The RC Car and Radio Control Racing Web Site
Comments: I have a Kyosho Mantis with a Dodge Viper shell. I'm thinking of selling it for a Nitro RS4 (gp of course). If I sell it, I'll put the money towards my new car. What I am asking you for is some help on what I should buy. Should I buy an RS4 Nitro Sport and slowly hop it up to a Racer, or should I spend the few extra dollars and buy a Nitro Racer? I'm asking you cause you help a lot of people out and post it up on your webpage, so I know I can trust you. Anyways, thanx for your time. Response: Buying the RS4 Racer is a more economical way of obtaining most of the HPI hop ups for the Nitro car. The Racer comes with full ball bearings, carbon disk brake, full universals, and hard coated aluminum shocks. Other than that the Racer is the same as the regular RS4 Nitro. To put your question simply, if you are planning on buying all of the above upgrades in the near future than you would be cheaper off to just purchase the Racer version, however, if you don't plan to buy all of these extras then you may be better to start with the regular RS4 Nitro version. Not all of the standard Racer features are necessary. The bearings are a definite must for your nitro vehicle, front universals are a great help but the rear ones are not as important, the carbon disk brake works better and doesn't fade at the end of the race but the stock plastic one works well too, and finally, the hard coated shocks are not a big deal at all. The plastic bodied shocks in the regular RS4 Nitro kit work excellent, they don't leak, they are smooth, and they are strong. That is all you need in a shock. I'm not saying that the aluminum shocks are not good they are just not at the top of my list for replacement parts for the regular RS4 Nitro. One more issue you must consider in making your decision is whether you have an engine, header and pipe or not. If you do then you will be better off to go with the Racer as it doesn't have an engine in it. If you don't have an engine you can either go with the regular RS4 Nitro and use the HPI .12 size engine and stock muffler or go with the Racer and purchase an engine, header and pipe. If you don't have an engine it can get costly to purchase one separately along with the tuned exhaust. In the end you will have to make your own decision but keep in mind how much money you have to spend and what kind of upgrades you wish to have. Remember, it is not the car that wins races it is the driver. I would have a lot more respect for a person that kicked my ass with a regular RS4 Nitro, an HPI engine and no two speed tranny than some guy with a tricked out car that has all the goodies. Let's take off a few tenths per lap, "PRO" Contact us | Pro Racer Secrets | Racers Corner Copyright 1998 - 2000. Sirace Services, all rights reserved. |