I love them all but when it comes to Tamiya or XXXXX its always Tamiya. They have earned my loyalty for who they are, their history and what they do. In a bake off, Tamiya every time.
@@RadiCalRaCer 😂 in a way you are right about that. But, Tamiya has a little edge and there are many upgrade parts available made by other manufacturers.
I’ve accidentally become a Tamiya fanboy in the past few years. There is something so appealing and lovable about their kits. The performance is always enjoyable…right up until you compare it to any other hobby grade car. Hard to argue that the Traxxas doesn’t win this comparison but it wouldn’t be my pick.
if u spend some money on them they can esily be compare to the same price cars from other factory, again i gor mine xsa for 75 circa eros, i spend 80 between hop up and brushless chep combo and now it is absolutely great.. only thing i do not like is the weight distribution on the back
The performance is always enjoyable…right up until you compare it to any other hobby grade car. Nothing compares to a tamiya kit but thx for your negativity.
Ive had my DT03 racing fighter black edition for a year now and its been a great runner. The black edition is an upgraded full build it yourself kit that comes with bearings, metal drive shafts, adjustable turnbuckles and a torque tuned motor. After that I added a few more aluminium upgrades to make it more durable. Also added the 19T pinion and the sport tuned motor which take it up to 25 MPH.
I’ve had both buggies and the spec you want if the dt03 is the black edition come as a kit but a load of hop ups included on the kit and you get a slightly quicker motor. The bandit is very out dated and goes back to 1994 but it’s pretty bomb proof, the Tamiya isnt bad either . If you tube the fighter up it will out preform the bandit , it’s a more moder. Design for a start , Dow. Side there’s no slipper on the dt03
This is an excellent side-by-side review and test. In the U.S. the Bandit is the choice because of the parts availability. When working with young people in a school club I have found the Bandit holds up well and is easy to work on. The Tamiya body looks great.
Love both buggies, great choice of cars for a video. We have a DT03 Tamiya with a 13.5 brushless Reedy motor and a few more hop ups. It's a blast to drive! If you like to wrench on your cars the Tamiya is great.
I’ve had loads of fun with both! Put a cheap 4300kv, 60a brushless combo in the DT-03, 2s power is a blast! I enjoy the build, but both are great! Nice one Phil!👍😊
Too true I got a cheap combo of banggood 3650 4370kv n 60amp esc and bought the turnbuckle set and bearings so for an xtra £60 on top of £115 for the kit she’s fast 💨 I got 37mph outta mine. I like the traxxas aswell but the Tamiya just looks nice with the black and orange 😎
Right now I'm at the beach, having a ton of fun with my DT03 equipped with sand paddle tires and a cheap 3500KV Brushless system. This thing is a blast! Very robust and easy to handle, even at high speeds. :D And due to the fact that the DT03 was so cheap when it got released I just bought a second one for about 60€ just for the spare parts. So everything on this truck can break once until I have to buy the more expensive spare parts. ^^
My dt03 is brushless to and with the bearings, shocks and diff the buggy is tough as nails. If you can handle waiting on parts the dt03 is my go to buggy for bashing. I really havent broke much
Yah these are a good comparison. Traxxas definitely has more tech in bash ability. I love throwing Surpass or Goolrc brushless in my Tamiyas and then driving them with finesse.
I have both , you need to get a tamiya bz motor to get the dt03 competitive with the bandit speed wise . The quality of the Traxxas Bandit is far superior to the Tamiya straight out of the box . But building the Tamiya and doing hop ups to the buggy is where the fun is with Tamiya. The Traxxas is just kind of boring to me as far as looks go but right out of the box you can’t beat it for the money. Great comparison Phil .
I’ve done a racing fighter and did her brushless with the full turnbuckle set and big bore shocks she did 37mph on a 5200mah 100c 2s lipo and is now a shelf queen 👑. For looks the Tamiya’s orange and black just works and looks a bit posher than the traxxas 🤩 great comparison video and I think the traxxas is more bashable. The dt-03 cars are easy to build and great fun for an entry car? If you don’t want to build it buy the traxxas? But both nice buggies, top video 😎👍
Buy whichever one you like and have fun with it! If you go with the Tamiya, you're selling yourself short if you don't build the kit though. The Bandit is no doubt superior in performance, but if you just buy it and drive it, how can you truly appreciate it?
If you're going for durability go with the Bandit. I personally would get the Tamiya just because I'm an old fart but if you're buy a RC for a kid or just want something to bash around take the Traxxas. Easily upgradable as you learn, that Bandit can be turned into so may things with all the different parts you can put on it.
Ive had both. Currently have the tamiya and while I really love it. Parts are easier to get for the traxxas which is a huge plus. My dt03 is a beast with some mods.
I'm for the bandit, yes I love tamiya but, traxxas buggys are easy to work on, the plastics are very good, handling is good, spares are easy to find and they are strong.
That was an awesome video! The clarity is stunning. Two great buggys from two great companies - can't go wrong! I'd love to see how the Tamiya would perform with the same motor/esc that comes in the Bandit. Terrific comparison and well done! 👍🏻👍🏻
I have a VXL brushless Bandit- I LOVE it- SO FUN to drive- not quite as fast as my 4wd Rustler... (my Rustler has MEGA upgrades) and I like the take it out of the box- put in battery, DRIVE.... no fiddling with radio and stuff- I like simple.
I have both Traxxas and Tamiya if I was getting one one these for my grandchild I would get the Tamiya because it is a great RC to learn on. Because if he/she builds it I believe he/she will appreciate it more . Then I would step up for the VXL Bandit for them
Ever since the first Bandit I hated the proprietary wheels. They are not hex drive so you cannot use after market rims and tires. You can only use the Bandit wheels and tires.
I'd definitely go for Tamiya... But only for the kit version. I love the building part. And then the upgrades. And the painting. Here you go. Oh, I've got soft place for Traxxas too. Rustler is my big favourite from them. But nothing beats the Tamiya aura. And you can always replace the motor for some more juice so it competes with the Bandit. After all, where I live, Bandit is about 20% more expensive than the Tamiya buggy (and that's with the cost of remote and servo for the Tamiya) so why not use this money to level the chances? Nice work with the video, thx.
Great assessment, although I would say getting the kit version of the Fighter Buggy might be a better choice since it is fun to build and if you are really new to the hobby it teaches you a little bit about how these cars are put together. My first RC vehicle was the TRX 4 and it scared me to do anything with it, but after putting together my Neo Fighter buggy together I got more comfortable taking things apart.
