Traxxas Slash 2WD
Pros
- Ready To Run
- Waterproof
- Durable
- Rechargable Batteries Included
- Fast & Fun
Cons
- Wall Charger
Hey everyone! Today we will be doing a full Traxxas Slash 2WD Review.
When it comes to affordable, durable, adrenaline pumping fun, the Traxxas Slash has become one of our top picks for R/C’s in the $200 – $300 range.
In this Traxxas Slash 2WD review, we will take a look at some of the things that have impressed us the most, and try to expose any weaknesses.
The Traxxas Slash is a true hobby grade RC with a full line of replacement and upgrade parts.
So without further ado, let’s unpack the Traxxas Slash!
Traxxas Slash 2WD Review – Product Overview
The Slash by Traxxas is designed to be an all around fun/racing machine.
Inspired by The Traxxas Off – Road Championship Pro 2WD class, the Slash pushes the limit with full throttle drifts through some of the sharpest turns.
The Slash 2Wd is designed to fly over any surface and soar over just about any jump you can throw in its way.
The 4 wheel independent suspension gives you the stability you need when trying to out – maneuver the competition on your favorite short track, open terrain or right in your own back yard. The suspension has been tuned to give you the real short track pro 2 experience.
The Slash’s 1/10 scale body matches perfectly with the scaled tires and waterproof electronics to give you the ultimate, any weather, any terrain experience.
Traxxas Slash 2WD Features
Motor
Right out of the box, the Slash features the Titan 12-Turn 550 Modified Motor.
While this is by no means the most powerful motor you can get, it gives you plenty of power to hit speeds of 30 MPH+ right out of the box.
Pushing through deep mud, snow and uphill terrain has proven to be little challenge for us.
Water Proof Electronics
The batteries are sealed in plastic to keep the water out.
Each connection is covered with a sealed plastic connector. When you change out the batteries, you simply slip the cover back over the connection.
I don’t suggest you continuously submerge the Slash in water!
We have ran the crap out of this thing and have done so in more water and snow that we probably should have. We have noticed some slight condensation build on the inside of the battery pack.
After bringing them inside and drying them off, the condensation went away.
So far, we have had no electrical problems with the Slash and like I said, we have ran it through a ton of water, mud and snow.
From the battery to the receiver, the Traxxas Slash is about as waterproof as they come.
Controller
The Slash comes with a true 2.4 GHz precision, hobby grade controller!
The feel of this controller is awesome. The precision at which it operates is even better.
There is no tuning or messing around with syncing. Simply turn the truck on, turn the controller on and pull the trigger. Each controller is synced to it own unit so you can run more than one together in the same area.
The Slash is now at your command!
Batteries
The Slash comes with a fully rechargeable 7 cell NiMH battery pack.
The batteries are complimented with a 12v 4 amp, peak detecting quick charger for use when your out at your favorite spot.
Now here’s the breakdown of what we have discovered with the batteries:
- Run Time With Full Charge: 20 – 30 minutes
- Charge Time In Home: 45 minutes – 1 Hour
- Charge Time In Car: 2 – 1 Hour
We did buy an extra battery pack and a charger to use at home.
We alternate the batteries when we get where we’re going with the car charger. We can usually get around 4-5 hours of run time with the 2 battery packs and car charger.
Fun, Durable & Versatile
The Traxxas Slash offers tons of up-gradable and interchangeable parts and accessories.
Right from the start, you will have several different body styles to choose from.
We opted for the Gunk body because it just looks so freakin’ cool! You can save a few bucks by choosing a different style, all of which look awesome!
After you have gotten used to upgrading from a toy store (This thing is so much better than what you’re used to!) type of R/C and have had your Slash for a while, you may decide to upgrade to a more powerful motor or battery.
The huge line of Traxxas upgrades and replacement parts “bolt” right on to your existing vehicle, making upgrades and repairs easy.
The body is made of a high strength plastic that has really taken a beating with tons of roll-overs and high speed crashes.
Does it have some scuff marks?
Yep..It sure does and it looks even more beautiful than the day we got it!
I like to think of the marks as character that just adds to the awesome look that the Slash presents.
When I say the Traxxas Slash is durable, I’m mean it.
We have all taken our turns doing our worse with this thing and it just keeps on ticking.
Proven
Time after time and crash after crash, the Slash continues to run just as good as the day we got it.
There was one particular crash involving a curb and a top speed run where we thought we had finally lost it.
After the massive collision and multi flip crash, we heard a ominous grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. Panic mode set in quickly!
Turns out that the spur gear has a tension adjusting slide screw that allows you to make adjustments as things loosen over time.
We re – tightened the spur gear up against the pinion gear, turned it back over and hit the throttle…Off she went!
Range
On a fully charged battery and new batteries in the controller, we were able to get just over 500′ before we experienced any lag in response.
At about 550′ 600′ we lost all control.
550′ in a remote control truck is absolutely awesome! Think about the range you get from an R/C you pick up at your local toy store. If you’re lucky, you might get 50 – 100′.
This range makes racing the Slash at a track a breeze.
Traxxas Slash Review – Any Drawbacks?
The Slash leaves very little to complain about!
Since this is a review, I need to find something, so here goes.
