I'm looking at getting new radio and was wondering what the big differences are between these 2 radios. I'm running a sc10.

Mostly about $250 difference.

4PL is a good medium performance radio on FHSS (Frequency hopping Spread Spectrum) and comes out of the box with nice crawler features like dual ESC mixing and 4 wheel steering. It has all the adjustments needed for racing. It's a nice radio for the money and receivers are reasonably priced from $35-50.

The 4PKS and now the 4PKS-R is Futaba's top of the line radio and has all the bells and whistles of the 4PL and much more now that the -R has all the crawler mixing functions. It works on FASST ( Futaba Advanced Spread Spectrum Technology) and is faster than it's lower priced brother. It also has a drop down wheel and can be set up for a lefty. The receivers are around $100-120.

Can't see why you'd need more than what the 4pl already offers. I own the 4pl and only use about 20% of the radio's full potential.

Can you adjust servo speed on the 4pl?

Yes, and i'm pretty sure you can adjust steering curves as well.

So why is it a $250 difference. I'm just trying to justify the difference.

Someone has to cover their R & D.

The 4pk is well built, the steering wheel is a very solid unit, the case is very tough and it's built to last.

The 4pl is poorly constructed, the case can be very brittle in areas where it can ill afford to be, and there have been numerous cases of the steering stops breaking as they are cheaply molded into the case.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for. I had a 4pl, it lasted 2 months it's as well built as a Geely or Lada.

Ok again, you are the only person i have ever heard of having problems with this radio. Everybody on the other thread and everywhere else has never had problems with it. I'm sorry, but I think you have gotten the only defective 4pl in existence. You're entitled to your opinion. Ask anyone else that has used this radio and they will tell you much different.

+1

Have had my futaba 4pl for 2 years and had no issues so far

Agreed, it has now become the most prevalent radio by choice in my rock crawling club. Several have taken falls and other than a few scratches hold up well.

We also have a few 4PKs and to be honest they feel like they're constructed the same.

i was also intersted in both these radios. the 4pl had more than enough featres than i needed. the only reason i went with the 4pks was i like the way the radio felt in my hand better.

I run both radios for the money 4PL would be my choice, bought the 4Pks in the uk and the 4PL from H.K for £170 with two RX

Sort of off topic, but will the 4pks work with the 3 channel FASST 603ff receivers? I've got a 3PM-X right now and might upgrade.....

http://www.futaba-rc.com/systems/futk4901.html