Hello Mr. Tomley. I just viewed this video (as well as many of your previous videos) and I have to say, I like your YT channel the best. Your video production quality is on another level. Plus you do not blab on and on about useless information. Clear, concise, and to the point, with awesome montages at the end of your videos. Your channel is a winner! Fred
Tamiya looks, performs, and is fun! traxxAss is shit.... i have had ONE traxxas and never again, it was a boat (villain ex) and it destroyed one of the motor connectors (to the prop shaft) after like 2 runs
Great video, it would be great to see more comparison videos like this at the cheaper end of the market. My budget for rcs is around this bench mark and I love buggys so this was a great watch for me. Thanks 👍🏻
@@TomleyRC yeah it's good because it's budget but not super cheap and naff.. This is a tough one because I prefer the look of the tamiya but the bandit performs so well and both have upgrades available. I just don't love the bandit body..
$150 US and HARD TO BREAK... Only replaced 1 $10 part,, Can’t think of anything cheaper for better ? Will go 35mph with the extra gears that comes with it. At my Hobby Shop the cheapest 1 is $80 and is Tiny...
Speed and jumps are one thing, but how about turning radius? Which would handle better at a track, or just tight corners? I'd like to see what they do with the same motor and gear setup. I had a bandit, but wasn't impressed with the pushing through corners, under steering etc.
Totally agree with you the it's not a fair review as the electronics are not the same. Let's see him do it again with equal parts and see what the out come is then.
@@alexhardwick2855 Well no, because then the Tamiya would cost more, pushing it out of contention completely as you would have to put that extra money into the Bandit too. If it's about going ultimate all round with Hop-ups, Bandit is gonna win that too. Tamiya CHOSE to not give a servo and to provide a laughable motor stock. Could Tamiya match Traxxas and beat them at the same price point? Absolutely! Yet they don't.
@@TheRealHoltzy Yes they do! I bought Tamiya DT03 Racing Fighter BLACK EDITION 99€ on Lindinger ... full steel dogbones , full bearings , 19t pinion , Torque Tuned motor , adjustable steering rods , high torque servo saver , etc ... everything in the box . You just need to get the right kit , in the right shop. And a basic DT03 (same as the orange one in this video) KIT version costs 79€ (not RTR , THAT IS STUPID to me , cause you get 50% pleasure off) // When the cheapest Traxxas Bandit (only RTR ... sooo stupid) costs 230€ . + Traxxas TQ radio is crap cause NO DUAL RATE = servo stalling and die (even a 20 bucks Flysky radio has dual rate) + Traxxas 2wd front wheel are NOT 12mm hex so you need to pay $$$ for Traxxas specific wheels / 60 bucks the set of 4 !!! Dont fall in the TRAPxas ;)
@@Madprax One correction, the TQi does have adjustable travel, but it's not adjustable on the transmitter itself. You have to plug it into an iPhone (and specifically an iPhone because Traxxas hates people with common sense) to access any of the settings that aren't trim or servo reverse. Still better than the old TQ/TQ2/TQ2.4, though.
Having owned both Traxxas and Tamiya, I can honestly say that Traxxas far outperforms Tamiya in every way. However, I still love Tamiya for their simplicity and awesome looks.
Both are awesome! Big fun for small money. I've owned a Bandit and still have a Tamiya kit (M02-L VW Beetle), and really like both. Only one broken part between 'em, and was an easy fix with parts available locally
I definitely prefer the look of the Tamiya, but having owned a couple of original release kits back in the day, I might be biased?!! I would be putting bearings in either car, and, as you said, a nice brushless system for it. It looks like a good stater car to get into the hobby, especially if you're younger. 😀👍🏻
Hi tomley, so i just got the the racing fighter dt03 now, Feb 2023. The best price i could find in germany was between 179 and 199 euro for the bandit and between 74 (i gor it) and 105 euro for the tamiya. I already got electronics and servo but at my local shop i would have paid around 30 euro for both (so total of 100 euro for me, since i got the 74 euro price). So for me personaly i got a price difference of almost 100 euro between the two buggy and if u have some experience in the hobby and some spare electronics and part a good percentage of people who got the tamiya xsa would have paid also 74 euro like me. I also had already the torque tuned motor, the metal bushings and a lot of spare parts from a dt02 (blow up cause of a battery). I can't say nothing for the bandit, i love traxxas , i own a slash, and i think it that bandit can be an absolute incredible first car brushed and brushless at a decent difference price. Said that, if u already are in the hobby and u need a brushed buggy for some carpet/ offroad race , u have spare parts and electronics, get absolutely a xsa racing fighter. The xsa looks far better, is fare easier to control and u can play with it anywhere, u can upgrade it too and at a cheaper cost than the bandit (in comparison with branded official upgrade for the bandit ) and overall it is a very basic fun car to have and play around at the right moment. It is also all about the place, the avaibility and the race u take part to.
Yeah in EU the X-SA Racing Fighter is around 85 Euro now which is excellent value if you have radio/receiver/battery already and are ready to mod it a bit with bearings, steel 19t pinion and a banggood 3300kv brushless system for 35 Euros. 45 km/h and runs really nice if you toe out the front tires a few degrees.
@@Tamichtube i also modded the same way i have a goolrc 3650 kv brushless, metal bearing, i also got all the hop ups tamiya pffers for dt03 ( from ball diff to stabilizer, metal driveshaft etc) i got the metal 19t but i highly prefer the 17t cause pf the grat acceleration and response since i mostly do little races with it and also the 19 overheat like craxy brushed and non brushed motor. the alu pinion doesn‘t wear off as much as it said so i use the stock one and i have a spare too. on thing, the battery last a LOT, my 2s 5000 mAh lipo lasts mor than an hour before going into safe mode . it is also a great basher with jumps and absolutely catastrofic landing held its own.. one thing was the cheap esc that has to be reprogrammed since the xogging is very bad stock settings.
@@Tamichtube and also,have u noticed the crazy weight distribution on the bavk and reght side of the car… what were they thinking. even the battery slide all the way the back
@@enricomiceli5517 It's quite back heavy which is needed for a 2wd to give the rear tires grip, and I thought it was hampering steering. But after I gave front tires some toe out, it drives a lot better and don't understeer as bad as it did before. I never noticed any big weight difference left and right though.
