4LikesXray t4'15
07-10-2014, 07:33 AM
#46
I still say that if Xray thought is was worth their time, they would be putting out a current "R" kit. A lot has changed in a few years. They can't sell a C/F kit with djc's, ect. for $300 and make money. At this point there is plenty of competition, and asking someone to choose between a top-tier (spec sheet-wise) kit and and an R version is not going to get the immediate response of " still gotta' have an Xray". Heck, even the super-budget version of some of these asian produced kits are pretty damn good now for what you pay. At the ROAR regionals that recently took place one, of the guys finishing top-3 in VTA ran a Sakura XI sport, It's a sub-$120 car!
As for providing a cheaper car to build a bigger Xray fan-base, well I sort of think that happens by the very nature of the fact that they put out new cars so often. As soon as the new kit comes out everyone dumps their old cars. I run VTA and I've had a number of nice used Xrays come my way. Right now I have a T3 2012 with ecs's and the Exotek chassis, only paid
$200 for it. I can go on Ebay and find 2010-2012 cars in good shape for 150-200 all day. So why would I buy an "R" version kit when I can have a top-spec Xray that at the most needs a few new bearings?
As for providing a cheaper car to build a bigger Xray fan-base, well I sort of think that happens by the very nature of the fact that they put out new cars so often. As soon as the new kit comes out everyone dumps their old cars. I run VTA and I've had a number of nice used Xrays come my way. Right now I have a T3 2012 with ecs's and the Exotek chassis, only paid
$200 for it. I can go on Ebay and find 2010-2012 cars in good shape for 150-200 all day. So why would I buy an "R" version kit when I can have a top-spec Xray that at the most needs a few new bearings?
07-10-2014, 08:38 AM
#47
I believe VBC attemped this with the Ghost. I have one, and its a great kit, shares tons of parts with the other cars in the VBC line. But I am not sure of sales, I think they did ok, and it can be ugraded to a full carbon fiber racer if I wanted to. Xray has much better name recognition, marketing and distrobution than VBC. I dont think it would hurt branding if they stayed in the $250 range and it came with all the alum bits, but no carbon fiber and maybe some other small differences. But all that could be upgraded.
It might be enough to pull some of those with basic entry level or used kits over to a new XRAY vs buying another used kit.
It might be enough to pull some of those with basic entry level or used kits over to a new XRAY vs buying another used kit.
07-10-2014, 08:49 AM
#48
I still say that if Xray thought is was worth their time, they would be putting out a current "R" kit. A lot has changed in a few years. They can't sell a C/F kit with djc's, ect. for $300 and make money. At this point there is plenty of competition, and asking someone to choose between a top-tier (spec sheet-wise) kit and and an R version is not going to get the immediate response of " still gotta' have an Xray". Heck, even the super-budget version of some of these asian produced kits are pretty damn good now for what you pay. At the ROAR regionals that recently took place one, of the guys finishing top-3 in VTA ran a Sakura XI sport, It's a sub-$120 car!
As for providing a cheaper car to build a bigger Xray fan-base, well I sort of think that happens by the very nature of the fact that they put out new cars so often. As soon as the new kit comes out everyone dumps their old cars. I run VTA and I've had a number of nice used Xrays come my way. Right now I have a T3 2012 with ecs's and the Exotek chassis, only paid
$200 for it. I can go on Ebay and find 2010-2012 cars in good shape for 150-200 all day. So why would I buy an "R" version kit when I can have a top-spec Xray that at the most needs a few new bearings?
As for providing a cheaper car to build a bigger Xray fan-base, well I sort of think that happens by the very nature of the fact that they put out new cars so often. As soon as the new kit comes out everyone dumps their old cars. I run VTA and I've had a number of nice used Xrays come my way. Right now I have a T3 2012 with ecs's and the Exotek chassis, only paid
$200 for it. I can go on Ebay and find 2010-2012 cars in good shape for 150-200 all day. So why would I buy an "R" version kit when I can have a top-spec Xray that at the most needs a few new bearings?
07-10-2014, 08:52 AM
#49
I believe VBC attemped this with the Ghost. I have one, and its a great kit, shares tons of parts with the other cars in the VBC line. But I am not sure of sales, I think they did ok, and it can be ugraded to a full carbon fiber racer if I wanted to. Xray has much better name recognition, marketing and distrobution than VBC. I dont think it would hurt branding if they stayed in the $250 range and it came with all the alum bits, but no carbon fiber and maybe some other small differences. But all that could be upgraded.
It might be enough to pull some of those with basic entry level or used kits over to a new XRAY vs buying another used kit.
It might be enough to pull some of those with basic entry level or used kits over to a new XRAY vs buying another used kit.
07-10-2014, 08:57 AM
#50
I believe VBC attemped this with the Ghost. I have one, and its a great kit, shares tons of parts with the other cars in the VBC line. But I am not sure of sales, I think they did ok, and it can be ugraded to a full carbon fiber racer if I wanted to. Xray has much better name recognition, marketing and distrobution than VBC. I dont think it would hurt branding if they stayed in the $250 range and it came with all the alum bits, but no carbon fiber and maybe some other small differences. But all that could be upgraded.
It might be enough to pull some of those with basic entry level or used kits over to a new XRAY vs buying another used kit.
It might be enough to pull some of those with basic entry level or used kits over to a new XRAY vs buying another used kit.
07-10-2014, 10:28 AM
#53
The Xray factory is entirely self sufficient and was built with European Union funds (grant). Everything is made in house, except perhaps the screws.
