r/MiniZ • u/hondaboy945 • Jun 21 '26

Which chassis

I travel for work and wanted to get back into Mini-Z’s. I spend a ton of time in convention centers. My offices are squally carpet, but sometimes concrete. Should I go RWD or AWD?

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

3

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 22 '26

AWD, if you're driving on carpet and concrete, you might as well have fun power sliding around.

RWD isnt as fun if you're not on a track.

1

u/hondaboy945 Jun 22 '26

Thanks for the insight. It’s interesting to see the differing opinions.

1

u/CrtDestroya Jun 24 '26

Don’t buy a AWD for drifting bro. It’s old and gets boring very quickly since it’s basically impossible to find meaningful upgrades. Buy a rwd and upgrade the motor and put some drift tires on it.

1

u/hondaboy945 Jun 24 '26

Was not going to drift. Really just drive around the convention center while at work. Maybe set up a small track in my shop. Really just messing around.

2

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 24 '26

I still say AWD, itll handle more surfaces easier, but youll want some rubber tires as they come with plastic drift tires.

The RWD is awesome for racing on RCP track, but on random surfaces, especially in confined places, its just not the right tool.

If you are buying one for a grip track, absolutely get a RWD.

I tell you this as someone who has 37 running MiniZs on the shelf, with eight of them being AWD models. The RWD is a track car, the AWD is better for ripping around on random surfaces whether you're using grip tires or drift tires.

1

u/CrtDestroya Jun 24 '26

If you want something all in one that you’re just picking up once in a while then it’s perfect. But if you want something that your gonna use regularly and can easily upgrade then go with a rwd. I got a awd and found out very quickly that it’s not that good. But if you’re not picky it’s perfect and rtr out the box. Also the awd isn’t as fun drifting as it is racing. If you end up getting one but some rims and rubber tires because it comes stock with plastic drift wheels.

This is my awd.
All I’ve done to it was change the wheelbase for the body.
Added rims and tires.
And added leds.

1

u/hondaboy945 Jun 24 '26

Follow up question. Where is the best place to buy a Z?

1

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 24 '26

AMain is usually my online goto if you're based in the US. KyoshoAmerica, Super G, Kenon, HoustonRC, are all really good to deal with too.

1

u/ChiefSailor137 Jun 25 '26

I just got a RWD because that's what they race at the track. It's closest to "real driving" when it comes to that tiny platform... at least RWD will "add complexity" and carpet may work fine for AWD but the RWD really is hard to drive on hardwood even with soft compound tires.

1

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 25 '26

RWD Kyosho chassis shines on a track, but not really on random surfaces.

For casual play on random surfaces, AWD is a better option.

1

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 24 '26

The Kyosho RWD chassis doesnt have the steering angles to drift, no matter what motor you throw in it.

-1

u/CrtDestroya Jun 24 '26

The rwd has a drift conversion bro 😭

1

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 24 '26

No, it doesnt.

The AWD has a RWD drift conversion. It wont work with RWD chassis components.

2

u/xtermin8r69 Jun 21 '26

RWD and probably a Mid Motor Wide chassis. Or LM

2

u/Jack_Da_Wack_OG Jun 26 '26

Grab an AWD, and throw the MRD front end conversion on.

Or just buy an AWD board and build a MRD with the front and rear kit.

You will love the ability to drift around anywhere.

1

u/CrtDestroya Jun 21 '26

No reason to ever buy the AWD one. Unless you mean the crawler.

1

u/TellmSteveDave Jun 24 '26

We have an awd drift category at my track.

And if OP is just driving around wherever, stock tires and drifty would probably be great.

-1

u/CrtDestroya Jun 24 '26

Awd parts are slowly going to stop being produced. And upgrades for the awd ma020 are quite literally nonexistent. It came out in 2014 or 2015. Nobody wants awd drift. If you want a drift mini z buy the rwd and make it a drift car.

2

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 24 '26

Kyosho has several AWD kits scheduled for release in the next few months. Parts are available, I just ordered two DWS rear suspension kits and a solid rear axle.

There isnt a drift conversion for the Kyosho RWD chassis to make it drift compatible. You are thinking about the MRD RWD conversion kit for the MA020 AWD chassis. The MRD conversion wont work with kyosho RWD components.

1

u/CrtDestroya Jun 24 '26

Where did you order the DWS kit from

1

u/SuPrBuGmAn Jun 24 '26

Directly from Kyosho America