The Bandit has my vote. I definitely think it's tougher, faster and the shocks are a LOT better, but the Fighter looks cool... like the roots of RC racing ... the RC10.
straight answer traxxas but for collection purposes will suggest to take also the tamiya... tamiya is known having plastic and brittle materials... money wise and parts wise traxxas if used for plaing not displaying... nice video Phil.
Tamiya 100% of the time. I used to like Traxxas when I was a kid but am boycotting them because of their terrible behavior as a company and the sheer number of companies they have destroyed by their greed, dishonesty, and manipulation of the legal system.
Got both, both brushless and great fun. Traxxas wins for me only because you can get a wheelie bar - the fighter is impossible to keep the nose down brushless.
I'm a fan of both makes. and I have cars/trucks from both... I prefer the Tamiya's for the on road and loose sufaces. Traxxas I prefer for extreme bashing.
Tamiya all day long. Ive got several vintage Traxxas and Tamiya and the street fighter is about as good as it gets for a 2wd buggy. That being said you Need them both! The more the merrier!
I've got a Racing Fighter, but I converted mine to a DT-02 Sand Viper, at least for the most part. Even with a Torque Tuned motor it goes pretty well, and handles really well. It would be interesting to see how the Racing Fighter goes with the same (or equivalent) motor as the Bandit though......
I know you went with the X-SA Tamiya so the comparison is fair, but a crucial factor when talking about Tamiya and "nostalgia" is building them from a kit. The Bandit afaik only comes RTR.. most Tamiya buyers will be buying the full kit. Irrespective of upgrades, the value difference is at least partly in the build and the warm, snuggly feelings it gives you when you see your little chick leave the nest. I just ordered a Racing Fighter with 4600Kv brushless and some upgrades on a bundle deal.. hardly more expensive than the Bandit, and I'm sure it will dust it for top end, plus I'll enjoy every moment of putting it together.
I love my DT-03, I threw a 4000kv brushless motor and 3S lipo in mine and it HAULS. I need to get it up and going again for sure, cooked the motor so I think I'll throw my 5000KV in and run it 2S.
Love them both. As a child in the 80’s I had Tamiya. The Monster Beetle and the Lunchbox, they were great. Most of my adult life I’ve had traxxas and have always had very good luck with their nitro cars as well as some very recent electric cars. Right now, I guess I’m a traxxas fanboy 😂 But, I also have a few Team Losi, and have had one associated Rc10 GT with a dynamite .12 engine. All were great, reliable, and durable. But, I’m not a basher. I’m a normal driver who knows if I break it, that’s more money outta my pocket 😂 Great video, Phil. 🙌🏼
If you wanted to choose between these two go with bandit. Metal gears and ball bearings inside transmission. Comes with servo. All it needs is a battery. Tamiya needs servo and radio system. Tamiya ESC is not lipo compatible. Bandit comes with more powerful 550 12t motor . Both need bearings in the wheels.
Me personally I would choose the tamiya. However I would buy the kit. I get an amount of satisfaction from the finished product but the weirdo in me almost enjoys the build more.
I'm always late to the party! I agree with your assessment, nostalgia...maybe Tamiya, however, the Traxxas is like 30 y/o! I do like the look of the Tamiya body but the wing looks out of place. US dollars here the Tamiya X-SA Racing Fighter DT03 is $191.99 and the Traxxas Bandit is $199.95. The Tamiya needs a steering servo, battery w/charger, transmitter w/receiver. The Bandit is ready to run. The tire size is also noticeable in your video. I haven't owned the Tamiya, fyi. I have owned several Bandits (as well as other RCs) and will say you will not find a better starter, hobbygrade-RC than the Traxxas. Cheap enough, replaceable parts, upgradeable, fairly durable and gets the beginner tuning and twisting some screws. Thanks for the comparison but this is a no-contest. Cheers!
Fair review. Those XB built kits From Tamiya are really about the paint job to me. I am big on Tamiya but never use their ESC.or silver can.....unless it is in a Grasshopper. Looks wise, it has to be the Tamiya. Good video and fair comparison. 👍🏼
Yes tamiya are nostalgic but omg why so expensive for pure plastic? When there is other rc options out there that are built to last. Like tamiya offer metal upgrades for every part. Instead of buying a tamiya new buy all the metal upgrades and build your own just out of hop ups.
That was a very good review! I think you mentioned everything we need to know 👍 I have the exact same tamiya and put in etronix 21t and metal ball raced and it’s pretty cool with Carson all terrain wheels tyres! I’ve wanted the bandit and will probably get one, but maybe the vxl?? Or juice up the brushed ?? Great review thanks for your upload 👍🙏
The Tamiya is nice, fun......but will break down when driven in same way as Traxxas. Bought DT-03 for my wife, which she drove 2 times, at most 2minutes, when first run shock tower broke after small impact....and the next time after hitting curb the chassis broke. Traxxas platform is same as rustler, which I molested for last 4 yr, without any big problems besides broken steering knuckle.
I love the Tamiya for looks, better looking hands down. But I think the Bandit is a bit better suited for upgrades, the trans has metal gears already installed if I recall correctly.
Yes it already has metal gears, same as the brushless VXL version. So no problem upgrading to a 3S brushless system. All my 3 Traxxas 2wd were born brushed, but are now 3S brushless
Big fan of both these brands. Tamiya got me into the hobby and i've got a bandit exactly the same. If you had the titan 12t motor in the tamiya it would be a good combo.
Over here in the u.s. its hard to find XB tamiyas, so it would be $189.99 for the bandit, and $111.99 for a dt03 kit. That leaves $78 for a $35 radio/rx, $22 for a hobbywing 1060, a light $10 servo and a $15 550 motor off of Amazon to put you within a few dollars. Either way, it really comes down to preference with these two. Both tamiya and traxxas have a different character to their products. For me, its the dt03 because I grew up with tamiya
That was a nice comparison Phil, but you need to put bearings in the Tamiya because the Bandit already has full bearings in it. Then you might get the Tamiya car up to 20mg house! Ha! Ha!
Tamiya hands down. When you start having real cars doing what these new cars are doing then we can have a talk. Plus!!! There is nothing better than building your own car. I don't want RTR!!!
Just bought the Bandit for my son and this thing absolutely rips right out of the box. Using my existing batteries and the fact it comes ready to run with a remote for 169.99 is a no brainer.
