Lets start off by taking a quick glance over of the Traxxas Revo - both it's attributes and flaws. We'll look at the good stuff first.

Traxxas Revo 3.3

The Good:

• New and innovative design has upped the ante on Revo 3.3's suspension, making it great on bumpy terrain.
• First off, a great feature of the Revo is their manual, which comes with a break-in DVD guide. Sometimes seeing someone else do something makes it way easier to understand. Not your average manual, the Revo's also goes above and beyond tuning and break-in methods.
• If you're a beginner, and ease is what you're looking for, the Revo comes RTR (ready-to-run) so that the only thing you need right out of the box is fuel and a battery for your radio transmitter.
• Traxxas provides a full shock rebuild kit (which includes oil, pistons, and seals), plus an extra air filter and oil. So you won't have to go out and buy supplies soon after buying the Revo.
• Wider chassis design makes for great predictable handling
• The Revo can reach speeds of 55 mph if you break in the engine properly.
• R/C Car Action's Reader's Choice Award 2004 Truck of the Year. This magazine tests pretty much every RC car on the market, so their bound to know their stuff.
• If you're looking to race, the Revo is a better bet in terms of speed and handling than the Savage X, which is notorious for it's durability as a basher.

The Bad:

• If you're new to RC, the out of the box adjustments will be fine for you, but if you're a weathered racer, you'll want to lower the body a bit.
• If you're in to win it in a race, you'll probably want to upgrade the Revo's stock tires to something with slightly better traction.
• The Revo is far better on-road than off, because the engine's primary function is for racing, not bashing. That also doesn't mean that it has poor performance off-road, it just simply means you can use it for both.
• Be careful not to try too many in-air braking or revving as it tends to throw off the Revo's landing.
• Traxxas break-in methods for the engine should be followed precisely in order to keep your engine tip top.

How About HPI's Savage X?

The Good:

• The Savage is definitely super popular because of it's durability. It's a truck that you can bash the life out of with only minor repairs
• The Savage X also offers wicked performance when it comes to taking and landing jumps.
• The X has been upgraded with a lower center of gravity, making it better for handling.
• Savage X's come stock with a Roto-start motor to make it get up and running in no time.
• HPI is well-known for it's great selection hop-ups and aftermarket parts. This will help you take your Savage to the next level in performance.
• One of the Savage's more worth hop-up options is HPI's optional roll-cages. These are great for the X because of it's main use in bashing.
• Although racing isn't it's main bag, the Savage X's engine can be modified to reach speeds of over 40 mph.
• If you're unfamiliar with your truck's parts, the X comes with a great diagram that really helps you better understand it's inner-workings.

The Bad:

• Only powered by a single servo, the Savage X has less drive than the Revo. So if you're looking to race it up, you may want to pick the Revo over the Savage X.
• You'll want to replace the Savage's stock plastic bushings, which increases the friction when you drive and can wear down the truck's drive shaft. However, it’s easy to replace them with metal or rubber ball bearings.
• When you first get that Savage X out of the box, you'll really want to follow HPI’s break-in methods to a tee if you want your truck running at it's best.
• If you want stronger steering, you'll want to replace the steering servo with something a little more powerful, as the Savage X's is a tad lacking.

Both of these trucks are great and get at least four stars each from me, although they are definitely good in different ways. If you're one for bashing around the backyard, the Savage X is an obvious choice, but if you're a fiend for the racetrack, you'll be better off with a Revo. Either truck is completely worthy, it just all depends on what you're looking for. I hope these tips have you well on your way to picking a great truck for you! Happy trucking!

About the Author

Lee Brain is a successful business writer and an expert in the field of Remote Control Cars and RC Monster Trucks. He is seen as an RC industry resource, specializing in Electric RC Cars and RC Nitro Cars. He offers valuable tips, advice and money-saving techniques for online purchasers of Traxxas products, including the Traxxas Revo.