Smartech Winner 3/Sport ?

[Juan Lauda]

Anyone got any practical experience with these new buggies? Care to share
your views?

I'm currently looking at a repair bill of over £50 for parts for my broken
CEN Fun Factor. Given the paucity of parts and suppliers for CENs in the UK,
I'm very tempted to ebay the CEN for parts/salvage and invest £165 in a new
Smartech Winner 3 or Sport.

[Peter J]

On Tue, 5 Aug 2003 14:50:43 +0100, "Juan Lauda" <me@here.org> wrote:

>Anyone got any practical experience with these new buggies? Care to share
>your views?
>
>I'm currently looking at a repair bill of over £50 for parts for my broken
>CEN Fun Factor. Given the paucity of parts and suppliers for CENs in the UK,
>I'm very tempted to ebay the CEN for parts/salvage and invest £165 in a new
>Smartech Winner 3 or Sport.
>

Preface - I don't have either CEN or Smartech vehichles.

From what I have read, Smartech has a lot to offer (RC Car Action
mag). However, I have read a lot of folks who have had bad experiences
with Smartech. One of the biggest drawbacks - Smartech is exclusively
available from excelhobby.com. If you need a part, they are the only
ones who have them.

If I were in your shoes, I'd scope out the local hobby shops and
online stores in the UK to see what they stock. If you are set on
getting something new (meaning a different vehichle - new or used) I'd
want to see what everyone local carried for vehicles and parts so
going overseas wouldn't necessarily be an issue.

Just my two cents.

[Juan Lauda]

"Peter J" <p.jones+usenet@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:gul2jv0tr61kmruuf334b52cvs0d0rnbe7@4ax.com...
> Preface - I don't have either CEN or Smartech vehichles.
>
> From what I have read, Smartech has a lot to offer (RC Car Action
> mag). However, I have read a lot of folks who have had bad experiences
> with Smartech. One of the biggest drawbacks - Smartech is exclusively
> available from excelhobby.com. If you need a part, they are the only
> ones who have them.
>
> If I were in your shoes, I'd scope out the local hobby shops and
> online stores in the UK to see what they stock. If you are set on
> getting something new (meaning a different vehichle - new or used) I'd
> want to see what everyone local carried for vehicles and parts so
> going overseas wouldn't necessarily be an issue.

Thanks Peter.

I noticed that RC Car Action have a review in the September issue just after
posting my original message. I think the LHS stocks US RC mags so it will be
worth a read.

You are absolutely correct with regard to spares backup. With hindsight, I
would perhaps have been wiser to spend a little more on an HPI, Associated
or Kyosho instead of the CEN as it has spent a lot of time over the past 18
months sitting broken in the cupboard whilst I have waited for spares to
arrive.

The SmarTech is very new to the UK and spares are likely to be a problem,
but at the price they are being offered for sale it is almost viable to buy
two and cannibalise one for spares should the need arise. They appear to be
made in the same factory (Perfect Toys International) as some other well
known brands so I would hope that there is some cross-compatibility of parts
(The SmarTech Winner bears a striking resemblance to the Carson Stormracer).

[Fraser Stewart]

Juan Lauda wrote:
> You are absolutely correct with regard to spares backup. With hindsight=
, I
> would perhaps have been wiser to spend a little more on an HPI, Associa=
ted
> or Kyosho instead of the CEN as it has spent a lot of time over the pas=
t 18
> months sitting broken in the cupboard whilst I have waited for spares t=
o
> arrive.
> =


I noticed a few days ago that Antics (www.antics.ltd.uk) have a Kyosho
Ultima RB buggy for =A3150.

http://www.antics.ltd.uk/acatalog/Main_Index_Kyosho_GP_Off_Roaders_111.ht=
ml

No radio, glostart etc but I'd get that ahead of a Smartech.

[Nigel Mellor]

"Fraser Stewart" <fraser@cis.strath.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:3F323199.F076DBA5@cis.strath.ac.uk...
> I noticed a few days ago that Antics (www.antics.ltd.uk) have a Kyosho
> Ultima RB buggy for £150.
>
> http://www.antics.ltd.uk/acatalog/Main_Index_Kyosho_GP_Off_Roaders_111.html
>
> No radio, glostart etc but I'd get that ahead of a Smartech.

Hmmm, fragile, 2WD and a crap engine. £150 is about all this ancient design is
worth. A TR-15 at a little over £200 would be a better bet.

I have just been informed by SmarTech UK that their prices are increasing by £30
across the board when the "Sport" version is introduced in September. £195 for
the basic model doesn't sound like much of a bargain anymore, especially when
you consider that ExcelHobby have exclusive distribution rights for the
SmartTech models in the US and sell them for $199 (£125) with radio or $159
(£100) without radio.

[sonnyboy7777]

I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU DECIDE ON GETTING BECAUSE I JUST PURCHASED A SMARTECH WINNER SPORTS RTR FOR $175.00
WHICH WILL ARRIVE IN A FEW DAYS.ME PERSONALLY FEEL AS THOUGH SPARE PARTS SHOULD'NT BE A PROBLEM,IF YOU DONT MIND GETTING THEM FROM THE INTERNET.AND THE REASON HOBBY SHOPS IN THE US WONT HAVE THE IS BECAUSE ITS NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN SMARTECH FOR THEM.AND IN THE U.S. THEY DONT LIKE GIVING NEW COMERS IN THE GAME A CHANCE.I'LL POST MY RESULTS OF MY NEW BUGGY IN A WEEEK OR TWO DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.