I've got a Racing fighter that I build last Xmas that came with a Torque tuned motor and I built it with bearings and its good fun. I bought a 4000kv brushless combo for an upcoming Df03 build that I thought I'd try in the DT tonight. On 3s in the small area I was in it was hilarious. Much more drivable on 2s with the brushless though. I'll have to try and get some decent speed measurements with it.
I used to race my hornet against my mates frog, a few years apart, the frog was over engineered but awesome, my hornet was simpler and faster. So many hours swapping batteries to make it equal but my hornet was genuinely faster. Anyway tamiya got me into the the hobby. But, big but, I wish they'd move forward and not rely on the beautiful nostalgia.
I can't stand the looks of Traxxas, but you can't deny that they are one tough RC car, hardly ever break, cheap and easy to work on, and at a pretty good price point RTR...
Got a $35 Ghoul on my Ruster & Love it !, it’s no vxl but Definitely an Upgrade.. with a 2s Lipo Can wheelie at any time. A wheelie bar is a MUST & will ride it out..... Hit or Miss with Ghoul though, guess I got lucky.
Fun facts: First Traxxas model was a rebranded Tamiya model (The names "The Cat" "Fiero" and "The Frog" ring you any bell?), Yoshio Tamiya founded Tamiya company in 1948, being currently the oldest rc model production company in the world and also the first to introduce an rc model. The only company whose quality has not decreased, it has been maintained and improved over time. It is the most recognized manufacturer of rc models worldwide together with Kyosho. All of its motors are manufactured by Mabuchi Motor, a leader in the industry and it is also known for its enormous overall quality of plastics (despite its sometimes fragile appearance) and electronic components, as well as for maintaining spare parts for its models for decades. Great comparison, thank you, sir!
I like both but I find the Traxxas is just a little bit more capable all round. I like my DT-03 but it's not as good at bashing imho. Maybe because it's more optimised for entry level racing. As an example, I find when doing improvised jumps on random terrain, if it doesn't land nice and flat, it's quite prone to rolling over whereas the Traxxas seems to have better damping and more travel and it seems to be able to land awkwardly and recover better. Thicker damper oil can help a fair bit on the Tamiya, though. They give you 400CST but 800-1000 works well. Firmer springs at the back don't go amiss, either. Both good fun though. I like driving my DT-03 at the beach with paddles on.
Great video ive been waiting for someone to put up a video comparing entry level Traxxas with a comparable Tamiya . Your pick of buggies to showcase couldnt be better.
My tamiya experience is limited to my superhornet. So from Experance the bandit. But I already have a bandit and kinda wanna put together a proper tamiya kit
The Tamiya looks to have a wider steering column than the Traxxas blue buggy. The Tamiya reminds me of the first generation of the Tyco Turbo Hopper I use to own. The Tamiya has a more narrow rigid body as opposed to the wider Traxxas body style. I favor the Tamiya for looks, but the Traxxas for speed.
I`ve been a fan of Tamiya since 1984 . My first r/c was the Grasshopper. Loved it! I still like Tamiya but I think they are more of an r/c model. Meaning not really durable. However still own several and enjoy them all. Traxxas is very durable very durable.. I even raced Team Losi for a bit loved them before they sold out. Now I just bash with my nephew and we use the Traxxas. I still own several r/c vehicles and most are Tamiya. Coo; show keeep it up .
The tamiya definitely looks cooler for me never been impressed with the look of a lot of traxxas models! Great RC's though.
I love them all but when it comes to Tamiya or XXXXX its always Tamiya. They have earned my loyalty for who they are, their history and what they do. In a bake off, Tamiya every time.
Hell yeah!!
History for overpricing cheap plastics that break all thé time
@@RadiCalRaCer I treated my Hornet like crap as a kid making it jump over a 3inch high concrete speed hump and it never broke.
@@RadiCalRaCer 😂 in a way you are right about that. But, Tamiya has a little edge and there are many upgrade parts available made by other manufacturers.
19T pinion & Sports Tuned motor and the DT03 runs lovely
I’ve accidentally become a Tamiya fanboy in the past few years. There is something so appealing and lovable about their kits. The performance is always enjoyable…right up until you compare it to any other hobby grade car. Hard to argue that the Traxxas doesn’t win this comparison but it wouldn’t be my pick.
It’s easy to fall for a Tamiyas, you are not alone 😅
Me too.... Tamiya
Im in the same boat as you. Love the Tamiya brand.
if u spend some money on them they can esily be compare to the same price cars from other factory, again i gor mine xsa for 75 circa eros, i spend 80 between hop up and brushless chep combo and now it is absolutely great.. only thing i do not like is the weight distribution on the back
The performance is always enjoyable…right up until you compare it to any other hobby grade car.
Nothing compares to a tamiya kit but thx for your negativity.
Ive had my DT03 racing fighter black edition for a year now and its been a great runner. The black edition is an upgraded full build it yourself kit that comes with bearings, metal drive shafts, adjustable turnbuckles and a torque tuned motor. After that I added a few more aluminium upgrades to make it more durable. Also added the 19T pinion and the sport tuned motor which take it up to 25 MPH.
Love your buggy and tamiyas but they can't hang on the 20s..
I’ve had both buggies and the spec you want if the dt03 is the black edition come as a kit but a load of hop ups included on the kit and you get a slightly quicker motor. The bandit is very out dated and goes back to 1994 but it’s pretty bomb proof, the Tamiya isnt bad either . If you tube the fighter up it will out preform the bandit , it’s a more moder. Design for a start , Dow. Side there’s no slipper on the dt03
This is an excellent side-by-side review and test. In the U.S. the Bandit is the choice because of the parts availability. When working with young people in a school club I have found the Bandit holds up well and is easy to work on. The Tamiya body looks great.
Nice. I’m still enjoying my Turbo Scorpion, which your video made me buy. That meets all my nostalgia needs but with metal parts, it’s a bit fragile.
Turbo Scorpion is such an nice buggy
Love both buggies, great choice of cars for a video. We have a DT03 Tamiya with a 13.5 brushless Reedy motor and a few more hop ups. It's a blast to drive! If you like to wrench on your cars the Tamiya is great.
