Saturday, May 31, 2014

Traxxas Spartan Review- After 1 Year

It was a year ago when I was looking for some sort of water craft. I was so happy with my Summit that I looked at Traxxas. I saw the Spartan and it clicked. I saw one thing that pulled me. 50+ MPH!!! Sold. For $470 including the $15 of shipping. You do the math.

Testing: I could only run 2s LiPo batteries in testing because it is the only batteries that I have at this time.

Unboxing: The Spartan is wedged in the box, making it hard to get out (not really, just annoying). It came with the new-at-the-time TQi. It did come with batteries. Only 3000mah Nimh. No charger. I don't understand why RC vehicles come with batteries without chargers. 4 AA batteries in transmitter. Charged LiPos and Nimh batteries. To the water I went.

First run: First off, the batteries included were okay. But one thing. They suck compared to LiPo batteries. I could get about 10 minutes of run time with included batteries and about 30 minutes with LiPo batteries. It is nice with the batteries all the forward for rougher conditions. Hence I am in a river. An unforgiving river. The offset rudder makes it turn right well. It still turns left and it does pretty well.

Durability: It holds up quite nice. I rubbed it against poles and beached it but it just does not give out. A few battle scars but whatever.

Rough water: No. It flips easy.

Misc notes: Don't back up. Water get flung into the open compartment. The ESC gets hot so space runs and don't take it wide open for the whole run. I have seen people open the water pickup or split the tube.

Overall: I like it. Really. I hate that I can only drive it about 1/2 of the year. I recommend it to pretty much everyone.

8.8/10


Update: Use the comments for RC help also.

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