no they are NOT made by the same manufactureing facility.
they are also not as robust. you ll need to replace nearly all the plastic with stock HPI Parts to make it even remotly close to the durability of the actual HPI Baja. besides anyone that buys the clone, is only killing the ability HPI has to release a new large scale, like an onroad sedan or f1, or a 4x4 1/5th scale.
buy a clone (or anything with a Integy lable on it, you will kill the innovation and new releases is what it boils down to.
__________________
HPI Baja SS-Hooters
HPI Baja RTR- Mean Green
Traxxas Slash- Mtroniks Genesis/EZRun 4460
Traxxas Slash- Stock (getting Novak 4.5R)
all ran with a Nomadio React-best damn radio on the market
ya there a couple saying that apply.
1. theres a sucker born every minute
2. (my favorite) a fool and his money are soon parted
__________________
HPI Baja SS-Hooters
HPI Baja RTR- Mean Green
Traxxas Slash- Mtroniks Genesis/EZRun 4460
Traxxas Slash- Stock (getting Novak 4.5R)
all ran with a Nomadio React-best damn radio on the market
Do your research, it is out there on the web. Read what the people that own them have to say about them. I own one of each and have my own thoughts on them, and unless you actually talk to people that have first hand experence with any product they don't know what they are talking about....it is all just hear say.
These clones and off-brand cars are starting to hurt the hobby. I work in one of the hobby shops in Dallas, TX and we are getting a ton of people walking in all the time with these clones/knock-offs broken. They get furious when we tell them that we don't have to the parts to fix them and have to go back to the online shop where they purchased it. At least with the Baja clone, you can use the HPI parts. However, with many of the 1/10th scale clone/knock-off cars, you can't use the parts from the cars that they were modeled after.
Like the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for." When you try to be cheap with this hobby, don't get mad at the LHS and their workers because you tried to cut corners.
These clones and off-brand cars are starting to hurt the hobby. I work in one my the hobby shops in Dallas, TX and we are getting a ton of people walking in all the time with these clones/knock-offs broken. They get furious when we tell them that we don't have to the parts to fix them and have to go back to the online shop where they purchased it. At least with the Baja clone, you can use the HPI parts. However, with many of the 1/10th scale clone/knock-off cars, you can't use the parts from the cars that they were modeled after.
Like the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for." When you try to be cheap with this hobby, don't get mad at the LHS and their workers because you tried to cut corners.
So true...this is where the research part comes in.
I will also say that ANY 1/5 scale car is not the best thing for the new person to the hobby. They are big, fast, big, expensive...did I say big.
They all are hard on parts, no matter if it is an FG, HPI or some chinese knock-off.
So true...this is where the research part comes in.
I will also say that ANY 1/5 scale car is not the best thing for the new person to the hobby. They are big, fast, big, expensive...did I say big.
They all are hard on parts, no matter if it is an FG, HPI or some chinese knock-off.
As I have learned over the years, most people are lazy, don't want to do the research, and try to be cheap. Here is an example I have from two weeks ago:
A guy comes into the store and want to get a r/c with everything, something that he doesn't have to assemble, wants it to go at least 50mph, and did not want to spend $100. When I told him that we had nothing like that new or even on consignment and he went ballistic on me (in front of his 3 yr old son). I calmly tried to reason with him but he did not want to hear it. Even my co-workers in the car department told him the best he could do was the RC 18R for $150. He eventually bought a Mini Blade RTR Heli but still spent $135 after taxes so he did not accomplish his $100 mission and even copped attitudes with the plane dept employees over the price.
So, until people get over that old Domino's Pizza slogan, "Get something for nothing", it will always be an issue. Many want Ferrari-quality stuff at Kia prices.
They also want this stuff to be Tonka tough when they slam it into curbs, cars, walls, into the water, etc. I have tons of stories about customers wanting their monies back after trying to show off for friends and tearing the car up after slamming it into something at full speed, then claiming it was defective.
Sorry for my rants, but between ignorant consumers and cheap clone/knock-off products, it is a wonder why I still work part-time in this business.