I’ve had loads of fun with both! Put a cheap 4300kv, 60a brushless combo in the DT-03, 2s power is a blast! I enjoy the build, but both are great! Nice one Phil!👍😊
Too true I got a cheap combo of banggood 3650 4370kv n 60amp esc and bought the turnbuckle set and bearings so for an xtra £60 on top of £115 for the kit she’s fast 💨 I got 37mph outta mine. I like the traxxas aswell but the Tamiya just looks nice with the black and orange 😎
Right now I'm at the beach, having a ton of fun with my DT03 equipped with sand paddle tires and a cheap 3500KV Brushless system. This thing is a blast! Very robust and easy to handle, even at high speeds. :D And due to the fact that the DT03 was so cheap when it got released I just bought a second one for about 60€ just for the spare parts. So everything on this truck can break once until I have to buy the more expensive spare parts. ^^
Sounds awesome… and yeah, they are really well priced!
My dt03 is brushless to and with the bearings, shocks and diff the buggy is tough as nails. If you can handle waiting on parts the dt03 is my go to buggy for bashing. I really havent broke much
Yah these are a good comparison. Traxxas definitely has more tech in bash ability. I love throwing Surpass or Goolrc brushless in my Tamiyas and then driving them with finesse.
Yes, cheap upgrades to go fast!
I have both , you need to get a tamiya bz motor to get the dt03 competitive with the bandit speed wise . The quality of the Traxxas Bandit is far superior to the Tamiya straight out of the box . But building the Tamiya and doing hop ups to the buggy is where the fun is with Tamiya. The Traxxas is just kind of boring to me as far as looks go but right out of the box you can’t beat it for the money. Great comparison Phil .
Thanks for your comment. Perhaps I consider Tamiya in the future and learn to appreciate the brand with its quirks.
First mod for both would be bearings.
Howbout an XLX2 1100kv combo?! 🤣
I've had a bandit run well over 100mph
Absolutely.
The Bandit is big and more bulky I dig it ! But I'm a huge Tamiya Fan that xpert build should come with some hop--ups out of the box
I'll get some use out of those bushings. But eventually bearings.
I’ve done a racing fighter and did her brushless with the full turnbuckle set and big bore shocks she did 37mph on a 5200mah 100c 2s lipo and is now a shelf queen 👑. For looks the Tamiya’s orange and black just works and looks a bit posher than the traxxas 🤩 great comparison video and I think the traxxas is more bashable. The dt-03 cars are easy to build and great fun for an entry car? If you don’t want to build it buy the traxxas? But both nice buggies, top video 😎👍
I would prefer Bandit for bashing. Tamiya for shelf-queen.😄
Buy whichever one you like and have fun with it! If you go with the Tamiya, you're selling yourself short if you don't build the kit though. The Bandit is no doubt superior in performance, but if you just buy it and drive it, how can you truly appreciate it?
If you're going for durability go with the Bandit. I personally would get the Tamiya just because I'm an old fart but if you're buy a RC for a kid or just want something to bash around take the Traxxas. Easily upgradable as you learn, that Bandit can be turned into so may things with all the different parts you can put on it.
Ive had both. Currently have the tamiya and while I really love it. Parts are easier to get for the traxxas which is a huge plus. My dt03 is a beast with some mods.
I'm for the bandit, yes I love tamiya but, traxxas buggys are easy to work on, the plastics are very good, handling is good, spares are easy to find and they are strong.
Durability/parts availability. Easy decision. Bandit! Not to mention brushless upgrade.
That was an awesome video! The clarity is stunning. Two great buggys from two great companies - can't go wrong! I'd love to see how the Tamiya would perform with the same motor/esc that comes in the Bandit. Terrific comparison and well done! 👍🏻👍🏻
I have a VXL brushless Bandit- I LOVE it- SO FUN to drive- not quite as fast as my 4wd Rustler... (my Rustler has MEGA upgrades) and I like the take it out of the box- put in battery, DRIVE.... no fiddling with radio and stuff- I like simple.
I have both Traxxas and Tamiya if I was getting one one these for my grandchild I would get the Tamiya because it is a great RC to learn on. Because if he/she builds it I believe he/she will appreciate it more . Then I would step up for the VXL Bandit for them
I'd definitely go with the Bandit but the Tamia has potential with a few hop ups I'm sure it would be a decent little buggy Cool vid Tomley 🔥👍✌️
Thanks dude
Ever since the first Bandit I hated the proprietary wheels. They are not hex drive so you cannot use after market rims and tires. You can only use the Bandit wheels and tires.
@@wheelie642 Yeah that does suck
I'd definitely go for Tamiya... But only for the kit version. I love the building part. And then the upgrades. And the painting. Here you go. Oh, I've got soft place for Traxxas too. Rustler is my big favourite from them. But nothing beats the Tamiya aura. And you can always replace the motor for some more juice so it competes with the Bandit. After all, where I live, Bandit is about 20% more expensive than the Tamiya buggy (and that's with the cost of remote and servo for the Tamiya) so why not use this money to level the chances? Nice work with the video, thx.
Uh oh! Tamiya back in action!
Always gonna be a good video.
Cheers dude
Great assessment, although I would say getting the kit version of the Fighter Buggy might be a better choice since it is fun to build and if you are really new to the hobby it teaches you a little bit about how these cars are put together. My first RC vehicle was the TRX 4 and it scared me to do anything with it, but after putting together my Neo Fighter buggy together I got more comfortable taking things apart.
Same here. Did my first tamiya kit last winter (tt02r) and it definitely gives you alot of knowledge building from the ground up
I agree.. although a lot of people now just want to plug it in and go play
Hello Mr. Tomley. I just viewed this video (as well as many of your previous videos) and I have to say, I like your YT channel the best. Your video production quality is on another level. Plus you do not blab on and on about useless information. Clear, concise, and to the point, with awesome montages at the end of your videos. Your channel is a winner! Fred
Fred, massive thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate the feedback, and glad you like the videos 😎👍
Definitely!
Tamiya looks the part. Traxxas performs it.
Tamiya looks, performs, and is fun! traxxAss is shit.... i have had ONE traxxas and never again, it was a boat (villain ex) and it destroyed one of the motor connectors (to the prop shaft) after like 2 runs
Tamiya is style, traxxas is for newbs
@@xismxist so you base your entire experience off of a defective vehicle?
@@ezraredgwell ofcourse i do
@@xismxist isn't that nice
Great comparison! 👍
I know people who race the bandit in the novice 2wd class. Nearly racing grade.
