Okay, the way I see it, the criteria you mentioned would break down like this:

driving pleasure/fun experience: both have their advantages, buggies will cut those extra sharp corners, but then again may seem too aggressive to some. And they are not so forgiving on rough and bumpy stuff as the truggs (pretty obvious: less ground clearance and all)
cost: I'd say a buggy and a truggy on the same quality level cost the same. Maybe it's worth mentioning that the buggies eat tires quick.
Maintenance: again, same for same quality level.
Toughness: again, pretty much the same. Altough the more compact geometry (shorter arms) would make me think the buggies can take a bit more. From my experience they are mean bashers, they can take a beating.

This is only my opinion and experience. I like them both, I would not want to miss my buggy, and I look forward to see the truggy thing growing here too. Most older die-hard buggy guys around here only smile at the "new thing"... but that's just because it's always hard to get new ideas into some people. Sometimes they don't even believe what their eyes see :005: Please ignore the personal rant :)

As for your decision, I think you will be happy with both in the end. Both classes are purely purpose built, with performance on nowadays off-road race tracks in mind.

Hope this helps a bit :)

Cheers
DAF

Yes it does help, thank you!

After looking at some vids on the internet, well I must say truggies looks as "race capable" and efficient on a track as buggies. I actually like the way they look, wider, I have this impression that they roll "smoother". The image I had of them was plain wrong.

I guess what I need is a Truggy :)

I have never had an Xray model, but using exclusively Hudy tools, I have absolutely no doubt about their quality. These tools are just amazing. And incredibly durable. I use my 2mm hew wrench intensively with my 1/10 touring electric, and so far I can't see any wear of the tip. It is still as sharp as on the first day! Hudy Spring steel rocks :017:

With XRay you cant go wrong, quality is realy good! Quality and Price balance is good not like Kyosho realy overpriced!
On video look how Truggy perform is not like in real. I am highly recommend to look those cars in real on track in race coindition before final decision.
And ofcourse spare parts availibility is important too. Its good if you have somewhere near Dealer or good source from internet with low shipping time.
Good luck

Heh I got some news today from my dealer :)
They called to me by self "What a service!" :D
They had some problems with shipping so now promised 100% that friday will be here and they have now all tracking numbers to track parcell.
OK lets wait.
I hope friday they will call with good news :)

Good news, today I got my XRay XT8
Some troubles with shipping it stuck somewhere and came to Estonia at sunday. Today morning dealer by self came on my door :) what a service. I sleeping and thought what a .... who is this?! and voilaa surprize! :D.
First impression what chassis is pretty narrow with plastic rock gurads looks like more like buggy chassis. Quality is superior as usualy on Xray.

congrats!

will you convert it or keep it nitro??

I am racer not backyard basher and to be legal i need keep it nitro.
Honestly i wish convert it but rules is rules.
Once i tried to race with nitro guys with my BL LSP and I am kicked off :)
Over my BL LSP so much noise in our local forum so no chance to race with nitro 1/8 truggy class. Only training and some not official raceing.
Nobody wants white crow :)
But I hope soon somebody here convert it and i am realy wants to see it

I have the same problem here. I like electric better, but if I want to race I need a nitro.

Hey Tom... Congrats! Maybe one of the first owners of this XT8!

Pics? Comments? We need some material here! :018:

Sure I post some pics here today!

this tread is worthless without pics!:005:

Sorry for delay, finaly assembled :rock it at also allready put some Option parts front alloy suspension holders from XB8TQ buggy. 95% truggy compatible with XB8 buggy even shocks are same. Tryggy looks solid and and you feel like you working on Buggy :) realy looks same allmost in every view.
Today just got my body from painting and made pictures from it too, need to cut some windows. Engine is AXE Mamba with Axe 3 chamber pipe EFRA legal. Need to clue tires and some minor stuff so i can go today make brak-in today for engine and drivetrain.
In one picture i put 9XL motor on chassis to look and compare size of shassis its pretty narrow.
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray001.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray003.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray004.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray006.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray007.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray008.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray009.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray013.jpg
http://www.hot.ee/hblsp/XRay/Xray014.jpg

SUPERB

Looks like you did a nice job on the body too :018:

If you can, next step is videos... :004: there is none of it on Youtube

Amazing

So today i Raced my XT8 on track, what i can say seems its OK. But need to learn it lot. Truggy is realy understeer on power, off-pwer steering is amazing and on loose surface hard to handle with that diff setup what i have (7k/10k/7k) and that stupid Engine. That Axe Rossi Mamba is realy PITA in tuning. Cant setup low needle it wont run properly on sudden full trottle it dies and when mid RPM coms it goes like crazy and so suddendly. What i can say need to learn a lot. Today lost position to A final becouse on start engine died. BTW 5 Xray's XT8 on track and first place got in XRay buggy XB8EC and XT8

Try 5k in the rear, and some more toe in for more steering. Maybe adjust ackerman and some harder springs in the rear. Mainly, experiment with diff oil.

What's that big orange thing doin' there?

That, Rene, stangely enough, is what you need these days to "compete".

Even in the face of the obvious evidence that EP would be better and easier in so many ways, nitro is still the standard in racing. And especially in places where RC is not very popular, it's hard to find a track that will let you do actual racing with BL conversions. Time for the revolution!

Yeah, better start the first brushless only track in Europe Daf... :) (HINTHINT)

Sorry for "orange" but i am realy wish to see some day EP 1/8 buggy/truggy class in raceing but unfortunatly at nowadays its illegal.
Again, looking forward to see BL conversion. Is someone here got XT8 too?

i actually annulled mine for now.
will wait to see if mike comes up with parts.