The hardened ones are 53217.

I just bought a M04 Alfa today and after a few hours it came together really easily. I think it helped that my first ever kit was a TL-01 because it's very similar.

It looks as if the sway bars for this car have been discontinued? part #53382? I heard they were a worthy addition but if I can't get them I'll just have to go without I guess, same for the motor heat sink.

Anyone have a good idea on a starting spring rate for carpet? I have threaded TRF shocks on it with yellows front and back as I had them lying around collecting dust. I've found lots of set-up sheets for the FWD cars but nothing for the RWD cars.

A number of revisions to our site up online now..

New "Which car is better" page. Answers all your questions about the various M chassis types and what's different.

New "What bodyshell fits my car?" page. Finally a comprehensive listing of all the bodyshells and what fits what.

And, a new addition to our Media gallery with a new car painted to replicate Aussie World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss' Championship winning Ducati.

Thanks.... I don't have a mini but have been considering getting one. No one in my area has one so can't get much help there. Also it gets kinda old trying to follow a thread when you don't have the car. So that's cool you put it in your sig and hopefully us casual lurkers see it to get this question answered without running the risk of getting flamed or mocked for not reading 90+ pages of posts.

Fair enough, but you have to realize that asking "which whatever is better" is kind of like asking "how high is up?". There are SO many variables that may or may not apply to your situation, and EVERYBODY has an opinion.

If no one in your area has anything like this, I wouldn't worry so much about what's "better"--I'd go with what strikes your fancy. No one here races Tamiya (much less Minis). I have always LOVED the "classic" minis, so I bought one to play with during breaks in our racing program. The brilliance (bwah-ha-ha) to my plan is that I think a few of the guys want 'em now, and since I've started the ball rolling it looks like classic Minis it is.

Scottrik

car
 

funny u say that thats what mini's do to people as soon as they see them run and see how fun they r they want 1..... the key is they r fun to drive and as soon as u put every mod u can on it and lap the field the other drivers will quit because they now need to spend more money to get it faster ...thats what happend at our track....... ;)

Understood and point taken..... however just knowing the M03M is the newest and has a few upgrades from the others is good enough for me. Since I may be the first to get one its mostly for fun and to play around... maybe they'll let one of my boys run it in our sportsman class if nothing else.

I think I made it fairly clear on the site that none of the cars is 'better' than the others... But I deliberately worded it that way in my signature because thats inevitably what people ask.....

At least now people can go straight there, and get the facts. And hopefully, then go out and buy a Mini! Or two, or three......

BTW, the ABC Hobby 4WD Nissan Sunny Pickup is now on sale. 12800yen I was quoted by RC Champ (around 108 USD) plus shipping. Mine is already on its way here...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/anthonygray/Sunny_Truck.jpg

Quote from RC-Mini.net
 

The following is a direct quote from www.RC-Mini.net

OK, THE question that seems to get asked 10 times a week on every forum and Message Board is "Which car is better?" and "What are the differences?" We get a little tired of typing the same info all the time, so here it is...


The drivetrain and basic chassis are EXACTLY the same on M03 SWB, M03M and M03L. Front to back, identical apart from colour. The difference is only in length. SWB is 210, MWB is 225, LWB is 240, and any of the chassis can be made into another with the addition of the appropriate chassis spacer.
Some people will tell you that they handle differently, they don't really. Its purely personal preference, nothing more. Any handling differences are no more than you can alter yourself through set-up. There is NO significant difference.

Which car to buy? Unless you have a serious Mini Cooper fetish (not a bad thing in our eyes) go for the 58368 Swift M03M kit. Why? It has important upgrades in the suspension area. New front knuckles and C hubs (stronger so you don't need to buy the optional alloy knuckles that you need on the other cars) and the 2 degree toe-in rear hubs are also standard. AND...it includes wheel bearings too so you only need to buy a few for the transmission.

That's it, as simple as that.

Tony is the Sunny truck a Body set or a car kit?

Complete kit only at the moment. :(

Hopefully just the bodies will be available soon.

i am definatly gettin that body if it ends up coming in just that.

Do you have pics of the ABC Hobby chassis?

Yep...

http://home.iprimus.com.au/anthonygray/cha07.jpg

Just a quick one, will the 49355 TRF Blue shocks fit the M03M and other Tamiya minis for that matter?

Thanks. :)