Awesome
Great video, it would be great to see more comparison videos like this at the cheaper end of the market. My budget for rcs is around this bench mark and I love buggys so this was a great watch for me. Thanks 👍🏻
Yes, I do like to do more wallet friendly stuff
@@TomleyRC yeah it's good because it's budget but not super cheap and naff.. This is a tough one because I prefer the look of the tamiya but the bandit performs so well and both have upgrades available. I just don't love the bandit body..
$150 US and HARD TO BREAK... Only replaced 1 $10 part,, Can’t think of anything cheaper for better ? Will go 35mph with the extra gears that comes with it. At my Hobby Shop the cheapest 1 is $80 and is Tiny...
It's up to which buggy has the best part support where you live.
Speed and jumps are one thing, but how about turning radius? Which would handle better at a track, or just tight corners? I'd like to see what they do with the same motor and gear setup. I had a bandit, but wasn't impressed with the pushing through corners, under steering etc.
Sounds to me like the Tamiya needs a Holmes hobby 12-turn 550 in it and a new ESC. I'd like to see how they match up when the electronics are equal.
Totally agree with you the it's not a fair review as the electronics are not the same. Let's see him do it again with equal parts and see what the out come is then.
@@alexhardwick2855 Well no, because then the Tamiya would cost more, pushing it out of contention completely as you would have to put that extra money into the Bandit too. If it's about going ultimate all round with Hop-ups, Bandit is gonna win that too. Tamiya CHOSE to not give a servo and to provide a laughable motor stock. Could Tamiya match Traxxas and beat them at the same price point? Absolutely! Yet they don't.
@@TheRealHoltzy Yes they do!
I bought Tamiya DT03 Racing Fighter BLACK EDITION 99€ on Lindinger ... full steel dogbones , full bearings , 19t pinion , Torque Tuned motor , adjustable steering rods , high torque servo saver , etc ... everything in the box .
You just need to get the right kit , in the right shop.
And a basic DT03 (same as the orange one in this video) KIT version costs 79€ (not RTR , THAT IS STUPID to me , cause you get 50% pleasure off) // When the cheapest Traxxas Bandit (only RTR ... sooo stupid) costs 230€ . + Traxxas TQ radio is crap cause NO DUAL RATE = servo stalling and die (even a 20 bucks Flysky radio has dual rate) + Traxxas 2wd front wheel are NOT 12mm hex so you need to pay $$$ for Traxxas specific wheels / 60 bucks the set of 4 !!!
Dont fall in the TRAPxas ;)
@@TheRealHoltzy
On the flip side, by buying the Racing Fighter you're not giving money to a fucking patent troll.
@@Madprax
One correction, the TQi does have adjustable travel, but it's not adjustable on the transmitter itself. You have to plug it into an iPhone (and specifically an iPhone because Traxxas hates people with common sense) to access any of the settings that aren't trim or servo reverse.
Still better than the old TQ/TQ2/TQ2.4, though.
Having owned both Traxxas and Tamiya, I can honestly say that Traxxas far outperforms Tamiya in every way. However, I still love Tamiya for their simplicity and awesome looks.
I would say yes to both comments… but with a little change in electronic components, the dt03 can run as fast as a xl5 bandit.
Both are awesome! Big fun for small money. I've owned a Bandit and still have a Tamiya kit (M02-L VW Beetle), and really like both. Only one broken part between 'em, and was an easy fix with parts available locally
I definitely prefer the look of the Tamiya, but having owned a couple of original release kits back in the day, I might be biased?!! I would be putting bearings in either car, and, as you said, a nice brushless system for it. It looks like a good stater car to get into the hobby, especially if you're younger. 😀👍🏻
I prefer the looks of the racing fighter over the bandit, but the the bandit seems to be better quality
I made my mind up early too, however I dislike both. The Tamiya certainly looks like a better buggy.
Hi tomley, so i just got the the racing fighter dt03 now, Feb 2023. The best price i could find in germany was between 179 and 199 euro for the bandit and between 74 (i gor it) and 105 euro for the tamiya. I already got electronics and servo but at my local shop i would have paid around 30 euro for both (so total of 100 euro for me, since i got the 74 euro price). So for me personaly i got a price difference of almost 100 euro between the two buggy and if u have some experience in the hobby and some spare electronics and part a good percentage of people who got the tamiya xsa would have paid also 74 euro like me. I also had already the torque tuned motor, the metal bushings and a lot of spare parts from a dt02 (blow up cause of a battery). I can't say nothing for the bandit, i love traxxas , i own a slash, and i think it that bandit can be an absolute incredible first car brushed and brushless at a decent difference price. Said that, if u already are in the hobby and u need a brushed buggy for some carpet/ offroad race , u have spare parts and electronics, get absolutely a xsa racing fighter. The xsa looks far better, is fare easier to control and u can play with it anywhere, u can upgrade it too and at a cheaper cost than the bandit (in comparison with branded official upgrade for the bandit ) and overall it is a very basic fun car to have and play around at the right moment. It is also all about the place, the avaibility and the race u take part to.
Yeah in EU the X-SA Racing Fighter is around 85 Euro now which is excellent value if you have radio/receiver/battery already and are ready to mod it a bit with bearings, steel 19t pinion and a banggood 3300kv brushless system for 35 Euros. 45 km/h and runs really nice if you toe out the front tires a few degrees.
@@Tamichtube i also modded the same way i have a goolrc 3650 kv brushless, metal bearing, i also got all the hop ups tamiya pffers for dt03 ( from ball diff to stabilizer, metal driveshaft etc) i got the metal 19t but i highly prefer the 17t cause pf the grat acceleration and response since i mostly do little races with it and also the 19 overheat like craxy brushed and non brushed motor. the alu pinion doesn‘t wear off as much as it said so i use the stock one and i have a spare too. on thing, the battery last a LOT, my 2s 5000 mAh lipo lasts mor than an hour before going into safe mode . it is also a great basher with jumps and absolutely catastrofic landing held its own.. one thing was the cheap esc that has to be reprogrammed since the xogging is very bad stock settings.
@@Tamichtube and also,have u noticed the crazy weight distribution on the bavk and reght side of the car… what were they thinking. even the battery slide all the way the back
@@enricomiceli5517 It's quite back heavy which is needed for a 2wd to give the rear tires grip, and I thought it was hampering steering. But after I gave front tires some toe out, it drives a lot better and don't understeer as bad as it did before. I never noticed any big weight difference left and right though.
