Amazing buggy! Losi came out with three best buggy yet!
The fit and finish of this buggy is top notch. I really like that TLR went metric and new features like the motor mounts are fantastic. I watched the Horizon Hobby, and Tekin build videos before I started the kit which helped the build to go smoothly. I can't wait to get it on the track!
Update: Since my original review I've had a chance to get to the track for some practice sessions. The track is indoor med bite with some big jumps. I setup the car with the Barry Baker setup from the TLR site and a set of JC Reflex tires in Soft compound. The car is super stable and handles great. We have some big jumps at my local track and the car flies perfect. After multiple high speed impacts, cartwheels and car to car collisions nothing has broken so I am completely satisfied with the reliability of the XE as well. All in all TLR has designed a great buggy.
I'll skip the long review of how much I love these buggy's (8ight X Elite and the XE both). Simply the best RCs I've ever owned. They handle great all around, durable, and relatively easy to work on.
First Kit Build.
Very detailed and user friendly instructions
All parts were to spec, no modifications needed, everything fit like a glove.
All parts are race spec and just absolutely excellent.
Every aspect of the build, you would say "wow that is a precision fit". And then a smile
This car is a work of art. Compared to my new MP9E EVO, the 8 blows the doors off the build and quality control. The shocks have tighter tolerances and dampened with consistency on all four shocks.
5 stars...Can't wait to get in some battles to see how it performs...When we are safe to go play.
Part no TRL242025 came defected with this kit otherwise very well design buggy and lots of fun building it
This Is my first buggy kit and I gotta say I’m impressed.
Kit went together very well no issues instructions are very good and easy to follow.
Tips!
-Take your time follow step by step.
- LOCTITE all screw going into aluminum.
- Double check all screws for tightness once completed and after a few laps around the track double check screws again.
I Noticed a had a couple screws loose after a couple laps this is normal everything is new and getting broken in.
- I would highly recommend this kit..
Returning to RC from a 5 year hiatus. This was a fun build. Well made and high quality.
I did have an issue with the front diff. When I placed it in the diff case, it had a
grinding noise about 30% of the rotation. But, I watched some vids and Losi recommends
loosening the diff case screws a tiny bit to let the gears break in. Then tighten up
after a couple batteries.
Took it to the track for the first time today and it is a blast. I did have some screws
back out in the front hub so use high quality thread locker, not supplied tube, when
screwing into metal.
Can't wait to get the set-up right and put some runs into this buggy. I will enjoy
this for years to come.
I just got the kit finished. It went together very well and can't wait for TLR to come out with a new TRUGGY.
I have had this buggy since they came out and it is the best E buggy TLR has come out with. The buggy has more steering than the 4.0 and handles the bumps better. The updated motor mount system should be the new standard in 1/8th elec buggies I just love it. I upgraded to 17.5 Alu caster blocks right away and I have broke a shock standoff and a rear gearbox (rear gearboxes where updated to fix the issue) This has become my favorite car to race. Well done TLR!
Assembly was smooth. I like that they went metric. Buggy handles very well, big upgrade from the 4.0. For me it corners, jumps, and handles rough spots in the track with more forgiveness.
I owned this buggy for close to 1 1/2 months and it is a great buggy. Did some few modifications such as changing the diff oil weight and found that front and center at 10000 weight and rear at 5000 is perfect. Handles great. Have not broken anything and improved my race lap time. I only hope someone will make a thicker lexan body for this model as the stock feels a bit too thin.
I heard all these reports about broken shocks and front spindle casters breaking, never had any problems. My guess those guys drive their car too hard that's why theirs is broken.
I love this new motor mount set up and it is a better buggy compared to a lot of brands.
The kit is a very fun build. The build was smooth and all the parts fit like a race kit. This car will be fast and competitive. I would not second guess this kit.
This build did not thrill me whatsoever. The ONLY reason I'm not dropping this below 3 stars is because Horizon Hobby provided awesome hassle-free support for all of the revised parts. Here are a few specifics:
1). The instruction manual is much longer than it need to be. Many more steps could be put on the same page without issue.
2). The manual is terrible when it comes to specifying screws. Lets say you have an M3 10mm screw you're doing to use and an M3 14mm. At the top of the step it will say, "x4 M3-10mm, x4 M3-14mm", which is fine, but the diagram where it shows the install Losi puts the part # next to the screw. Why??? Lets just say I visited A-main a few times instead of flipping to the back of the manual during the build to verify I was using the correct length screw.
3). More complaints about the manual... zero color. There were also illustrations a bit difficult to make out the orientation of the part.
4). The battery straps are a hot mess. I would have preferred the straps go UNDER the battery tray, not this loop through, then back through, then back over again to secure the battery. I find this to be very cumbersome.
5). If you're going to buy any upgrades, make sure it'll work with the "Xe" --- Just because it says, "X" doesn't mean it'll be ok in the Xe - found that out the hard way with the front chassis brace. In addition - the deep yokes require the larger bearing you'll find in the 'Elite' manual, not the Xe manual.
6). The 15T pinion that comes with the buggy is apparently all you can run, because anything bigger and you're going to be too tight against the spur. I put a 16T on my 2050 motor & it was tight, even with pushing the mounts as far out as I could. I put the 15T back in.
7). The aluminum rear hub upgrade requires you to take a dremel to the inside of the hub for the out-drive bearing because Losi apparently did not machine these to the correct size.
*** DO YOUR RESEARCH *** - Go on RCT, Facebook Losi forums, wherever you can get information about this buggy because there are quite a few revision parts out there as a result of many part failures throughout 2019. If you do your due diligence and call Horizon, they will send you out the revisions, free of charge. Their support is superb and far exceeds any other experiences I've had, and that includes Tekno.
The 2020 season hasn't started up yet and I won't run my cars on anything but the track (unless doing some alignment and trim work in my driveway_) so I cannot to its handling yet. I'm remaining cautiously optimistic.
One more side note: I have assembled a lot of buggies and it feels like there are a few unnecessary parts somewhat over complicating the engineering of this car. It has a couple of cool designs, some useless, and others completely missing such as a transponder mount and wire routing clamps on the chassis. Nearly all the manufactures are designing their cars for clean wiring - I felt Losi missed the boat on that.
All in all - I didn't find this to be a very fun build. I took my time building this car to avoid any possible mistakes. I hope it holds up this race season... but one thing is for sure: If it doesn't, or some reason, I know Horizon has my back!
Good quality parts in the kit. Expect the few screws that are NOT metrix. (Shock piston)
Other than that really good kit.
But..
First time i've run it, i had a LiPo fire. Reason? Straps went bad. Battery hit Spur. Boom. So.. TLR should address this!
(No the battery was not to wide or to big)
Luckily minor damage.
Just hope TLR will make a new battery mount for this buggy. And better battery straps!
I love the way the challenger body looks and love the new design.Losi is a great brand. Now with that said, their quality control has nose dived. I was missed 2 critical bearings. One between diff and driveshaft at both ends. and in the first run the front diff failed. So this will be the last Losi I ever buy! What happened Losi?
A very fragile whale model kit, for 1 output stage of races broke 3 right hands of the front part, also bought 3 bags of spare parts to repair the model, not reliably
