Review: Team Associated RC8.2E RS RTR

Team Associated has been in the 1/8-scale arena for quite some time. Thanks to some killer engineering and a top-level racing team, their buggies become better and better. Thankfully, this doesn’t only affect their race-level kits, but also their ready-to-runs.

I introduce to you the RC8.2e RS RTR, a Race-Spec e-buggy born from the multi-time, championship winning Factory Team RC8.2e. With years of development and hundreds of hours of track testing, this buggy is sure to bring out the pro in you – whether you’re a basher or racer.

AT A GLANCE
WHO MAKES IT: Team Associated
WHO IT’S FOR: Intermediate to advanced
HOW MUCH: $449.98
BUILD TYPE: RTR

FACTS
• Being based on theFactory Team RC8.2e buggy, you know it has race-winning features built in. All the tuning options the full race buggy has, this buggy has.

• All of the cool option parts from the FT buggy will fit this buggy. That means you can bling-out your RS with a set of threaded shocks and all the aluminum goodies available.

• The RC8.2e RS comes with a waterproof XP SC1300-BL brushless ESC capable of handling a 3S or 4S LiPo battery. Combined with the Reedy 2000Kv brushless motor, this setup is sure to get your pulse pounding each time you mash the throttle.

• The RS also comes with AE’s XP S2008MG steering servo. This servo touts a decent 108 oz. of torque but, unfortunately, it’s not waterproof.

• Durable, fluid-filled gear diffs are included with the RS. These are the same diffs that come with the FT version, so they should require very little maintenance.

• The suspension geometry has been updated with the .2 treatment. This includes low-CG shock towers and newly designed suspension arms. Both of these additions make the RC8.2e easier to drive on blown-out tracks.

• High-traction block pin tires come with the RC8.2e RS. On the track I tested this on, these tires weren’t so high traction. In fact, most of the nubs had been worn into spiked pins after the run. I can’t fault AE for this, though, as they have to include some sort of all-around tire with the car. These tires will be good for a couple of runs before you have to replace them. If they had included a set of soft race tires, these would be slicks after one run.

• The RC8.2e RS comes with a standard 1/8-scale body in either blue or red. I think it looks pretty sharp. The paint scheme looks kinda familiar, too.

PROS
+ The RC8.2e RS RTR is based on the race-winning RC8.2e, so you know this car has track cred
+ Suspension has been updated based on the RC8.2
+ Waterproof XP ESC and enclosed receiver case help keep it going even in the worst conditions
+ Reedy 2000Kv brushless motor provides plenty of power, especially on any 4S LiPo
+ 2.4GHz radio system included
+ Hard-anodized 7075 3.5mm aluminum chassis and 3mm shock towers
+ Big-bore shocks are included
+ Box stock setup is a good starting point

CONS
– While the ESC is waterproof, the servo is not
– Steering wanders a bit on the track

BEHIND THE WHEEL
STEERING: OVERSTEER
Team Associated cars have never been lacking in the steering department, and the RC8.2e RS is definitely no exception. There is gobs of throw and the S2008MG gets the wheels from lock-to-lock in no time flat. Even though I rated this category as ‘Oversteer’, the e-buggy inhibited more aggression than actual oversteer, but never to the point where I couldn’t control the rear of the car. I did have a little issue with the steering trim. It seemed to change from lap to lap, drifting a little to the left, then to the right. This might be the servo saver being a bit loose or the fact that the transmitter wheel spring was soft (and it was actually me and not the car), but I soon got used to it.

ACCELERATION: VERY GOOD
The word ‘wheelspin’ comes to mind when you say RC8.2e RS and acceleration. I was pretty impressed at how fast the e-buggy explodes out of corners and down the straight. The XP ESC/Reedy motor combo was also surprisingly smooth. I’ve driven faster e-buggies (using similar 4S setups), but this actually seemed much easier to drive since it was so brutally fast. The thing holding the RC8.2e RS buggy back from getting an “Excellent” rating is the tires. As smooth as the electronics may be, I still had to be very cautious driving around the track. At any time I could overpower the tires and send the e-buggy into drift mode.

BRAKING: EXCELLENT
The brakes are good on the XP ESC and, with the full-time 4WD, there shouldn’t ever be an issue here. Even with the fully enclosed body (and very little airflow), the RC8.2e RS stopped like a champ. I think the fan unit on top of the ESC has a little something to do with this by keeping temps in check.

SUSPENSION: EXCELLENT
Since this buggy is based on the championship winning Factory Team model, it’s pretty safe to say that the suspension is going to be spot on. I ran the buggy over the ripples, pitched it up on the berms and skied it over the large triple; it soaked it all up and had me looking really good. I might tweak a couple little things on it but it’s more for driver preference than actual handling ability. I think the box stock setup is really quite good.

JUMPING: EXCELLENT
I think in another language, RC8.2e RS means ‘I like to jump’. Being 1/8-scale, you can pretty much send this e-buggy off of any jump and know that it’s going to land on all fours. Unless you do something REALLY wrong, a quick blip of the throttle (or tap of the brakes) and the in-air attitude has been completely corrected. This is one of my favorite things about 1/8-scale, and thankfully it’s just as easy in RTR form.

DURABILITY: EXCELLENT
“Built Ford Tough” or, in this case, “Built 1/8-Scale Tough”. I didn’t beat the tar out of this e-buggy like some of the other cars I’ve tested, but I did drive it like I was in racing conditions (sometimes that is worse than beating the tar out of it!). A few donkey flips and quite a few ‘side-landings’ later and I’m happy to say that the RC8.2e RS has survived the test. I did see some fluid streams on the body and on the chassis (from the center diff), but that may just be overflow. I didn’t notice any performance difference on the track.

THE LAST WORD
The RC8.2e RS is a great e-buggy. In fact, I was a bit bummed the tires seemed to hold back the potential of the car so I threw on a set of AKA race rubber. Batten down the hatches, boys, this e-buggy just went from fast to furious! Like I mentioned before, the suspension is awesome on the RS, it just needed some soft rubber to lock it in place and boy did the AKA kicks help. I could be much more aggressive around the corners and over the jumps, something the RC8.2e RS was missing with the stock tires.

I think you’ll find the RC8.2e RS to be a great e-buggy both on and off the track. If you do get the bug to compete, a fresh set of racing tires will elevate it to the next level. Add a little tuning to the mix and you’ll have yourself a great car that is capable of putting you in the winner’s circle.

LINKS
LRP rc10.com, 949-753-1099
Reedy rc10.com, 949-753-1099
Team Associated rc10.com, 949-753-1099