[The ROC]

Been to the HPI BAJA Forum and did some reading but it's a Baja forum so 99.99% of them love their Baja and use nothing else, so they say.

Anyhow I know some of you have one mixed into your R/C collection and want to know is the Baja the one you use the most now and the rest are just dust collectors or do you still stick to using your the nitro rc's?

I like to get another rc but my next purchase is one I don't want to regret. I was thinking about getting the new Jammin CRT .5 when it comes out but at the same time I know the gassers are easy to run and start especially during the cold season which we all know the nitro engines hate... too much tune time and less run time.

I don't race nor will I have time to race even if I wanted to, so my revo and TC's are just for bashing around when I have the chance. My job hours is ever changing so I bash on what ever time I have. That is why I was thinking of the CRT .5 (nitro, small and easy to run) and just keep it in my trunk of my car and if I'm working a split-shift I cal pull it out and run it for abit.

So Baja owners what is your input on buying a HPI Baja?

Thanks.

[Gump]

love mine to bits. best all around vehicle you can own, in my opinion. motors last for years if oil is mixed correctly. costs 60 cents to run for 40 minutes. runs like a champ. plenty of torque and speed. plenty of upgrades available. only a couple minor downfalls from bad parts. other pluses - it comes completely RTR - just add gas and aa batteries for the tx. its literally pull the cord and go. the pullstart is heavy duty. will last a long long time. its got plush suspension - it doesnt 'bounce' over ruts and bumps like some other largescales do. completely raceable out of the box, too. hauls , as a matter of fact, on a track. goes on terrain that nitro can't go. you can even run it in sand with far less 'penalties' than a nitro. you can also quickly strip the electronics, cover the air filter and pressurewash the damned thing. its awesome.
since i got the baja, my nitros have been reserved for what they do best - and thats race. theres nothing like racing an 8th scale buggy. its a thrill a minute. but theres nothign like bashing the baja - its more like a thrill a second!

GUMP is pretty much spot on the mark.
Not only the Baja, but any 1/5th scale is just soooo easy to live with.

It's not just the reliability of the motor and the cheapness of fuel, but they are so much less fiddly to work on.

If there is a negative, its that these things are big so it needs more thought about where to go with them and indeed how to get them there.

[imported_RC-SUPERMAN]

Since I have gotten into the Big scale I no longer own any Nitors. I figure if your not racing go with the big scale stuff to bash with. Have a look at the Duratrax Firehammer truck too. It looks awsome.

[Grandmaster G]

I had the opposite effect as the above......

I bought a BAJA and got bored of it very fast......extremely bored

1/5 may be durable but when it comes to pure fun...ramps..jumps...general bashing at a school or rec centre.....nothing beats 1/8

I just found the Baja to be limited in its bashing capabilities.....like i said....apart from the fact its tough..........it extremely limited compared to 1/8 scale.....

I'll never buy a 1/5 again

of course this is just my opinion as others may find 1/5 to be the best thing since sliced bread

[imported_budmancan]

I agree with Nino, since going 1/5 scale there is no looking back. I have two children that love RC's and nothing is better for them. When we were running nitros I was doing nothing else but tuning theirs and restarting them. Now its fill with gas, start and they run for 45 minutes. Were we run the 1/5 scales are lasting longer and are cheaper to fix. Jumping wise there are about the same but you need alot of room to run them, and a big wallet just for the initial cost. Then like every RC you have to hop it up. Another good large scale site that is just starting up is www.5thscaleracing.com. The website is into all large scale and not just HPI.

[cyclop]

from the sounds of things for yourself i would say get one and you'll be hooked .. pull and play .. but just like everything .. it will break .. and you'll hop it up .. just like that one guy said "he got Bored of it " because your "not " Constantly mucking with it .. GAS & GO !!

[imported_RC-SUPERMAN]

I do miss messing around with my own Nitros, But I still do work for my LHS so that keeps me busy. I must say that I will probably be picking up a Nitro truck soon. The only draw back of the big scales for me is the space to run them. With the 1/8 me and my body would just set up a ramp on the yard and have some fun, with the 1/5 we have to drive to teh nearest open area.

[The ROC]

Thanks for the input.

I'm still thinking it over but getting close to my decision and even more so when I was trying to start my revo and the G plug failed on me and stalling because of the cold air this afternoon that it made me think of getting the Baja... like you said Gas and Go and no need to tune and no glow plugs just a regular spark plug.

Talked it over with my wife and she says not to sell my nitro stuff just yet and beside I only have 2 nitros and and afew electrics so adding one more won't hurt.

Space wise to run the Baja... I'll have place to go near my home and where I work there's a very big parking lot for us employees that I can use.

Cheers.

[imported_offroader]

I would agree with most guys a lot less headaces less tinkering with adjustments uses regular fuel not Nitro no Glow plugs to worry about and easy to start. The only draw back is you really need a larger area to run unlike the smaller Nitros all you need is a smaller area. I do still have Nitros and will always have a few on hand to head over to the track to run with buddies.