RC8B or D8 Buggy Terribly Undecided
 

Sorry to whip an old horse here but I literally spent the entire day reading through the whole forum picking up ideas and researching various aspects of pro's and cons of each buggy and I'm more confused then ever.:neutral:

I want to put together my first 1/8 Buggy with a Tekno chassis, absolutely no disrespect to the RCM mount it's just I really want mechanical brakes. My buddy whom I will be practicing and club racing with is going with a 8ight-E ATR becuase he has more money than time and I want something different. Again no disrepect to Losi fans, I have many Losi products myself including 2 LST2 conversions.

The RC8B should be a great platform and very tough, I can also incorperate a Losi smart diff in the center, I like that option. I've always ben a big fan of the Hot Bodies Lightning Stadium Pro2 truggys. Again, I have 2 and I can attest to the great handling and durability. But, the D8 being a newer and slightly different platform I'm a little leary. The D8 will big much cheaper and lighter when fully assembled and finished. Replacment parts are super cheap through my job at the LHS, another plus. Also hopeing to get a smart diff to work in the center ?

I will be using a tried and true combo; M.M.M,1515 1Y, gearing will probably be around 45/12 and plan on useing 4s 30C Zips 5Kmah. The tracks we have here local are small, fairly smooth/manicured and without giant jumps. They seem to be more technical than some of the bigger tracks I've raced on else where.
Practice sessions will be dry and dusty unfortunately.

I would greatly appreciate any input from you fellows whom have ben racing either of these platforms or anyone that might have some insight I over looked.

HI

If your racing i would say the rc8 has the better track record overall . Thats not to say the HB8 is not a good buggy . I know the rc8 is more popular at the local tracks arournd here ( lake park ) & (bartow) & (hudson). With the the losi 8b probably being the most popular . But if your racing just for fun & not to win a national level . I would say either buggy would be good . Your motor esc combo is a very good choice . I hope this helps some :lol:.

It does help some thanks. Bear in mind though the RC8 has ben around quit a bit longer than the D8. With the price being 150.00 cheaper it may tend to make people think less of it also ?
Glad to see someone from my neck of the woods here at RCM. Do run for fun or do you club race ? I've ben to Lake park once and it was a pretty nice track. We usually go to B&B due to old man Dave being so helpful and of course the steller inventory doesn't hurt either.

I mainly just tinker on mine. My buddys run the lake park club. My buddy DAVE WARR owns elite peformance in TP . Thats a big difference in price wow :gasp:. My understanding is the D8 needs upgrades out of the box . were as the RC8FT version does not .

D8 is a great car after lightening it up and putting on longer rear shocks.

Go for RC8B.

"My understanding is the D8 needs upgrades out of the box . were as the RC8FT version does not ."



Up grades such as ? The rear shocks going to the longer ones,not for sure it's always nessasary ?
Why does it come with the shorts then. What mm lenth shocks should be used ?

I've read this if running rough tracks, I thought I'd try stock first if I go the D8 route

Longer shocks are must have for rough tracks. Stock are 97mm, longer are 112mm.

Stock D8 is very heavy.

I have all the lightened parts available including custom lightened chassis on it and i shaved over 200grams. Huge difference in handling.
Now I need to get WCE driveshafts as stock ones do not last and Lightning ones I use are quite heavy. (all 4 are over 20grams over stock )

If rc8b was available in decemeber last year i would get it. The b version solved all the issues i did not like on the previous version.

Stock D8 has few issues that have been solved by HB but you will have to buy those upgraded parts and Unless HB releases the WC edition RC8B is the way to go.

HMMM, interesting. This is the feedback I was hoping for, I had no idea the
D8 was a heavy weight. With all the plastic I assumed it would be average if not lighter than most.
Anything else you care to add ?
Can you please post a few pics of your race rig.

I'm not sure I agree with you there wallot. It seems to me (though this is the UK) that the RC8s always had more problems, it's not a particularly strong car, a thing that the US cars seem to suffer from. The D8 appears far stronger.

Yes, there is the driveshaft issue, but it's not like every D8 owner has had those problems, it's just that we only hear about the ones that do have issues with driveshafts. I'm sure it's the same with the RC8/B, but at my local track, the plastics wear out quickly, the arms break too easily as they are brittle etc.

Yes, I have a D8, but at my last race meeting I ran that car at just over 4.1kg, due to a humungous battery (18.5V 6600mAh), and broke nothing, despite my best attempts over jumps.

To be honest though, you'll be happy with either car.

The RC8 hasn't got any real big titles to its name other than 2 BRCA National Championships and I think one Neo-Buggy race (and also one in the electric class). I'm sure it has some of the big US races too, but as I'm in the UK I don't follow those too much. In the ROAR Nats and RC Pro, I don't think that it has one any titles.

Of course the D8 has the Worlds under it's belt, and also the FEMCA Champs, but other than that has been a bit lacking.

In fairness though, how many titles each has won is irrelevant, as the drivers who win these things could do well with a wheelbarrow, so it's hardly representative of your average racer.

Phew... That was a long one...

brittle plastics can be solved by boiling.

Mugen MBX6 has plastic issues as well.

D8 plastics are quite good.

D8 that won worlds champs and FEMCA is a different car - all the parts are lightened :)
RC8 driven by Maifield and cavaliery has ton of titles :)

But in case of these guys it does not really mater what car they run as they would win with a bucket on wheels

4100g buggy? thats crazy. My truggy is 4250g

My nitro D8 started over 3700g now it is under 3500g, but for example lightened MBX6 is under 3300g

Lighter car = better acceleration, braking

No car is perfect :) except my hoped-up MBX5-T :na:

//edit: i like my D8 it is very easy to work on, it's tough and handles ok. Just need to make it bit lighter.

Anyone whom has a D8 and would to share please post pics ?
Looking forward to reading more posts,keep the info coming fellas.
Thanks

I've driven both extensively and for me, the D8 edges out the RC8. Aside from a few broken driveshafts (I had one of the very first kits), I haven't had any issues with it. Thre D8 rotates very well around center and suits my driving style. The RC8 would steer good, but felt like it was being driven from the rear.

I've ben doing more reading/research on a couple other forums and I think I'm leaning more towards the D8 so far but I have another Q for anyone whom has any buggy.

What weight Fluid should I start with in the diffs ? I know how the front diff unloads like crazy with to light of a fluid and I'm guessing the kit viscosity will be to thin to start with so I was hoping for some perameters to start with,anybody care to comment ?
FYI, going to try to start with a Smart Diff in the center.

With todays buggies, it is hard to make a poor decision w/any of the major manufactures. I personally would opt for Associated due to the fact parts avail. as well as you could always buy Mike's kit for it....:whistle:

As far as diff fluid goes, in my mbx-5 I am running 7F 12 C 5R and it works well for me. I don't race, but for what I do it works great running a 1512 1.5Y on 5s

good luck w/your decision!:mdr:

Thank you for your input and well wishes !
The 2 LHS's in town neither carry RC8 or D8 so parts, I work for one of them so I will be ordering which ever buggy I decide on and many spare parts all together all in one shot. I've ben watching ebay and seen some great deals on various extra parts also.
No distrespect to RCM but I really want to have mechanical brakes and the Tekno will provide it.
Your fluids are pretty close to my guess via my truggy experience, still curious what other guys have to say about that ?
Especially your more serious racers :whistle: