I've been away from RC cars and racing for the last 7 years, and with the opening of a new track nearby, I'm thinking about getting back into racing. One of the classes that sounds interesting is the box stock TT-02 class. Rules are basically box stock TT-02s (no TT-02R, RR, STR, or any kits that don't include a body as part of the kit is allowed) with a spec tire and limited upgrades - ball bearings, servo horn, screws and alum center drive line (prop shaft). So I started looking at TT-02 kits and was immediately confused that the prices that vary by over $60 depending on the car included. The Celica GT (at least at the online site I'm looking at) is the cheapest and doesn't have much in the way of a wing or decals, and the Supra GT is the most expensive and has a plastic wing and lots of decals. So I am guessing price difference is based on the body and included decals and body wing, etc, but the Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, that has some decals but no rear wing (at least one that is bolted on, I believe it has a lexan spoiler molded into the body) is also the same price as the Supra GT and is $67 more than the Celica...is there a reason for this?

I guess a shorter version of my question could be: do all of the TT-02 stock kits have the exact same chassis or is one 'better' for racing than the others?

Also, is one body style better handling (I know, a stock TT-02 won't really 'handle' much)?

Thanks for your time in helping a fellow racer get back up to speed...(looks like I should update my signature as well)

About the only difference that I know if among the "box stock" TT02 kits offered is that the one with the Porsche 911 992 (GT3) is that you assemble the rear arms backwards, giving it a shorter wheelbase to match the body.
Other than that, pick one the you like and have fun! Welcome back!

My guess is the pricing varies due to licensing costs with the 1:1 car Mfg's. The only kit that I'm aware of that came with a "hard" chassis is the Mazda3 limited edition kit (comes with a hard red chassis). The TT-02RR came with a limited hard blue chassis (but not legal for Production class) and they had an optional white hard chassis many moons ago. I built my GT ProSpec from the Mazda kit since I wanted that red chassis ...LOL But you can buy the hard black chassis for like $10 so not a huge deal. Check with your race director first before buying the hard chassis to see if its legal in the Production class. Technically the Mazda3 that came with the hard red chassis is a standard TT-02 kit but not sure how race directors deal with that or if they just allow the optional hard chassis as one of a few allowed hopups.

The AMG GT3.. low cg.. and has a 'lightweight' wing.. but keep in mind.. it's a for fun class.. so buy the one that you think is cool..

The "rally" models come with rally block tires and smaller steel pinions, otherwise they're mostly the same.

If you want a bodyshell with low CoG and a wing, conside the older NSX or the Raikiri GT. At the speed of a stock TT02 and on friction shocks I doubt that body choice will make a significant difference.

It does make quite a difference.. I used to run a Mercedes 190 Evo DTM body.. cuz it looks great.. but all the extra weight of the cool ABS double wing made it very loose in the rear.. instantly improved when I removed all the bolt on plastic bits..

I was actually shocked at how much a body swap from the Mustang to the GT40 made in the way the car drives.......never going back to a tall body again....

That's interesting, maybe I need to experiment more. I do know that rounder "egg" body shells hold up better than boxy ones.

So is the SRX being discontinued? It has been out of stock most places for quite a while.

TT-02R question for a TCS GT ProSpec build...

Does the front spool option (22047) still require the universal axle kit (53792) or does the fact the TT-02R comes with metal axles from the factory mean they're not required?

Yup - it comes with metal dog bones.

While my R kit came with metal dog bones, I found them flying out during crashes just like other kits and swapped to universals right away and of course never had that issue again.

For TCS do we need to stick with ejection-bones?

Before someone chimes in with the "don't crash".... We should confirm that you did use the small red sponge dots on the outdrives, as specified in the instructions?
I only mention it because they are often overlooked or taken for granted by many who build the TT-02R

Lol....yeah I used the rubber donuts, at 49 years old I have finally begun reading directions......for the most part.

And yeah I don't crash as much but during the "un-crapping" period we go through with a TT-02 trying to get it to handle and balance I had enough mishaps and had the bones fly out regardless of them being metal.

I bought the car used just a day or two ago and I haven't had time to inspect if it's built to the exact standards of the manual.