I am soo glad I jumped on the Xmods band wagon.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:04 am

See here's what my hang up was. In 1/10th scale there are literally thousands of dollars worth of hop ups you can put in your car. In the end the point doesn't seem to be how constructive you are, as much as how much money you have.

With Bits we're over here totally making everything ourselves. It's a real grassroots kinda scene. I dig that, reminds me of the early days of hotrodding, when they didn't have many aftermarket parts to work with either.

So when I actually had seen the Xmod in RS, with all it's accessories, I started getting the impression of the "how much money you got?" feeling I got from 1/10th scale.

But everyone's talkin' 'bout the Xmods, and I'm kicking myself in the behind for not getting one last payday. So I cracked, I finally broke down, and bought one.

I'm so happy I did, this is a complete package for 50 bucks, and has all the coolness of my 1/10th scale cars. It kinda remind me of a little Tamiya car with it's modular design. If the hobby oriented companies catch on to the popularity of these, I could totally see some light weight replacment parts coming out. It's also nice to know it can be precisely tuned, and not just twist this, bend that, cut here, trim there, kind of hit and miss process I go through with bits.

It will not replace my Bits for racing on my bed, while I watch TV at night, but it's whole 'nother toy with new possibilities. Nothin' wrong with new toys.

If you're holding back like I was, then just let yourself go, be free, buy a freakin' Xmod for christ's sake. They're worth every penny.

Maxximum Attack · Post by **Maxximum Attack** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:16 am

dave,
Which one did you get?
A skyline I bet

? I'm thinking i shud have gotten a skyline.

All you guys are making me anxious

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:16 pm

Nah, love the Skyline, but I've seen too many Xmod Skylines.

I'm kinda fond of my Acura.

Post by **CaboWabo** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 4:15 pm

keep a tally on what you spend crazydave.
I'm still interested in seeing what the average amount spent on these things are.
I know people aren't going to leave them stock, that'll put it above the 50 mark.
so far, seems the consensus is 75-100.

my next question will be, after several months of hard playing, now what are you spending on? more upgrades or replacements for broken parts? and on average, how much is being spent for either?

I'll probably still not get one just because of the scale thing, but I gotta see if we're just dealing with a cloned mini-z or if the xmod is deserved on its own.

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:26 pm

Cabo-

I can tell you what I'll need to buy after several weeks of hard driving.

1) I imagine I will have some kind of major body damage. We do a lot of rubbing, which often involves running the other guy into the wall (just like an action movie!) The body kit helps because you new pieces for the major areas taking abuse, but I hope they start selling complete body kits.

2) I have ripped the screw out of the bottom of my steering knuckle. It seems to perform just fine without it, but that may not last.

3) New tire set. The way we drive on the surface we drive on, we will actually wear out a set of tires before too long. I kinda like this in a way, that it's like a real car. The soft tires are really soft, which is great for the floor we drive on.

All the other mods (motors, bearings, suspension, wheels, lights) should last for quite some time. The big question will be whether or not Radio Shack will sell individual chassis parts or if I need to buy a new starter kit to get a steering knuckle.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:47 pm

SuperFly wrote:The big question will be whether or not Radio Shack will sell individual chassis parts or if I need to buy a new starter kit to get a steering knuckle.

That is a big question.

Hey CJ, you out there?

Hey Cabo, I didn't say they were cheap, just cheap for what you get, you know?

It is bigger than I thought it would be, and there's no room to really run it around my apartment, so I'll have to go somewhere to play with it, but you know what?, I still have my Bits. So it's just another cool toy to play with.

Just go down to your RS and play with one. I was looking at Zip Zaps, and they forced me to play with it... I was sold. It sucks too, those bastards. I still have to get rechargable batteries, bearings, and all that stuff, then I see these cool little aluminum shocks in the suspension kit. Damn those evil mind controlling corporate mongers

noxorc · Post by **noxorc** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:15 pm

you have to get the Bearing upgrade..... it's a must...

sessiz · Post by **sessiz** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:17 pm

Yep, as fun as this xmod is, I can't see it swaying me from bits/zips. Total playtime spent with the xmod this past week = Roughly 4hrs. Total time with a bit/zip in my hand = Couldn't tell ya

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:45 pm

crazydave wrote: I still have to get rechargable batteries, bearings, and all that stuff, then I see these cool little aluminum shocks in the suspension kit. Damn those evil mind controlling corporate mongers

Two things:

Get Rayovac IC-3 batteries. They are the shit. I had the RS ones and took them back. The RS ones are fine; a good deal for 8 batteries and the charger, and the charger is small. But the Rayovac IC-3 are the future of rechargeable batteries. They have some circuitry built-in that sorta seems like a peak charger ability built in to the battery. Full charge in 15 min. that will give over 30 minutes run time in an Xmod. Plus, unlike the RS charger, you can put AA batteries in it.

The only part of the shock upgrade that is aluminum is the little post. The top and bottom housing is metallic-looking plastic. Even so, the springs and tie rods are a pretty good deal for $8.

Also, I poo poo-ed the light kit, but it's one of the best bargains at $6. It's really cool the way the brake lights work.

Post by **CaboWabo** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 8:42 pm

cool, thanks for the info fellas - seriously

excellent points you brought up SuperFly

I hear you crazydave, I was seriously curious to costs involved, that's all.
I haven't followed much on em and you guys have been driving them for a bit now so I figured who better to ask than some owners.

Micro s2000 · Post by **Micro s2000** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 8:54 pm

one thing, the rs charger can charge AA also. i want to try some of those rayovac batteries though. and cabowabo, i'd say that the xmods are a great deal. think about how much you paid for a bit when they were fairly new. they used to be 40 bucks, and how ever much more or less to order online. but still there only 10 bucks more and i think there way more fun

Post by **CaboWabo** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:07 pm

I've never paid more than 25 for a bit.

sessiz · Post by **sessiz** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:18 pm

Just to illustrate cabo's point, I ordered a handwound motor for my xmod a couple of days ago for a grand total of $47 ( I get a "drift kit" too).
A handwound motor by a known mini Z motor tech.

The money can be dumped into this car easy, but to put your mind at ease a bit cabo, you'll have a fun car for about $65 plus tax. Offcourse you can have a fun car for much less and allready do.(bits/zips/clones)

If there was no mini z tracks around me or someone to race this car against, I'm pretty sure it would be sitting on a shelf. This is the major differance between the xmod (and any other larger scale cars) and bits. I can buy 5 clones (or ms sports) for the price of this xmod and hand them out to friends and guests for a nice night of racing right in the middle of the living room.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:24 pm

SuperFly wrote:The only part of the shock upgrade that is aluminum is the little post. The top and bottom housing is metallic-looking plastic. Even so, the springs and tie rods are a pretty good deal for $8.

Those tricky bastards.

Well still they look cool, and I do like the idea of being able to tune my suspension. That'll go farther down on my list. Bearings will be first after the batteries. I'll look into those Evereadys.

I hope the heat sink that comes with the stage 2 motor set isn't metal lookin' plastic.

Micro s2000, I know what your saying. All the Bits, and microsizers were going for 30 bucks. I figured the Skyline set was a pretty good deal with the extra bodies, for an extra 5 bucks. After shipping, 42 bucks. That's the only car I ever paid that much for, but when you look at it that way, Xmods are a steal... All the cool options to buy will kill you in the end though

sessiz · Post by **sessiz** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 9:34 pm

The heatsink in the stage 2 is metal dave.