Production costs are not that much higher (everything is fully automated), but the research and design might add a fair chunk of dough to it. Which is why the cars are better.
But they're no premium.
Premium is when you have all the options in the box, that's premium, and as far as I know Xray still doesn't come with DCJ in the box. Tamiya does, and the quality is on par with Xray. The only difference between the two is that attention is distributed differently among details. Tamiya is not a leader in design, true, but their cars are more and more refined (just like Xray's). And both tend to converge in design if we disregard Tamiya's forays of late into transverse motor/shaft drive which seem to be getting better. Perhaps a similar Xray is not far off.
Production costs are not that much higher (everything is fully automated), but the research and design might add a fair chunk of dough to it. Which is why the cars are better.
But they're no premium.
Premium is when you have all the options in the box, that's premium, and as far as I know Xray still doesn't come with DCJ in the box. Tamiya does, and the quality is on par with Xray. The only difference between the two is that attention is distributed differently among details. Tamiya is not a leader in design, true, but their cars are more and more refined (just like Xray's). And both tend to converge in design if we disregard Tamiya's forays of late into transverse motor/shaft drive which seem to be getting better. Perhaps a similar Xray is not far off.
07-10-2014, 11:02 AM
#54
Tech Master
The Xray factory is entirely self sufficient and was built with European Union funds (grant). Everything is made in house, except perhaps the screws.
Production costs are not that much higher (everything is fully automated), but the research and design might add a fair chunk of dough to it. Which is why the cars are better.
But they're no premium.
Premium is when you have all the options in the box, that's premium, and as far as I know Xray still doesn't come with DCJ in the box. Tamiya does, and the quality is on par with Xray. The only difference between the two is that attention is distributed differently among details. Tamiya is not a leader in design, true, but their cars are more and more refined (just like Xray's). And both tend to converge in design if we disregard Tamiya's forays of late into transverse motor/shaft drive which seem to be getting better. Perhaps a similar Xray is not far off.
Production costs are not that much higher (everything is fully automated), but the research and design might add a fair chunk of dough to it. Which is why the cars are better.
But they're no premium.
Premium is when you have all the options in the box, that's premium, and as far as I know Xray still doesn't come with DCJ in the box. Tamiya does, and the quality is on par with Xray. The only difference between the two is that attention is distributed differently among details. Tamiya is not a leader in design, true, but their cars are more and more refined (just like Xray's). And both tend to converge in design if we disregard Tamiya's forays of late into transverse motor/shaft drive which seem to be getting better. Perhaps a similar Xray is not far off.
As to the new car, I imagine it will be mainly around the motor mount that things will be different by having a floating shaft etc.
And yes, double cardan's should really be in the kit.
07-10-2014, 11:08 AM
#55
Tech Master
The Xray factory is entirely self sufficient and was built with European Union funds (grant). Everything is made in house, except perhaps the screws.
Production costs are not that much higher (everything is fully automated), but the research and design might add a fair chunk of dough to it. Which is why the cars are better.
But they're no premium.
Premium is when you have all the options in the box, that's premium, and as far as I know Xray still doesn't come with DCJ in the box. Tamiya does, and the quality is on par with Xray. The only difference between the two is that attention is distributed differently among details. Tamiya is not a leader in design, true, but their cars are more and more refined (just like Xray's). And both tend to converge in design if we disregard Tamiya's forays of late into transverse motor/shaft drive which seem to be getting better. Perhaps a similar Xray is not far off.
Production costs are not that much higher (everything is fully automated), but the research and design might add a fair chunk of dough to it. Which is why the cars are better.
But they're no premium.
Premium is when you have all the options in the box, that's premium, and as far as I know Xray still doesn't come with DCJ in the box. Tamiya does, and the quality is on par with Xray. The only difference between the two is that attention is distributed differently among details. Tamiya is not a leader in design, true, but their cars are more and more refined (just like Xray's). And both tend to converge in design if we disregard Tamiya's forays of late into transverse motor/shaft drive which seem to be getting better. Perhaps a similar Xray is not far off.
07-10-2014, 12:09 PM
#56
There is always somebody doing things less good and trying to sell cheap.
As a customer you should ask yourself if you want to pay twice, either for hup ups, or even more expesive for a complete replacement.
As a customer you should ask yourself if you want to pay twice, either for hup ups, or even more expesive for a complete replacement.
07-11-2014, 02:52 AM
#57
There have been rumors at the last ETS race (Hudy Arena) about the T4 going back to bigger/longer shocks. Has maybe something to do with Yokomo and Tamiya still using ‘’standard’’ length shocks very successfully in mod class.
07-11-2014, 04:44 AM
#58
Tech Rookie
Been at the hudy arena myself AND didnt see any long shocks
07-11-2014, 04:47 AM
#59
or maybe you are from Team Xray and trying to distract us!? 
07-11-2014, 06:32 AM
#60
I do not think there will be another R version by Xray.
IIRC, I think the last one cost them dearly - as everyone purchased the T3R kit to use as spares for the full blown T3.
For a track with wooden track boards, you cannot beat the durability of an XRay, period.
I enjoyed my Tamiya days but I think the TRF is weaker than the Xray.
It's the only negative I would give Tamiya - and its UK parts backup.
IIRC, I think the last one cost them dearly - as everyone purchased the T3R kit to use as spares for the full blown T3.
For a track with wooden track boards, you cannot beat the durability of an XRay, period.
I enjoyed my Tamiya days but I think the TRF is weaker than the Xray.
It's the only negative I would give Tamiya - and its UK parts backup.
