Page 1 of 1

Serpent Quality

Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:05 pm
by Dirtdiver
I'm thinking about purchasing a Serpent F110 (1/10th scale F1) kit. I'm not too familiar with Serpent quality as the last Serpent car I drove was ~15 yrs ago. Can anyone tell me if Serpent still builds a quality product as the price tag is premium but the manufacturing takes place in China?

The Serpent car that I got to drive in the late 90's was a former World Champions car that I promptly put into the boards as I was only use to driving on dirt (and not sugar coated asphalt). Luckily, the car didn't break and the owner wasn't mad.

Re: Serpent Quality

Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 2:57 am
by stephenianjames
Hi.

Serpent makes as good a kit as anyone really...very high quality kits with durable parts.

I have the F110, the S411 TC and the S120 LTX 12th scale, and it's hard to fault them.

At least half of the top end lkits come out of PRC as well as virtually all the electronics, so it's not an issue these days.

I also have the Yokomo F1 (made in Japan) and the quality is lineball between them both.

Cheers,

Steve

Re: Serpent Quality

Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 3:20 am
by Lonestar
Serpent manufactures in Asia now - the brand was sold to an Asian group and moved there. The name remains and Salven still designs the onroad cars, while Easton takes care of the offroaders.

I cannot speak for the quality of their products as I haven't bought anything from them since the change, last one I had was a vector NT 13 yrs back. But they certainly aren't in the forefront anymore as they used to. No international results btw...

Paul

Edit: stat of the current onroad worlds, source redrc http://events.redrc.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/StatsCar.jpg

Image

Re: Serpent Quality

Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 5:59 am
by Dirtdiver
Thank-you for the feedback.

I'm still on the fence about the Serpent. My local hobbyshop has a couple of F110 kits but I'm not sure if anyone is running them.

Re: Serpent Quality

Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 6:29 am
by stephenianjames
Where I live/race (Australia) Serpent cars are popular and very competitive at club/ state/nnational levels, and are also priced competitively with other Asian cars (ie Associated, VBC, ARC) and priced below Xray, Tamiya,Kyosho etc.

World champion representation (or lack of) is more to do with sponsorship/driver deals, although only good cars win of course.

Re: Serpent Quality

Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:29 am
by Lonestar
the 977 does happen to be tq at the WC for the moment, however, I must say ;)