observation form an outsider

arch2b · #1 12-28-2003, 01:24 PM

i have to start by saying i've been an xmod skeptic from day one.

i've had my xmod for a few weeks now and luckily i don't think i've had any serious problems with my rsx other than somes etup issues and it generally being slow (same setup as a friends and his is MUCH faster).
i can't help but point out the evergrowing number of threads/posts regarding returned xmods due to poor quality. in the begining, almost everyone was forecasting the doom of the mini-z with the release of the xmod. but after a few months of reading the forum hear and the few experiences i've had with them, i doubt the mini-z has anything to worry about. i think you'll find FAR fewer instances of problem mini-z's.

i still don't think they are really in the same cat. though so i guess i'm just voicing my opinion of all those that flamed the mini-z in comparison to the xmod's.

this only applies to those that swore the xmods where better...

i can say that for $50 you get a fun car to hop up, athough it is no easy task to do so. for the cheap cost, it's very affordable to do lots of custom work such as bad company's awsome stuff. the fact that they are also available at every rs is a huge plus too. makes it easier to return broken ones

seriously though, i've seen some really nice work here...some real creative stuff as well. keep up the work and i'll still be here in the background

my frustrating rsx

Bad Company · #2 12-28-2003, 02:02 PM

You make a very valid point arch2b. Luckily, I never put down the Mini Z or said that the Xmods were better before actually owning a Mini Z, and I can say after owning one and being able to do a real comparison, that the Mini Z is superior. But, like you stated, the Mini Z will cost you 3 times as much, so it goes to the old saying, "you get what you pay for".

I believe that RS knows that they can't compete with the "hobby class" cars out there, and they build there products with that in mind, instead shooting for the casual RC crowd. It is pretty clear what their focus was with the Xmods, that being an affordable RC that is tunable for the whole street racer crowd.

In all actuality, after comparing the two, it is my opinion that the same thing RS was trying to achieve is what put them behind the Mini Z. Looking at the two chassis', the Mini Z is much simpler in design, and does what it has to do to work, nothing more. RS wouldn't have been able to design the Xmod that way and still be able to offer the ability to change and upgrade so many parts. It is in these parts areas that the Xmods have the most issues.

I will admit that I still like my Xmods for doing custom work, mainly due to the lower cost, but now that I have experienced the performance aspect of the Mini Z, I have found myself painting my Xmods and playing with my Mini Z's.

I hope I don't sound like I'm knocking the Xmods off, because what they were intended for, the do.....bring a decent tunable RC to just about anyone. Even before I bought a Mini Z, I never thought the Xmods would touch them, but I was satisfied with what I had........until I made the step up and spent a little more for a hobby class car.

I now find myself on two different sides of the fence. I have my Xmods that I spend my time visually customizing and displaying, and I have my Mini Z's that I find my self wanting to upgrade and tweek for performance and run. I think both are great and they both offer something a little different to the hobby.

neurokinetik · #3 12-28-2003, 02:30 PM

I dunno. I have yet to see a fully prepped Mini-Z, so any experiences I have with them aren't really valid. I have a hard time believing that any RWD car could produce the kind of acceleration out of a corner that my 180 motored 4WD XMod can. I don't believe the 180 motor is an option for the Mini-Z, either, due to the way the drivetrain is laid out. I'd love to run a Mini-Z on a road course, with NML's best vs. my best. That would be interesting.

For reference, I have always thought the Mini-Z superior, even came close to buying one, but as my experiments have generated more and more success, I find myself more loyal to the XMods camp.

I certainly won't dispute the quality difference. XMods tend to require some TLC to perform as well as they can. Most people don't pay enough attention to detail to extract the full level of performance available.

racemini89 · #4 12-28-2003, 03:05 PM

i just drove my freinds overland and it is really fast out of the box, it is way better quality and the propo is really good. i think it is way better but it is more expensive, but ill still get one

Bad Company · #5 12-28-2003, 03:18 PM

neurokinetik,
I would like to try out one of your motors and talk to you about some other things, please shoot me an email. (You have the email disabled here.)

Thanks

arch2b · #6 12-28-2003, 04:18 PM

as usual, bc, i agree with everything you've said as well.

i've always done my best to point out that xmods are, for thier price range, a very good deal. i know i like reading the forum here to see what everyone is doing because i am heavily into modding as well.

....don't get me started on overland's

i oculd fill i book with everythign i've done with them. i can't say enough about them and the monster mini-z's.

neurokinetik,
i would give you the opprtunity to run my racers, overlands, monster and soon to be f1 anytime if you were in the area. i know i'd like to try a fast xmod as mine is definately not. maybe if bc gets one hooked up i can see it at the cup races at the end of jan.?!?

suprafreak33 · #7 12-28-2003, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bad Company
You make a very valid point arch2b. Luckily, I never put down the Mini Z or said that the Xmods were better before actually owning a Mini Z, and I can say after owning one and being able to do a real comparison, that the Mini Z is superior. But, like you stated, the Mini Z will cost you 3 times as much, so it goes to the old saying, "you get what you pay for".

