Traxxas Bandit VXL Brushless 2wd RC Buggy Review

Over the past year or so I’ve developed a real love for anything Traxxas. They’re just so well built, they can handle all manner of abuse on the track or in the back yard, and spares are low cost and plentiful for most of their models. Recently I managed to get hold of a nearly new Traxxas Bandit VXL Brushless 2wd RC Buggy at a reasonable price, which came fully ready to run apart from batteries, so before it moves on to its new owner, I thought I’d do a brief review of the car and its performance.

This particular model is fitted with Traxxas’ proven Velineon Brushless motor and their VXL3s Speed Controller along with the 27Mhz version of their TQ radio system which again, has stood the test of time and is a well respected radio system among RC fans.

The model is fitted with Traxxas Anaconda 2.2″ tyres mounted on All Star 5 Spoke wheels. These particular tyres are designed primarily for street use and they look very very cool indeed, but they can also provide a formidable performance off road too on hard dirt and even grass, having good levels of grip in dry conditions.

As with all Traxxas RC Cars, the philosophy of simple is better has been applied to the Bandit 2wd buggy, with the chassis design kept rugged and purposeful, but having just enough room for adjustment where necessary. The battery compartment easily accommodated all the Lipo and NiMh battery packs I had to hand with ease.

 

Durable shock towers coupled with Oil Filled Shocks both front and rear ensure the Bandit can handle even the roughest terrain with little trouble. At the rear, the gearbox houses the usual adjustable slipper clutch, designed to protect the motor and gearbox from excessive strain during running and acceleration. The motor is well protected by a tough plastic rear cage and there’s plenty of ground clearance too without the buggies centre of gravity being too high.

The body shell on the Bandit is perhaps a bit of an acquired taste, not being as sleek and curvy as some other 2wd buggies on the market, but it definitely grows on you, and with the black and red paint job, it’s instantly recognizable, even from a distance. As with the majority of the body shells from this manufacturer, it’s very tough indeed, being maybe twice as thick as any Tamiya equivalent, and whilst it came in used condition, there was and still is little damage to the shell or rear wing. Just a couple of small creases in the rear wing and a little worn paint are all there is on the wing in there ay of wear and tear and a tiny split to the hole where the front body mount goes on the main shell.

Traxxas Bandit VXL in action

I didn’t have long to test it this morning as it had just started to rain and was getting heavier by the minute, plus technical issues with the video camera meant I was only able to run it for a few minutes.  For testing purposes I grabbed a freshly charged HPI 4000mah Lipo and headed to the park. The initial run was on a compacted mix of dirt, sand and gravel. First impressions were than the Velineon VXL is very well matched to the Bandit, with remarkably quick acceleration from standing, even with the anaconda tyres clinging on to the ground for dear life! Top speed is good for bashing and recreational use, and would give my slash a run for its money on asphalt that’s for sure.

On loose ground there is a tendency for the buggy to under-steer if you corner to sharply, but that’s the case with most 2wd buggies I’ve tested. At high speeds the front end has a slight tendency to bounce and float a little, but a few grams of extra weight at the front end would help keep it in check a little more.

See this buggy in action…

Moving onto grass, the back end of the Bandit does have a bit of a mind of its own with these tyres on if the grass is wet, so investing in a set of spikes for running on grass and loose gravel would be well worth it. Once the tyres do get some purchase though, there’s no stopping it, and the 27Mhz TQ radio system has one of the best ranges out of the many radio systems I’ve used over the years.

Finally… Onto home territory for those tyres… Asphalt! Even with the surface getting wetter by the minute, the grip from the Anaconda tyres was excellent give great performance in corners with way less under-steer than on dirt.

I ran the Buggy for around half a batteries worth of charge before the rain really set in and I decided to call it a day, but the Velineon motor had hardly even warmed despite being ran pretty hard for the time I was there, and acceleration from this venerable power plant was enough to lift the front end a few times even just running it on 7.4V!

The ESC (Electronic Speed Control) in this particular buggy is the VXL3s which is waterproof (always a good thing), and features Sport Mode with forward, reverse & brake, Sport Mode -- forward and brake only, and Training mode which is great for younger drivers as it allows you to run the car at 50% power output. It also features low voltage protection to protect your Lipo batteries too.

The only thing that isn’t waterproof on it though is the receiver, which is mounted close to the edge of the chassis. I’d highly recommend waterproofing the unit with either a sealant or enclosing it in a balloon to keep moisture out and allow you to run it in all weather.

In Conclusion

A very nice buggy to drive. I didn’t have long to run it, and the opportunities for jumps at our local park are limited, but from the brief spell I did have running it, indications are it’s a very capable buggy indeed. Good, solid construction, with no fussy features, but the ability to tweak the essentials is what this buggy gives, and the VXL/Velineon Brushless combo certainly gives you the high speed thrills you’d expect from Traxxas.

The Bandit is currently available in Ready To Run format only, which means it comes fully assembled, with all electronics pre-installed, and a powerful Traxxas NiMh battery pack. In the versions currently available, the radio system has recently been upgraded to

 

More Essential Reading...