Duratrax Mini-Quake Reviews

[robifon]

Guys,

I bought a TLT-1 a while ago and sold it pretty quickly since I wasn't very impressed with it. I thought the center tranny unloaded way too easily. I also thought getting to the engine would be a real pain in the butt...

Anyhow, I also have a Mini-Z Monster which is fun for tooting around the house but forget about anything outside...

I was thinking about the Mini-Giant but it really hasn't pushed me over the edge...

I also had a Mini-T but I have never really enjoyed stadium trucks that much and a smaller one didn't make it any funner for me (it has since been sold)...

The Duratrax Mini-Quake looks rather compelling. Stock out of the box it looks funner than any other mini vehicle. It is the closest thing to a mini-E Maxx that I have seen. The E-Maxx happens to be my favorite electric vehicle so a mini version would be great.

Has anyone played with one?

If so what do you think about it?


Thanks

[TheJANG]

Unfortunately they aren't out yet, but I'll be happy to talk about them once I get mine and have a chance to kick the tires & drive it around the block a few times!

[robifon]

Guys,

I just picked up a Mini Quake from Towerhobbies for about $150 shipped and with no tax (I have always been a big fan of Tower). Anyways, I should have it next week. This truck looks like the mini monster I have been waiting for. Once I get it and have time to play with it I will send out my impressions.


Later

[CooLJoE]

150? Howd you manage that?

Best I could do (before shipping) is $159 (179 regular price, 20 discount on 150+ orders). Of course I went and got next-day shipping, so I'll have mine tomorrow.

[robifon]

For some reason the original price they gave me for the blue one was $173.99 which is cheaper than the advertised price. I then got $20 off that price. I am a Tower club member so I get free shipping for anything over $150. I was in no rush to get the vehicle since I am still working on my brushless E-Maxx and playing with my Revo...

So my actual price was $153.99 exactly (just a bit over $150).

Have fun!

[pixelator]

Our store will have one tomorrow. I'll post my impressions, then (because, naturally, it's going to be a demo model - lol).

I think it looks pretty solid so far - Duratrax makes a decent Evader series which I find a better overall rig than the Traxxas equivalents. We'll see...

[CooLJoE]

The only thing I don't like about the Mini Quake is the wheels (so far...I'll know more tomorrow). They are incompatible with the current crop of mini truck wheels/tires (well...wheels anyways...not sure about tires). The Duratrax design for mounting wheels is more like that of the MicroRS4. Hopefully someone makes an adapter or comes out with CVDs (and possibly hub carriers) that change it over to accept current mini truck wheels.

Thats my one gripe so far.

[CooLJoE]

Well I got mine today, I posted my thoughts in the MiniQuake thread that is in the MiniOffroaders News section.

So far, I like it.

[Starfox9]

I just picked one up for my lil bro who is 6 and he already broke the front bumper and two axle's. They snapped off inside the gear so its an absolute ¤¤¤¤¤ to get out. The bumper, axles, and ¤¤¤¤¤¤ non-ajustable turnbuckles are major weakpoints. I want to see hop-ups to fix these problems soon Duratrax! Right now my stance says its leaning more to the toy side then an actual competetive racer with other 1/18's.

[CooLJoE]

Howd he break the bumpers?

When I first ran mine, I was doing fullspeed runs in my house and hit a couple walls dead on (walls behind where I was standing, so I didn't see them until too late). No broken bumpers here. I agree about the outdrives (what you called axle...same problem that half the MQ owners are having) and turnbuckles. Duratrax already has CVDs and adjustable turnbuckles coming as hop-ups (they are listed on the included parts sheet).

[Starfox9]

Ahhhhh...thats what they are called. Thanks for letting me know. He went almost full speed into the walls and other anchored objects id say about 8-10 times and some of them were not flat but skinny. So since we live on earth and the laws of physics apply its more apt to break when you run into skinny stuff and expecially if you hit on the side of the bumper. Its kinda hard to explain where it broke but you know those two skinny pieces of plastic that connect the actual bumper to the place where you screw it into the truck? Well the top two pieces snapped. :d