I believe that RS knows that they can't compete with the "hobby class" cars out there, and they build there products with that in mind, instead shooting for the casual RC crowd. It is pretty clear what their focus was with the Xmods, that being an affordable RC that is tunable for the whole street racer crowd.

In all actuality, after comparing the two, it is my opinion that the same thing RS was trying to achieve is what put them behind the Mini Z. Looking at the two chassis', the Mini Z is much simpler in design, and does what it has to do to work, nothing more. RS wouldn't have been able to design the Xmod that way and still be able to offer the ability to change and upgrade so many parts. It is in these parts areas that the Xmods have the most issues.

I will admit that I still like my Xmods for doing custom work, mainly due to the lower cost, but now that I have experienced the performance aspect of the Mini Z, I have found myself painting my Xmods and playing with my Mini Z's.

I hope I don't sound like I'm knocking the Xmods off, because what they were intended for, the do.....bring a decent tunable RC to just about anyone. Even before I bought a Mini Z, I never thought the Xmods would touch them, but I was satisfied with what I had........until I made the step up and spent a little more for a hobby class car.

I now find myself on two different sides of the fence. I have my Xmods that I spend my time visually customizing and displaying, and I have my Mini Z's that I find my self wanting to upgrade and tweek for performance and run. I think both are great and they both offer something a little different to the hobby.

very well put

93Supra0wner · #8 12-29-2003, 01:47 PM

In my oppinon im just going to wait awhile to decide which is better, the Xmod or Mini-Z because the Xmods are still basically just starting out so i imagine there will be many improvements made to the complete Xmod in many ways. Just like the Zip-Zaps at first they werent all that great but after a year or so they came up to be very good with propo. throttle and steering. So maybe in the end the Xmods will come out on top (who know's!)

arch2b · #9 12-29-2003, 04:03 PM

that's a BIG what if...

Btman · #10 12-29-2003, 05:18 PM

I think the name says it all Xmods. The mini-z is a great car for speed and racing because of its simpler chassis. The xmods appeals to those who like to tinker and have a low cost platform to operate on. (although many have modified mini-zs) I bought a mini-z almost three years ago when they first came out. I believe both cars have their pros and cons. The xmods is by no means a mini-z killer but there is a place in the market for it. Comparing the two is like comparing a surgical knife to a steak knife. depending on the circumstances, one may be better than the other.

maikeru · #11 12-29-2003, 07:36 PM

BTman, that was very well put, i love metaphors, hahah

Hairball · #12 12-29-2003, 10:42 PM

I think the XMODS have quite a bit over the Mini-Z's. This isn't quite an issue for a lot of us, but they're a little more toyish than the Mini-Z's, so they are often easier to deal with.

I've also found that XMODS are tough as nails. I was racing with a couple of my friends, so that was two XMODS and a Mini-Z. His Mini-Z nailed an XMOD head-on.. a small gear in the steering servo disappeared in the Mini-Z. Mighta been a fluke, but who knows.

sessiz10 · #13 12-30-2003, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by arch2b
that's a BIG what if...

Actually it isn't. RS has the money to throw at the xmod. If you take what they did with the zip zap line (pcb revisions to the se line) you'll see that they actually try to bring to the consumer what is called for. I'm still not so hot on the scale of these cars (xmod or miniz) I like to play with the cars I mod. So for me this xmod is plenty, I don't feel like I'm missing out on the "superiority" of a mini Z. I tell ya what though I want a freakin mini z madforce.

xxspeednplayaxx · #14 12-30-2003, 10:05 AM

ok first off xmods are better, heres why...
1- cheaper
2- hands down look 1000X beter looking than a miniZ
3- beter potential

what i mean by #3 is ok yea a Z is faster than a xmod but look they've been out for like 3 years and have the product support of like 10+major companies, xmods however arent even a year old, and so far has only r.s. and slugbugg (makes some good center shafts)

ive attended two miniz races, at both, i happened to see what one of the top dogs was running, some after market motor, turbo and a buncha anodized parts.. no extra cells. with time our xmods will match and even surpass the best Z... although ive only started a costom paint job i have big plans, ive lerked the xmods forums since november and am still being impressed.. neurokenetic has discovered 180 motors and has made beasts out of them, some guy (sorry i dont remember your name) started a fet upgrade, B.C. got 6 cells under a supra, im currently pondering a 2spd transmission, as well as higher grip tires, for now my chassis mods are simply designed, but not fabricated, because i do not wish to fry or damage my xmod (being a gift and all), like i said xmods have the potential, im sure that by the summertime, the Zs will be wishing xmods were never forged!

arch2b · #15 12-30-2003, 08:53 PM

as much as you can mod an xmod, it will likely never beat an mr-02 mini-z with nml's fuzion upgrade nor will it handle as well or have as percise control. your points don't do anything for your claim really as they are broad and can be just as easily claimed by any other rc excluding the cost.

1. yes they are cheaper. cheaper electronics cost less.

2. they can be modded to look better than a mini-z however the mini-z autoscales have much more detail and are made to be durable and light for racing. so you will not get the body kit stuff. bummer.

3. as far as potential, you could say the same thing for mini-z's. ask any one who's owned an mr-01 and bought an mr-02. look at the overland, f1, and monster line now released.