As I have learned over the years, most people are lazy, don't want to do the research, and try to be cheap. Here is an example I have from two weeks ago:
A guy comes into the store and want to get a r/c with everything, something that he doesn't have to assemble, wants it to go at least 50mph, and did not want to spend $100. When I told him that we had nothing like that new or even on consignment and he went ballistic on me (in front of his 3 yr old son). I calmly tried to reason with him but he did not want to hear it. Even my co-workers in the car department told him the best he could do was the RC 18R for $150. He eventually bought a Mini Blade RTR Heli but still spent $135 after taxes so he did not accomplish his $100 mission and even copped attitudes with the plane dept employees over the price.
So, until people get over that old Domino's Pizza slogan, "Get something for nothing", it will always be an issue. Many want Ferrari-quality stuff at Kia prices.
They also want this stuff to be Tonka tough when they slam it into curbs, cars, walls, into the water, etc. I have tons of stories about customers wanting their monies back after trying to show off for friends and tearing the car up after slamming it into something at full speed, then claiming it was defective.
Sorry for my rants, but between ignorant consumers and cheap clone/knock-off products, it is a wonder why I still work part-time in this business.
This is an intersting point we're thinking of buying kits building them then marking them up. Specially the Baja SS even made to order if they pay for it. But I also have extensive 3d heli experience.
As I have learned over the years, most people are lazy, don't want to do the research, and try to be cheap. Here is an example I have from two weeks ago:
A guy comes into the store and want to get a r/c with everything, something that he doesn't have to assemble, wants it to go at least 50mph, and did not want to spend $100. When I told him that we had nothing like that new or even on consignment and he went ballistic on me (in front of his 3 yr old son). I calmly tried to reason with him but he did not want to hear it. Even my co-workers in the car department told him the best he could do was the RC 18R for $150. He eventually bought a Mini Blade RTR Heli but still spent $135 after taxes so he did not accomplish his $100 mission and even copped attitudes with the plane dept employees over the price.
So, until people get over that old Domino's Pizza slogan, "Get something for nothing", it will always be an issue. Many want Ferrari-quality stuff at Kia prices.
They also want this stuff to be Tonka tough when they slam it into curbs, cars, walls, into the water, etc. I have tons of stories about customers wanting their monies back after trying to show off for friends and tearing the car up after slamming it into something at full speed, then claiming it was defective.
Sorry for my rants, but between ignorant consumers and cheap clone/knock-off products, it is a wonder why I still work part-time in this business.
I know where you are coming from...I worked retail as well. You know what they tell you....the customer is always right, but after you work retail you know that every customer is an a-hole unless proven differently, at least you are only part time.
You have those people everywhere you go, and I am so glad I don't work retail any longer. I personally think that there is a place for both products, I know many will disagree, but I doubt that people like turtle, darksoul, ddm and the like would be doing the business they are if there was no clones, not to mention the hpi parts that are sold if the clone you buy is a hpi knock off.
Especially in this economy, these large scale cars are going to become one of the first thing that is put on the back burner, or sold for pennies on the doller.
..in a nutshell the Baja clones are visually and dimensionally identical but uses inferior materials (and no they are not made by the same people), so everyone that buys one will at some point end up buying real Baja replacement parts (this includes the engines). And yes I/we have several of the popular clones. We actually got a call from someone that sells them today asking us for driving/tuning tips...
im pretty sure darksoul,turtle,fasteddy,and all the other guys that make all the killer 5b/5t stuff will agree that the clones are a ripoff of HPI and i really doubt they would miss any bussiness generated by clones especially when bottom feeders like integy are directly ripping off designs from the "little guys"
I am not going to say one thing or the other, but I can say I have had what few experence....I have owned both side by side at the same time. Where there differences, sure.....are there $400 worth of differences...that is up to each to decide on their own. I won't say what I sold and what I kept as it will tarnish what I say.
And if you get down to the bottom line are people like "darksoul,turtle,fasteddy,and all the other guys..." doing HPI harm? After all you buy the phat shafts, you are taking money out of HPI's pocket...money that they invested to make the product. It does not matter if the turtle parts are better or not, every turtle clutch bell you buy is one less HPI clutch bell that is sold, taking money right out of HPI's pockets.
And it goes for everything from RPM arms to the slash to RPM arms for the 5B. If you want to say that clones take money away....sorry to say that the "tuner" parts have to be lumped in there with them as well.
In the case of RPM though, their stuff is a ton more durable than Traxxas', so when a Traxxas part breaks, the $10 lost to RPM is made up for by the person's truck's a-arms that brole 3 or 4 times and were replaced by genuine parts.
HPI BAJA 5B CLONES
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