Is the Ftx Vantage 2.0 Brushed Buggy a bargain or a dud?
The Ftx Vantage 2.0 Brushed Buggy is becoming one of the most popular RTR Buggies available. Our group has 3 of them. The reason for this is that they look good and they are cheap. The base model is the Ftx Vantage 2.0 Brushed Buggy Brushed motor version which is currently £124.99. Moving to the next step up the Range you will find the Brushless Version which has a better motor and ESC plus a flashy paint job and this is on sale at £219.99 in our local Shop. Rochester RC.
I was quite impressed with the car as a budget item and an entry into RC Buggies. The spec list looked good and I already had the FTX Carnage which shares a lot of parts with the Vantge and this was rock-solid. I assumed that the vantage would be as tough.
What do we know about the Ftx Vantage 2.0 Brushed Buggy?
Version 1 of the Ftx Vantage Brushed Buggy has been available for years and it is a go-to for beginners. FTX Decided it was time to bring the model up to date and released version 2.0. We also know there is a wide range of upgrade parts available for the Ftx Vantage 2.0 Brushed Buggy which is another reason for its popularity. The brushed version offers amazing value just read the spec list.
- 2.4Ghz Etronix Pulse EX3G Radio
- 60A waterproof ESC for NiMh/LiPo
- 550 brushed motor
- Waterproof 3kg steering servo
- Voltz 1800mAh 7.2v NiMH battery
- USB charger for battery
- New Graphic painted body & wing
- Moulded tub chassis
- 4wd shaft drive with slipper system
- Unique gearbox design for low CG
- Lightweight high impact arms
- Big bore oil-filled adjustable shocks
- Gearbox metal crown & pinion gear
- Front universal driveshafts
- Adjustable turnbuckles
- Fully adjustable suspension including, droop, camber, toe-in, wheelbase etc
- Slipper for drivetrain damage protection
- The chassis accepts NiMh or LiPo battery
My first experience of the FTX Vantage
Two members of our group purchased the Brushless Motor version of the FTX Vantage 2.0 from Rochester RC. The price made these look like brilliant value with their brushless motor and ESC offering a good punch of power with the Moderate 2950KV motor being an ideal size for this model. Unfortunately, the spec is better than the car.
On our first run of the buggy, we had a moderate front-end collision. This was the first run and we must remember that crashes cause damage but, the impact snapped the mounts for the front lower arm. Aluminium upgrade parts are available so this was the first upgrade job. it was a little confusing as this model shares the same chassis and mounts as my FTX Carnage and I have never had a front-end problem. The lack of a bumper may contribute to this along with the lack of protection due to the smaller wheels.
The aluminium upgrade part is available at most model shops for around £12.00 and according to people who run these cars, it is a weak point in the design.
What happened next?
We took the FTX Vantage 2.0 Brushless out for some small jumps and a bit of car park running. Again we had another moderate front-end crash while jumping. This resulted in another snapped part. This time the front of the car failed. The chassis appeared to break but, it turned out to be the Front plate. Guess what? There is an upgrade part available. for around £17.00. The aluminium front plate was our next purchase. I am glad to say that this solved most problems and the car is better for the upgrades.
After the upgrades of the FTX Vantage
After the upgrades, the car seems strong. This led another of our group to buy the second brushless model. This guy decided to start with the upgrades from the new and he purchased The aluminum Mounts and front lower arms. Unfortunately for him, he did not buy the front plate and after 3 days it snapped.
Purchasing the FTX vantage 2.0 brushed Model
We decided to get hold of another FTX Vantage for ourselves and do some tests. After turning to eBay we found a bargain for £50.00.
We decided on the FTX Vantage 2.0 Brushed buggy with its lower-end performance due to the price point and the market that the buggy is aimed at which is the beginner. The car was in good condition with little usage and everything seemed great. The car was easy to handle and quite fast for a brushed version. The suspension was smooth. The body shell was in great condition but, the wing was a bit tatty.
We did not like the feel of the transmitter in our hand as it seemed a bit clunky but the trigger action was smooth and responsive. The transmitter did their job well and we had no control problems.
Our bargain offering at £50 had worked out.
We decided to see if we could upgrade the FTX vantage 2.0 Brushed buggy to a better spec than the Brushless on a budget. We turned to one of our favorite budget motors The Surpass Hobbies 3900KV and 60A ESC from Amazon. This motor and ESC combo offers great performance at £39.00 it is a bargain.
The Surpass Hobbies 3900KV motor is available on Amazon and rebranded as a DollaTek Waterproof 3650 3900KV and 60A ESC combo
The FTX Vantage 2.0 Brushed Buggy is a standard hobby-grade buggy so, it is easy to upgrade. The brushless motor and ESC were a straight swap and once the gears were meshed it was time to blast.
Oh no not again!
After the installation of the brushless motor and ESC, we ran the FTX Vantage on our drive and around the road outside. To say it was quick was a bit of an understatement. The 3900KV may be a bit much for the little buggy and an inexperienced driver. Unfortunately, this led to another moderate front-end crash. This time the lower arm was the victim, snapping completely in half and popping the front suspension. the suspension is an easy rebuild but the lower arm needed replacing.
There is an aluminium part available as an upgrade for around £18.00
After these are installed the little FTX Caterpillar will be a butterfly although I am sure the front end and suspension mounts will snap at a later date.
In conclusion, what do we think of the FTX vantage 2.0?
The FTX vantage is a bargain buggy at £125.00 and we should not expect much at this price point. As a brushed buggy it is fine and runs as it should. Most kids would love to get their hands on this. I would not say the same for the brushless FTX vantage as this is a £220.00 and I would expect more from that than just a different motor. if you are mechanically minded then I would purchase the brushed version and upgrade as I got more confident. You can do this for less than buying the brushless version.
Please be aware that as the power increases you will experience breakages as I feel the front end is a little weak and lacks protection. The front-end upgrades will cost another £60.00.
This means you can get a brushless FTX vantage with an aluminium front end for £225.00 this is a saving of around £60.00 compared to the factory brushless version.
