custom work really... Just a simple buggy conversion that i can bash hard.

[magman]

If you can get a mbx-5 they are bomb proof....I have one that's converted and love it

You really can't go wrong w/Associated, X-ray or Losi

[BrianG]

I would check out what your LHS carries the most of and go with that. Sure, you can shop online, but it kinda sucks paying $5 shipping for a $2 part, not to mention waiting for the postman.

That said, my Ofna Hyper8 and MBX5 have both been quite solid. I've bashed my Hyper8 a lot and the only things that broke (chassis, front shock tower) were the result collisions from high speed and inanimate objects.

Originally Posted by magman

If you can get a mbx-5 they are bomb proof....I have one that's converted and love it

You really can't go wrong w/Associated, X-ray or Losi

I have heard mixed things with Associated. Most people like Losi, and Xray isn't that a racing company? Like high end? I will look for used mbx-5's.

I would check out what your LHS carries the most of and go with that. Sure, you can shop online, but it kinda sucks paying $5 shipping for a $2 part, not to mention waiting for the postman.

That said, my Ofna Hyper8 and MBX5 have both been quite solid. I've bashed my Hyper8 a lot and the only things that broke (chassis, front shock tower) were the result collisions from high speed and inanimate objects.

Traxxas... but next would be a tie with AE and Losi. Hmm... guess it depends what i can find good deals on used. You guys know what cars make easy conversions? With easy to mount batteries and pre-made RCM mounts? I really just want a tough buggy that is easy to convert. Which might be a Raze if i could find parts for it...

[magman]

Like I said, I love my mbx-5. I have had it for 4 yrs. now and only broken 1 a arm and 1 front shock shaft...this is after repeated jumping over the last year of 7-10ft. at a bmx track

Originally Posted by magman

Like I said, I love my mbx-5. I have had it for 4 yrs. now and only broken 1 a arm and 1 front shock shaft...this is after repeated jumping over the last year of 7-10ft. at a bmx track

I am amazed with buggy durability... and although the mbx-5 looks nice, I would think all buggies are pretty durable. I am looking for cheap, and parts support... something nicely built, but not a race buggy that is super light. I need cheap, parts support, after market (such as pro-line bodies), and well built. I had a raze and it seemed pretty well built... But some cars just fall apart when you get them, i do NOT want that. The thing is that i have never heard of the mbx-5. and I have never seen parts stocked at the LHS... now if it's dirt cheap, and like you said it doesn't break much.. i could always order from an online dealer. A-main is pretty close to my house.

[magman]

There is plenty of support for the mbx-5...trust me...I did a ton of research before I bought mine. Even w/the release of the new mbx-6, parts for the 5 can be easily found....AMain hobbies, Nitrohouse, etc...

Most of the buggy/truggy 1/8 scale on a whole are v/durable

Originally Posted by magman

There is plenty of support for the mbx-5...trust me...I did a ton of research before I bought mine. Even w/the release of the new mbx-6, parts for the 5 can be easily found....AMain hobbies, Nitrohouse, etc...

Most of the buggy/truggy 1/8 scale on a whole are v/durable

Not good that the mbx-6 is already out.. are the parts interchangeable? What about the hypers?

i will keep looking at the mbx-5. so far I haven't found a place selling them. Now i have to shop the used market. going to look at 8ight's, the mbx5, and the hypers.. I will also check out what buggies mike sells mounts for.

EDIT>>> Hyper 7 tq black is $300 new (SHIPPED!!!). sell the motor, and it might be around $120 for a BRAND new roller.. Now there is always the question of parts support and the ability to convert it

[magman]

Mike sells a mount for the D8 and a few members here have converted it over to BL with good results.

[magman]

Most of the parts are not interchangeable from what I have read. Mugen completely redesigned the 6. I don't know that much about the Hypers to be honest.

Mike sells mounts for all the major brands and some others as well.


Almost forgot...check out the D8 by Hotbodies. Very affordable kit and it has gotten great reviews!

Really like the d8... Going to look up some RCM conversions of it. And hypers.. they look pretty nice too.

[BrianG]

I would be careful getting a used buggy, you might end up spending just as much getting it to new-ish condition than just getting a new kit.

As far as conversion ease is concerned, they are all pretty easy as long as Mike has the mount pre-done. Stick to the normal sized batteries and one of Mike's preset trays will be perfect. Even if the lipo is a different size, he does have the custom tray option; just provide the measurements.

One last thing: A typical buggy doesn't have much room under the body, particularly on the sides. So make sure you keep this in mind when you select your batteries. Sometimes, you still don't have quite enough room, but that's pretty easy to fix with a spacer under the body mount.

That puts me at $350 for a new HB kit, $50 mount, $10 battery tray, $100 lipos, $300 MMM....

as opposed to $300-engine cost for a Hyper 7. Not as nice of a buggy, but nice enough to get the job done... I can run a $45 motor mount. And the hyper parts are interchangeable right? meaning if i have a hyper 7, and i break something and want to upgrade to the same part but on the hyper 9 (or something similar) that would work?

I am liking the sound of that!!

And to the used thing. I am done buying used. i got my savage used and had to spend a butt load of money on it. Now I have to buy a new glow starter for it because the one included went bad...

[jnev]

I can say that the Hot Bodies D8 buggy is great. I recently converted it, and ran it on the track a couple times, and I was very impressed with it. It seemed to be much lighter and quicker than the 8ight buggy (1.0 version) I used to have. Here is a link to the conversion:
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17541

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by Always Dreamin

That puts me at $350 for a new HB kit, $50 mount, $10 battery tray, $100 lipos, $300 MMM....

as opposed to $300-engine cost for a Hyper 7. Not as nice of a buggy, but nice enough to get the job done... I can run a $45 motor mount. And the hyper parts are interchangeable right? meaning if i have a hyper 7, and i break something and want to upgrade to the same part but on the hyper 9 (or something similar) that would work?

I am liking the sound of that!!

And to the used thing. I am done buying used. i got my savage used and had to spend a butt load of money on it. Now I have to buy a new glow starter for it because the one included went bad...

I have had 2 hyper7s and a hyper8. The 8 is a bit lighter, but the 7 is a great buggy. Solid diffs, simple drivetrain design, very solid arms and bulks, and tons of parts cheap. You cannot go wrong with a new rtr 7 for 300 bucks. Like you said you can sell of the nitro stuff and rtr radio gear and get at least 150 bucks back. Nothing in that price range is as good as the hyper7. Plus you can get it new, as Brian said, a used purchase can have all kinds of problems... If you want to get spares for the hyper I go to nitro master on ebay...