Whats going on with team associated???
12-05-2014, 04:11 PM
#16
Here you go
12-05-2014, 05:49 PM
#18
Tech Addict
Thread Starter
It's a shame because they're my favorite brand but they're falling off hard.
12-05-2014, 07:44 PM
#19
You do realize you're talking about a company who's first vehicle was targeted directly to the racer, right? It remained that way for over a decade before any "basher" vehicles came from them. I'd argue that they need to drop the non race vehicles and refocus on the race market (along with Losi) but they want that money.
12-05-2014, 07:55 PM
#20
As far as I know from a source who works for AE, since they have been purchased by Thunder Tiger they are re-structuring. What I don't wanna see is more of the TT stuff being used by AE like in the ProLite SCT. This would make they're products cheaper. I've been a fan of AE since the mid 90's and I'm hoping that they will still bring out quality RC cars and trucks.
12-05-2014, 08:00 PM
#21
Tech Rookie
iTrader: (1)
I'm just coming back to hobby since my RC10 days in late 1980's. I recall trying to assemble that dang wiper speed control as a young teenager. Great learning experience though. Lot of great choices, but after research, looks like I'm going with dedicated high quality racing companies like kyosho, and new ones I disnt know about like serpent, Xray. I don't want mess market average stuff. Just quality for me.
Looks like three business models: really high volume and cheap parts, medium high volume and medium price, but upgrade parts or frequent replacement parts make up for not having high volume, and low volume high quality but you have to pay higher prices because the company has to spread overhead costs over less volume. Kyosho seems to straddle the high end high quality and medium volume medium quality.
Looks like three business models: really high volume and cheap parts, medium high volume and medium price, but upgrade parts or frequent replacement parts make up for not having high volume, and low volume high quality but you have to pay higher prices because the company has to spread overhead costs over less volume. Kyosho seems to straddle the high end high quality and medium volume medium quality.
12-05-2014, 08:23 PM
#22
12-05-2014, 08:41 PM
#23
Tech Regular
Wow thats a awful review. Looks like im scrubbing my plans to get the b5. I have a 4.1 and really like it. Im not a great driver by any means but ive only broke 3 arms in 2 years. And i send it tumbling all the time. I do have a set of rpm arms ready to go on when the time comes.
You can have quality issues with any company. I hear people praise TLR for their quality yet I have experienced missing and defective parts in the TLR kits I have purchased. Doesn't mean TLR is a bad company - it happens to all of them.
I think AE is headed in the right direction with the next gen cars and I think some of this chatter will subside once they update the rest of their race platforms.
12-06-2014, 03:14 AM
#24
12-06-2014, 04:28 AM
#25
I have yet to build an Associated car that didn't have any quality issues. I decided to give in and purchased my first new AE car to run in over 4 years. My LHS had a Black Friday sale on the B5M. Noted that the overall quality of plastics and finish has improved since my B4 days. The screws hardware is vastly improved. However it is still not as good as other high end manufacturers quality on overall build.You get what you pay for.
My kit had an under drilled hole size on the CVA coupler so I couldn't finish my kit. The oxide coating on the turnbuckles were making my fingers black! I have never encountered this on any other RC kit. These turnbuckles are going to rust fast. Also found an eye lash and two strands of hair in my kit. Gross. I still have to finish the car, hopefully won't run into other issues. Just poor quality control overall.
Associated support has been great but these things could have been taken care of up front easily. I'd be glad to work for them to address it since I work as a quality engineer. Haha
My kit had an under drilled hole size on the CVA coupler so I couldn't finish my kit. The oxide coating on the turnbuckles were making my fingers black! I have never encountered this on any other RC kit. These turnbuckles are going to rust fast. Also found an eye lash and two strands of hair in my kit. Gross. I still have to finish the car, hopefully won't run into other issues. Just poor quality control overall.
Associated support has been great but these things could have been taken care of up front easily. I'd be glad to work for them to address it since I work as a quality engineer. Haha
12-06-2014, 04:41 AM
#26
You do realize you're talking about a company who's first vehicle was targeted directly to the racer, right? It remained that way for over a decade before any "basher" vehicles came from them. I'd argue that they need to drop the non race vehicles and refocus on the race market (along with Losi) but they want that money.
That's fine and great. I personally couldn't care less about racing any more. Too much money, too much time, too many classes, too much sitting around waiting for my heat, too much of a PIA to find a pit guy, etc.. I do however still like 8th scale offroad RC's - a lot, and have an RC8T, RC8B, SC8, and SC8e.. (the SC8e is boring as hell and so is for sale.. Probably my best RC- the RC8T too, soon.. If I can even get a reasonable price for it, given that it's been out for five years, and in racing one year is ancient.....) Point is, I don't have to care about racing to dump money into the company. But I did. Lots. So did LOTS AND LOTS of other people. The RC8.2e had to be a huge money maker... Problem is, in racing you need ("need"....) an upgraded model every 10 months, and at the scale on which AE operates, that wasn't feasible probably. Which is unfortunate, because it's exactly what I liked about AE - so many cars based on the same platform sharing so many parts...
Part of the problem IMO is racing. It's too fractured(too many classes), and people take it way too seriously. Maybe they could do like Losi and make AE the racing side like TLR, and TT more the basher side.. Kind of seems like they're doing that anyway. TT btw does make great basher cars. Can't say AE is having the same success on the racing side... Huge mess over at AE. Unfortunately...
12-06-2014, 06:05 AM
#27
I'm an Associated supporter and I love my B5, no issues with the build and no broken parts despite my lack of driving skills. There is no question they have some outdated platforms.
The big red flag for me was when team driver Ryan Mayfield resigned and joined TLR. Like many of us, Ryan is racer, and racers want equipment capable of winning races. I have to believe that he saw some problems in management and/or development that he believes can not be easily fixed in the short term.
Like I say, I love my B5 but I'm afraid Associated is moving too slow, and lacking commitment and direction.
The big red flag for me was when team driver Ryan Mayfield resigned and joined TLR. Like many of us, Ryan is racer, and racers want equipment capable of winning races. I have to believe that he saw some problems in management and/or development that he believes can not be easily fixed in the short term.
Like I say, I love my B5 but I'm afraid Associated is moving too slow, and lacking commitment and direction.
12-06-2014, 06:44 AM
#28
12-06-2014, 06:47 AM
#29
I'm an Associated supporter and I love my B5, no issues with the build and no broken parts despite my lack of driving skills. There is no question they have some outdated platforms.
The big red flag for me was when team driver Ryan Mayfield resigned and joined TLR. Like many of us, Ryan is racer, and racers want equipment capable of winning races. I have to believe that he saw some problems in management and/or development that he believes can not be easily fixed in the short term.
Like I say, I love my B5 but I'm afraid Associated is moving too slow, and lacking commitment and direction.
The big red flag for me was when team driver Ryan Mayfield resigned and joined TLR. Like many of us, Ryan is racer, and racers want equipment capable of winning races. I have to believe that he saw some problems in management and/or development that he believes can not be easily fixed in the short term.
Like I say, I love my B5 but I'm afraid Associated is moving too slow, and lacking commitment and direction.