Good comparison as they are super close on price. Probably Traxxas for me as it looks more durable
The Bandit has my vote. I definitely think it's tougher, faster and the shocks are a LOT better, but the Fighter looks cool... like the roots of RC racing ... the RC10.
straight answer traxxas but for collection purposes will suggest to take also the tamiya... tamiya is known having plastic and brittle materials... money wise and parts wise traxxas if used for plaing not displaying... nice video Phil.
Thanks dude
I just ordered a Bandit, can't wait to get it now! Thanks for the advice!
I've seen people put 3,000 brushless motors in those and those Hall butt with those. The Tamiya.
I have Tamiya, traxxas, associated, Losi, hpi, they are all fun.
I like my Tamiya's but the bandit would easily be my choice. 👍
Tamiya 100% of the time. I used to like Traxxas when I was a kid but am boycotting them because of their terrible behavior as a company and the sheer number of companies they have destroyed by their greed, dishonesty, and manipulation of the legal system.
Got both, both brushless and great fun. Traxxas wins for me only because you can get a wheelie bar - the fighter is impossible to keep the nose down brushless.
Yes, the Bandit is certainly built for a bit more speed and abuse
I'm a fan of both makes. and I have cars/trucks from both... I prefer the Tamiya's for the on road and loose sufaces. Traxxas I prefer for extreme bashing.
Tamiya all day long.
Ive got several vintage Traxxas and Tamiya and the street fighter is about as good as it gets for a 2wd buggy.
That being said you Need them both!
The more the merrier!
i like both, tho Tamiya i got a palsma edge 2, lovely 4wd buggy. bought a brushed Bandit, also a lovely truck
I've got a Racing Fighter, but I converted mine to a DT-02 Sand Viper, at least for the most part. Even with a Torque Tuned motor it goes pretty well, and handles really well. It would be interesting to see how the Racing Fighter goes with the same (or equivalent) motor as the Bandit though......
Yes agree.. a bit more speed and I think it would be a closer match
I know you went with the X-SA Tamiya so the comparison is fair, but a crucial factor when talking about Tamiya and "nostalgia" is building them from a kit. The Bandit afaik only comes RTR.. most Tamiya buyers will be buying the full kit. Irrespective of upgrades, the value difference is at least partly in the build and the warm, snuggly feelings it gives you when you see your little chick leave the nest. I just ordered a Racing Fighter with 4600Kv brushless and some upgrades on a bundle deal.. hardly more expensive than the Bandit, and I'm sure it will dust it for top end, plus I'll enjoy every moment of putting it together.
I love my DT-03, I threw a 4000kv brushless motor and 3S lipo in mine and it HAULS. I need to get it up and going again for sure, cooked the motor so I think I'll throw my 5000KV in and run it 2S.
Very nice action of two videos. Bandit jumps!
Thanks mate. Yeah, the Bandit drives really nicely
Love them both. As a child in the 80’s I had Tamiya. The Monster Beetle and the Lunchbox, they were great. Most of my adult life I’ve had traxxas and have always had very good luck with their nitro cars as well as some very recent electric cars. Right now, I guess I’m a traxxas fanboy 😂 But, I also have a few Team Losi, and have had one associated Rc10 GT with a dynamite .12 engine. All were great, reliable, and durable. But, I’m not a basher. I’m a normal driver who knows if I break it, that’s more money outta my pocket 😂 Great video, Phil. 🙌🏼
If you wanted to choose between these two go with bandit. Metal gears and ball bearings inside transmission. Comes with servo. All it needs is a battery. Tamiya needs servo and radio system. Tamiya ESC is not lipo compatible. Bandit comes with more powerful 550 12t motor . Both need bearings in the wheels.
Nice to see you are getting some sponsors MORE EPIC VIDEOS
Me personally I would choose the tamiya. However I would buy the kit. I get an amount of satisfaction from the finished product but the weirdo in me almost enjoys the build more.
Tamiya for me. The look is much nicer. Put a motor more equally matched and it would out perform the Traxxas imo.
I'm always late to the party! I agree with your assessment, nostalgia...maybe Tamiya, however, the Traxxas is like 30 y/o! I do like the look of the Tamiya body but the wing looks out of place. US dollars here the Tamiya X-SA Racing Fighter DT03 is $191.99 and the Traxxas Bandit is $199.95. The Tamiya needs a steering servo, battery w/charger, transmitter w/receiver. The Bandit is ready to run. The tire size is also noticeable in your video. I haven't owned the Tamiya, fyi. I have owned several Bandits (as well as other RCs) and will say you will not find a better starter, hobbygrade-RC than the Traxxas. Cheap enough, replaceable parts, upgradeable, fairly durable and gets the beginner tuning and twisting some screws. Thanks for the comparison but this is a no-contest. Cheers!
Fair review. Those XB built kits From Tamiya are really about the paint job to me. I am big on Tamiya but never use their ESC.or silver can.....unless it is in a Grasshopper. Looks wise, it has to be the Tamiya.
Good video and fair comparison. 👍🏼
Yes agree… the paint and decals are almost perfect
Yes tamiya are nostalgic but omg why so expensive for pure plastic? When there is other rc options out there that are built to last. Like tamiya offer metal upgrades for every part. Instead of buying a tamiya new buy all the metal upgrades and build your own just out of hop ups.
Loved the off road, jumping footage. Bandit for me please.
Maybe you can have a go soon 😅
That was a very good review! I think you mentioned everything we need to know 👍 I have the exact same tamiya and put in etronix 21t and metal ball raced and it’s pretty cool with Carson all terrain wheels tyres! I’ve wanted the bandit and will probably get one, but maybe the vxl?? Or juice up the brushed ?? Great review thanks for your upload 👍🙏
VXL looks crazy! So yeah… get that haha
The Tamiya is nice, fun......but will break down when driven in same way as Traxxas. Bought DT-03 for my wife, which she drove 2 times, at most 2minutes, when first run shock tower broke after small impact....and the next time after hitting curb the chassis broke.
Traxxas platform is same as rustler, which I molested for last 4 yr, without any big problems besides broken steering knuckle.
I love the Tamiya for looks, better looking hands down.
But I think the Bandit is a bit better suited for upgrades, the trans has metal gears already installed if I recall correctly.
