HPI Racing Arvostelua 

Bought 2013 HPI Savage X 4.6 and started it up for idle break-in and the throttle trim on controller was set to full. Before I could kill the engine, the spur gear was ruined. I called HPI concerned what other damage may have occurred as the engine was not yet broken-in but I essentially had started it at full throttle unaware. They wanted me to send it back to them (would take weeks to get it back). I decided instead to replace the spur gear and if the engine showed no signs of damage, would keep it.

Everything was replaced and the engine was fine. Put two tanks through idle break-in, two tanks in figure 8 break-in and began my fifth tank to tune the high speed needle. I was getting better performance with each turn on the HSN, but never got the front tires more than 1/2'' off the ground as their tuning video showed full wheelie in similar tuning. Stopped the truck to assess any temps or issues. The temp was 270, but I wasn't even finished tuning. I tried to restart the truck after a cool down and the back plate just spun without engaging the piston.

I called HPI and again, they want the truck returned to them so they can repair it. They offered to send a new roto start back plate, but I knew the issue after opening it up- the spring was lodged into the piston and not pushing out the pin that connects to back plate and spins the piston. Therefore, it must be returned per their request.

I tried to reason with them that I had YET to even "play" with the truck. I had only 4 1/2 tanks through the engine and I had already wrestled with two issues that were not of my making. I had yet to put ME into any equation that would cause damage to the truck. I followed every suggestion and instruction by the letter, but had yet to enjoy the $500 purchase and now I wouldn't even SEE it for three weeks. They didn't care. Their policy is strict and would not be changed for any reason. I spoke to their manager and he said the same.

When I asked Arthur, the manager, why I had to return the product and not just receive a replacement, he said it was a strict policy and that it would not be changed. Once you open it, you have to hope that they made no errors. If they have made any errors, you are out of luck. They essentially have no risk in the sale for their manufacturing errors. They will fix the product and "make it right" as the manager said, but that isn't making it right. That is making a wrong right. What responsibility, then, does the manufacturer really have? What risk is in it for them at all to produce poor products and just fix the ones that come back to them? It makes you wonder what keeps them honest at all.

I also sent two emails to the company three days ago regarding issues such as missing DVD and filter oil that is listed as standard items in the Savage X 4.6 RTR product. I haven't heard from them. Nothing. No response.

It is a company that takes no responsibility for their product sale, but they say they will repair it while you wait weeks. They say you can send an e-mail and get a response in 1-2 business days, but that was a lie as it has been three days and I haven't heard back from them. They are not held accountable by no one. If you don't like it, they don't seem to care.

I will return with any updates in my experience. If they fix the product, I will report what they had done, how well they did, and I will give an honest review. I want to love the company, but I question their policies. I have heard great things about their customer service and their products. It is why I bought from them in the first place. I just thought that people needed to know my experience with them.

WARNING! If you buy a hpi vehicle you have to send it to them for over 2 months just to get it back, use it once and it breaks again. They will not give you a new one, even if you only used it once. Mini Recon is JUNK. 2charges and it broke. Sent it to hpi for over 2 months to be FIXED, ( should have been replaced) used it 4 charges and broke again! There customer service will not call you back when they say! They will not replace it even if it's new! Like it your fault they have a crappy product! Do Not Buy A HPI Product!

i got a savage x with full alu and a 5,9cc and a savage 3,5cc and a Nitro Rush the old one and a Nitro MT the old one.-