RC Car - 1/8 Scale, Kyosho or Mugen?

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1/8 Scale, Kyosho or Mugen?

Comments: My question is in regard to 1/8 gas buggies. I'm interested in buying either an MBX-4 or a MP-6 but I can't decide between the two. From what I hear the Mugen cars have weak differentials and it's hard to get parts for them. The MP-6, without going for the super expensive international kit, has a list of "necessary" hop ups that you need to buy. A steel main gear, 3 piece clutch...etc. Most of the local guys are Kyosho guys, but from what I've read I think the MBX-4 has a slight edge as being a superior car. Do you have any suggestions on what I should be thinking when I make a decision? Do you know of any actual problems with the Mugen differentials? It's hard to find any unbiased people in this because it seems people are either Pro-Mugen or Pro-Kyosho. Please help!

Thanks

Response: Well, we have a problem. I am a pro-Kyosho guy. I run an MP-6 myself. I'll try to give you an accurate opinion though. The main reason that I am running an MP-6 is because a few of my good friends are on the Kyosho USA race team so when I race with them, it is nice to get their input on setup.

As for the Mugen, I haven't heard anything about the diffs being weak. I do know that parts are difficult to get for Mugen's. They are distributed directly mostly (although some parts are distributed through Horizons which is a big company in the USA). Kyosho is distributed by Great Planes (biggest distributor in the USA) so parts availability is not an issue.

To put this simple, you could win with either car. I go to the World Challenge every year in Detroit and it seems that either a Kyosho or a Mugen wins every major race (although some weird car won the ROAR nats last year (LARO) and a Thunder Tiger just won in Los Vegas). In any case, choose the car that most of your friends are running. There are two reasons for this.First, if you break a part, chances are that one of you will have it. Second, setups will be much easier when there are a few people working on them instead of doing it all by yourself.

Don't stress out too much on your decision.

One more note, if you decide to go with the Kyosho, you don't need to get the International version (although you would be better off). The three upgrades that I would recommend that you do to the regular MP-6 are the steel gear and 3 shoe clutch that you mentioned and also the longer shocks (you will have to check to see if it is more economical for you to just by the International version). The other hop ups in the International version are nice but you can get them later and also from another company that makes better parts (e.g.. MIP CVD for center shafts, Lunsford Titanium for turnbuckles).

Let's take off a few tenths per lap,

"PRO"
Pro Racer Secrets

Comments 2: The only thing I can say to your response to my question is WOW. I really appreciate how much effort you put into it. Means a lot. As for the Detroit Races, maybe I'll see you at the next one. I live within miles of the Freedom Hill Raceway where they hold the races in Detroit. That's where I plan on doing much of my racing once I make a decision. Thanks for all your tips on the hop-ups, I'll be keeping the long shocks in mind for the Kyosho car.

Thanks again!