Yes it already has metal gears, same as the brushless VXL version. So no problem upgrading to a 3S brushless system. All my 3 Traxxas 2wd were born brushed, but are now 3S brushless
Tamiya gear box is a tank..No need for metal in this case..3s brushless all day even without a slipper
Nice footage and good review. More of these similarly priced comparisons please.
😎👌
I was pondering between the two. Ended up getting typhon! And love it!!!
Wow, the tamiya reminds me of my old fox!!!!👍👍👍
Big fan of both these brands. Tamiya got me into the hobby and i've got a bandit exactly the same. If you had the titan 12t motor in the tamiya it would be a good combo.
Yes… the Titan in the Tamiya would be good
@@TomleyRC Put that awesome motor in a tamiya... It's garbage after 10 minutes ... Tamiyas are only good on a shelf .
Over here in the u.s. its hard to find XB tamiyas, so it would be $189.99 for the bandit, and $111.99 for a dt03 kit. That leaves $78 for a $35 radio/rx, $22 for a hobbywing 1060, a light $10 servo and a $15 550 motor off of Amazon to put you within a few dollars.
Either way, it really comes down to preference with these two. Both tamiya and traxxas have a different character to their products. For me, its the dt03 because I grew up with tamiya
That was a nice comparison Phil, but you need to put bearings in the Tamiya because the Bandit already has full bearings in it. Then you might get the Tamiya car up to 20mg house! Ha! Ha!
Thanks Eric
Tamiya hands down. When you start having real cars doing what these new cars are doing then we can have a talk. Plus!!! There is nothing better than building your own car. I don't want RTR!!!
Very nice. Review much about speed and torque, so would have been nice to compare the gear ratios. Maybe even gear them the same and compare them.
Nice to see a comparison video using similar cars from different brands
Thanks Paul
I think the Tamiya looks like I could jump in and drive it ! I like that! 🏎💥!
Just bought the Bandit for my son and this thing absolutely rips right out of the box. Using my existing batteries and the fact it comes ready to run with a remote for 169.99 is a no brainer.
Any other bodies will fit to replace Bandit body?
Tamiya looks loads better.
Great video mate.... more of the same 👍
Thanks mate
Thanks for the vid! I could barely find any reviews on the X-SA fighter. And better yet, I comparison to the Bandit.
I have a separate review of the X-SA coming soon
@@TomleyRC Excellent. As much as the Bandit wins in overall performance, I am still leaning toward the S-XA Fighter. I look forward to your review!
I love my bandits, all 4 of them. But Tamiya is better looking, and they make nice stuff.
I like the presence of the Traxxas But I don't like its Rims, that chrome wheels make it more toyish instead of a Hobby-grade Model.
I've got a Racing fighter that I build last Xmas that came with a Torque tuned motor and I built it with bearings and its good fun. I bought a 4000kv brushless combo for an upcoming Df03 build that I thought I'd try in the DT tonight. On 3s in the small area I was in it was hilarious. Much more drivable on 2s with the brushless though. I'll have to try and get some decent speed measurements with it.
Japans creativity is always ultimate
I used to race my hornet against my mates frog, a few years apart, the frog was over engineered but awesome, my hornet was simpler and faster. So many hours swapping batteries to make it equal but my hornet was genuinely faster. Anyway tamiya got me into the the hobby. But, big but, I wish they'd move forward and not rely on the beautiful nostalgia.
I bought the bandit today and love it. Good fun. Keep the vids coming.
I can't stand the looks of Traxxas, but you can't deny that they are one tough RC car, hardly ever break, cheap and easy to work on, and at a pretty good price point RTR...
Great comparison. Maybe I'll add a Bandit to my collection
Thank you
Got a $35 Ghoul on my Ruster & Love it !, it’s no vxl but Definitely an Upgrade.. with a 2s Lipo Can wheelie at any time. A wheelie bar is a MUST & will ride it out..... Hit or Miss with Ghoul though, guess I got lucky.
Fun facts: First Traxxas model was a rebranded Tamiya model (The names "The Cat" "Fiero" and "The Frog" ring you any bell?), Yoshio Tamiya founded Tamiya company in 1948,
being currently the oldest rc model production company in the world and also the first to introduce an rc model. The only company whose quality has not decreased, it has been maintained and improved over time. It is the most recognized manufacturer of rc models worldwide together with Kyosho. All of its motors are manufactured by Mabuchi Motor, a leader in the industry and it is also known for its enormous overall quality of plastics (despite its sometimes fragile appearance) and electronic components, as well as for maintaining spare parts for its models for decades. Great comparison, thank you, sir!
I thought it was a rebranded Nikko f10 thunderbolt… but converted to hobby grade?
I like both but I find the Traxxas is just a little bit more capable all round. I like my DT-03 but it's not as good at bashing imho. Maybe because it's more optimised for entry level racing.
As an example, I find when doing improvised jumps on random terrain, if it doesn't land nice and flat, it's quite prone to rolling over whereas the Traxxas seems to have better damping and more travel and it seems to be able to land awkwardly and recover better.
Thicker damper oil can help a fair bit on the Tamiya, though. They give you 400CST but 800-1000 works well. Firmer springs at the back don't go amiss, either.
Both good fun though. I like driving my DT-03 at the beach with paddles on.
Great video ive been waiting for someone to put up a video comparing entry level Traxxas with a comparable Tamiya . Your pick of buggies to showcase couldnt be better.
My tamiya experience is limited to my superhornet. So from Experance the bandit. But I already have a bandit and kinda wanna put together a proper tamiya kit
Having owned cars from Traxxis and Tamiya, I'd say you can't go wrong with either one.
The Tamiya looks to have a wider steering column than the Traxxas blue buggy. The Tamiya reminds me of the first generation of the Tyco Turbo Hopper I use to own. The Tamiya has a more narrow rigid body as opposed to the wider Traxxas body style. I favor the Tamiya for looks, but the Traxxas for speed.
I have a bandit!!! Falls apart every time I use it but I beat the crap out of it so it’s only expected
I`ve been a fan of Tamiya since 1984 . My first r/c was the Grasshopper. Loved it! I still like Tamiya but I think they are more of an r/c model. Meaning not really durable. However still own several and enjoy them all. Traxxas is very durable very durable.. I even raced Team Losi for a bit loved them before they sold out. Now I just bash with my nephew and we use the Traxxas. I still own several r/c vehicles and most are Tamiya. Coo; show keeep it up .