Mugen - Very stable and you drive it like a dirt bike. It is heavy which will keep you from getting in trouble if you jump a little wrong. You need to throw this car into the turn to be fast. Uses a lot of motor because of the weight. Parts are easy to get. They make a truggy and buggy. The buggy is the best of the two in the race world.
Kyosho - Stable and a little floaty. It is like it is detatched like being in a Lexus. I don't think the parts quality is as good for the base kits. Parts are expensive and a little harder to find. Check your LHS. The Kyosho does not need a lot of motor to go fast and this car can steer or rotate in a corner. This handeling characteristic makes it a favorite among a broad range of racers. The buggy and truggys are equal in the race word. People that like Kyosho almost follow it like a cult. They are great in the rough and typlicaly seem faster on outdoor tracks. World Champs over and over again!
Losi - Not as stable out of the box as the others because it is very light in comparison. It is a jumper that has goobs of steering. It is very easy to go fast with very little motor. This car is sensitive to setup changes and likes to be driven on center. Mostly sedan and electric racers tend to like this car more. Durability is very good as most parts get replaced from wear and not breakage. Set it up and forget it. Does not take a guru to run this chassis. LHS should carry parts but check for availability. It is very cost effective to run this car. The Truck is a real standout on the track in its class. If you favor a more precision approach then the Losi line of vehicles could be for you. My pick for the 08' Worlds car to beat. Currrent US Champ.
Xray - This is the BMW of RC cars. The fit and finish along with other refinements really stand out. Adjustability is the name of the game here. They can go extremely fast or be slow. I have found they are truly only as good as the setup guy behind them. They have taken this to an unmatched level. Run what ever motor suits you and you will be fine. They are in the middle weight catagory. Parts are expensive but they last forever. Maybe the most durable cars built. Not quite as stable as the Mugen or Kyosho and they tend to favor steering over rotation when cornering. These cars are pure bred racer and can be easy to overdrive. Check LHS for availablilty. If you want impecable qualitly then get the new EC edition. In the race world their truck is smoking fast. They have done a fine job for their first stab at Tuggy racers. Worlds TQ in 06'. Should have won by a mile!
Jammin - This is the most stable platform. It is rock solid on the track. Fit and finish is on the low end of these kits so far. It is cheap to run these cars and the parts seems to be getting better with every batch. They have a lot of influence from the racers here the US and abroad. It is medium in weight but it can easily handle lots of motor because of the stability. It is super stuck and does not need as much tire as the others. It gets loose in the fit department but it stays fast. The truck is equal to the buggy in the race world. Parts are hit and miss but they are very cost effective. If you are going to a blown out track you should not overlook the Jammin if it is available.
Hyper 8.5 - Very well balaced platform. Not quite as durable as the top cars in the class but just a good drive. This car is the most neutral and it does not take a good setup guy to make it a go fast car. It likes motor being medium in weight. It can steer well but likes to rotate equally. You can drive it either way. The parts are super cheap but they will wear. This car is not supported as much as it should be here in the states. The truck is an equal performer to the buggy. Check for availability. Current European Champ.
If I left someone out it is because they either do not have both a buggy and truck, or the design is not as accepted as the others. I'm not familiar with the CEN products.
Hope this helps,
TEX
