HPI Baja 5B ss
The featured car in the new RC Driver (March 2008 issue) is the HPI Baja 5B ss. This baja buggy is a 1/5 scale, extremely realistic gas powered rc car that is propelled by a 26cc engine. It runs around $950 and comes as a full kit version, meaning you get the fun of putting it together yourself. Some of you might be thinking “WOW, that is expensive!”, which at first I would agree. Once i read through the article i began to understand why the price was so high. This GPRC (gas powered remote controlled) car is the creme of the crop, or top of the line. The original 5B came RTR and was more of a standard buggy, although it was boasted as being the best large scale off-road buggy you could buy. The new SS model is more than just a full kit, it also features every option HPI has developed over the past year, a larger engine, and a bunch of other improvements.
The HPI Baja 5B ss is for intermediate to expert drivers, having all the bells and whistles, and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 46MPH. As a heads up, this kit comes with what seems like a thousand parts and can take a couple of days to put together. The good news is that the instructions are very clear and easy to follow. You will also need to buy a few things to complete the assembly such as a radio system, a high torque servo for the throttle/brake, a rechargeable receiver pack and a charger. The included engine is a 26cc 2 stroke gasoline engine, so a trip to the gas station is also a must. Just make sure to add the supplied 2 stroke oil to a gallon of gasoline. It also has a 8K rpm clutch, an aluminum tuned pipe, metal gear steering servo, swaybars,VVC HD shocks, heavy duty dogbones, an aluminum diff case and more.
All in all, this looks like a GPRC car that gives your plenty of bang for your buck! The capability of customizing and tuning the vehicle with things like paint, new tires, exhaust, and more, creates a wonderful toy to keep you engaged in the RC hobby. Obviously, this post is just a simple review of what i have read. For a more detailed review and also a review of each trial run over 3 terrains, feel free to go and pick up the latest RC Driver Mag. Dan Gomez did a great job of giving his thoughts and expert views on his experiences with the Baja SS. I will be adding this to my list of future investments on my path to experiencing all that the RC hobby has to offer!
Best Regards, Ryan.
