HPI Racing are one of the leading manufacturer’s of nitro and gas powered RC vehicles. But for a higher price tag, are you really getting the best RC vehicle out there? VVTec cares to differ; our vehicles meet a higher standard of quality and offer more features than HPI’s product line. Here to prove it to you is a comparison between their Baja 5 Series (Baja 5B and Baja 5T) and our 4WD Series (TB1, Titan, and Boxer).

VVTec Four Wheel Drive (4WD) vs. HPI Baja Two Wheel Drivete (2WD)
Right off the bat, 4WD is going to be a huge advantage over conventional 2WD. With power being delivered to all four wheels, you’ll never have to worry about getting stuck in a rut or not being able to power over large obstacles. 4WD offers better power transfer for faster performance, and increased traction for a huge increase in handling. For any vehicle that’s being used off the pavement, 4WD is going to be the obvious choice.

Full Metal Alloy Shock Towers
VVTec’s 4WD Series feature alloy metal shock towers, which offer huge increases in durability. The shock tower is the area which connects the top of the shock absorbers to the chassis. Obviously, this component takes a lot of stress and impact, as the force from the shock absorbers is transferred to the chassis. The Baja Series feature plastic shock towers – not something you want to put through a lot of abuse.

28 cc HPO Engine vs. 26 cc Fuelie Engine
VVTec’s 4WD Series feature super large 28 cc displacement gasoline engines, while the Baja Series feature smaller 26 cc engines. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure those numbers out. More displacement equals more power, and at roughly the same size, a 28 cc engine is going to give you a much better power-to-weight ratio. That all important ratio determines how much acceleration and top speed your vehicle has. This one is simple: bigger is better.

CNC-Cut Single-Piece Chassis vs. Two-Piece Chassis
In terms of impacts and abuse, the chassis is probably the most important component of the vehicle. The Baja Series uses a two-piece anodized 6061 aircraft aluminum chassis. The VVTec 4WD Series uses a one-piece CNC-cut anodized 6061 aircraft aluminum chassis. The difference? A one piece chassis cut from a single piece of metal is going to be much more rigid, stable, and durable. Any time you substitute two pieces when you could use one, you’re going to run into maintenance and reliability problems down the road. Any engineer will tell you that a one-piece is the way to go.

Full Metal Servo Gears vs. Plastic Servo Gears
VVTec’s servos feature all-metal internals; the Baja features hybrid metal and plastic gears. Plastic gears wear down over time, decreasing performance and precision, and eventually requiring replacement.

Plastic Spur Gears vs. Metal Spur Gears
The Baja 5B features part-plastic transmission spur gears, which are often the first component to wear out. VVTec’s series feature all metal transmissions, which last much longer.

Full Dirt Protector vs. Slotted Dirt Protector
The side of the chassis on both the VVTec 4WD Series and Baja Series feature dirt protectors to guard internals from debris. However, VVTec’s feature a plastic full-piece design so nothing can penetrate. The Baja Series feature a metal slotted design which allows debris to get in, despite claims otherwise.

Price
Ultimately, with all the advantages that VVTec offer, you would expect to pay more! But VVTec offers a better product at a better price – approximately $800 USD (delivered) compared to approximately $1200-$1400 USD for the Baja lineup.

The Details
The above differences really do set VVTec’s 4WD Series apart from HPI’s Baja Series. The rest of the vehicles’ designs are very similar – both feature high-durability metal steering components, full-metal independent suspension with large, high quality shock absorbers, tough polycarbonate bodies, all-steel transmission/clutch/drive-train construction, high quality electronics, and viscous torque differentials with aluminum case. It’s the important details listed above which make VVTec’s 4WD Series a better purchase – and at a lower price, there’s really no argument.