The DuraTrax Vendetta SC isn't a special-looking ride (especially when you first see it out of the box). Despite the largely plain looks, though, this short course truck has gained many fans because of its impressive performance.
Able to run on dirt tracks just as well as on your paved garage, it comes with one of the most tunable chassis among 1/18th scale trucks in the market. Fine-tuning is definitely the name of the game here, allowing you plenty of legroom to make adjustments for optimal performance on any surface. The included manual comes with a generous slew of tuning tips for various components, including the shock mounts, camber, wheelbase, track width, ride height and more.
The Vendetta SC is a surprising vehicle. Running on a brushed VR3 motor, it's fair not to expect much speed. Once you unleash it on the dirt, though, the truck just blasts off, showing off fiery acceleration, intense jumps and hard-nosed performance around corners. Weight distribution is fantastic, the suspension soaks up impact even from high falls and the steering servo brings plenty of torque.
Sure, I ragged on the looks to start with. Don't get me wrong, it's not ugly. In fact, it has plenty of cool touches, including stylish decals, gnarly bumpers and a well-thought-out plastic frame - overall appeal is very casual though. On the downside, it appears to use too much plastic parts (but it performed sturdily throughout our runs) and dirt tends to accumulate in the chassis (just wrap off any exposed parts with tape to be safe).
Overall, the DuraTrax Vendetta SC's speed and handling are totally uncharacteristic of what you'd imagine small-scale RCs to bring. It's crazy good. With a good amount of hop-up parts now available, it's a short course racer you can improve on too. Highly recommended, especially at the $219.99 price point.
Specifications:
Length: 12.75"
Width: 6.6"
Wheelbase: Adjustable 7.25" - 7.5"
Motor: 380 VR3 brushed
Drive Train: Front and rear differentials
Batteries Used: 6 cell NiMH (sold seperately)
Radio equipment: Included two channel 2.4GHz Tactic radio, 2.4GHz Tactic TR-324 3-ch receiver, and standard size Tactic TSX200 steering servo.
Price: $219.99 (price may vary)