Having a regular 110v wall charger is something I consider vital to an R/C enthusiast. When I walk out the door, I want to have as much juice as possible in my pocket ready to go.
While having the car charger is great for keeping the fun going while your out in the field, when you walk back in the house, you want to be able to throw the batteries on the charger so they are ready to go the next time you get the itch.
I know you can pick up a home charger, I just wish it would come with it.
Traxxas Slash Review – The Bottom Line
We all have a budget.
If you’re like me, you can’t just call up Amazon and have them send you the most expensive R/C truck they have.
In my opinion, the Traxxas Slash is one of the best R/C vehicles you can buy for the money.
With a full line of replacement parts, top notch speed and capabilities in it’s class, the Slash is easily one of our top recommendations in the $200 – $300 range.
From the moment you take the Slash out of the box and pull the trigger, you are going to know that you have purchased a top quality R/C that promises tons of fun!
We hope you enjoyed this Traxxas Slash 2WD Review. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will get back with you right away.
If you would like to communicate via email, just hit the contact tab in the top menu.
Thanks for stopping by and happy off-roading! π
I never knew I could that excited as an adult about a remote controlled car! Good job of breaking down the parts of the car/truck in your traxxxas slash review before going into more details, because at first I thought it was a regular kids play toy. I’m on the fence right now about purchasing me one.
Awesome David! I’m glad you enjoyed our review of the Traxxas Slash 2wd.
One of the neat things with the Slash is you can put it in practice mode which reduces the power to let you get used to it before running top speeds. This is awesome, especially for young kids.
While the Slash is not your typical kids toy, my kids are able to handle it with no problem. Just make sure they have plenty of room to practice until they get more comfortable with the power. Don’t worry too much about them crashing it, we have wrecked the Slash hundreds of times and it just keeps on ticking!
The Slash is one of the most durable R/C’s we have owned.
The only thing left for you to do is come down off the fence and experience power and fun of the Traxxas Slash!
Have a great day David and don’t forget to stop back by and share your Slash story. π
Thanks for stopping by ~R/C Insiders
Great video!
Looks like you can have so much fun with this R/C. π
I have been buying R/C cars for my son and usually they break in some way or don’t function like they should.
This R/C is awesome…I may have to get one for my son soon! The price tag is a little higher than I’m used to though…how long will this R/C typically last for?
Hey Dinh!
I’m glad you liked the Traxxas Slash 2wd review and video. We definitely enjoyed making it. π
You are probably used to buying “toy grade” rc cars for your son. The Traxxas Slash is what you would call a “hobby grade” R/C.
Essentially, with a hobby grade R/C you can basically make them last as long as you want them to. These things are very fast and no matter how well you treat them, there will inevitably be crashes where you will break something. With a toy grade rc, this usually means its headed for the trash can. With a hobby grade rc like the Traxxas Slash, this means having a little fun and replacing what you broke.
As far as how long will it last without repairs will depend on what your son does with it. We have all taken turns beating the crap out of the Slash with jumps, mud, snow and water. After 4 months of running through the Winter, the Slash still runs just as good as the day we got it with zero repairs. The Slash has been one of the most durable ground R/C’s we have owned.
The difference in price basically comes down to quality and the experience you get when you pull the trigger on the Slash. I promise it will be nothing like what your son is used to. I love watching the Slash come to life every time I squeeze the trigger!
Be careful Dinh! If you can pry the controller out of your sons hands, you are going to want one for yourself. π
If you would like to read more about the differences between hobby grade and toy grade R/C’s, Read This Article
Thanks for stopping by Dinh and don’t forget to stop back by and let us know how your son likes the Traxxas Slash!
~R/C Insiders
Hi Jeremy.
I’ve definitely been buying the toy grade R/C because they last about 2 seconds and then I have to return it or trash it. They are so disappointing!
The hobby R/C is the way to go I think. I like the sound of it lasting and having lots of fun without any breakage for a while. My son probably will like to fix it up if it breaks as well since he’s quite good at that sort of thing.
Hm, this traxxas slash is close to perfection, is this one the best out there or is there one that gets 10/10?
Is it just the charger not being included why you’ve rated it 9.7?
I knonw Dinh!
I hate when I buy a cool looking RC only to have the wheel fall off the first time out!
Hobby grade RC’s are built to take a beating, but they can and probably will break at some time or another. It’s great that your son is good at fixing things. This is what makes the hobby so fun and actually more cost effective in the long run. When you break a toy, it’s usually headed for the trash. When you break an RC like the Slash, you can usually fix it yourself for a reasonable price.
Example: I can replace the whole motor on the Slash for less than $20 in less than 5 minutes. Most replacement parts are available at your local hobby store or online. I not only get to have fun working on the RC, it costs me half the price of having to buy another toy grade RC.
There are faster RC’s out there, but the Slash is by far the best RC out there in the under $300 range. There is a quick charger included for your vehicle, but having the charger for home is a must for me. I gave the Slash a 9.4 handling grade simply because it is so powerful you can lose a little control on takeoff in the dirt. Other than that, I consider the Slash a top notch, hobby grade RC with many easy upgrade options.
I don’t hand out 10’s easily because cost is one factor I consider. Could you find an RC “better”? Maybe, but it will come with a much bigger price tag. As the site expands, we will be reviewing many RC’s and we will definitely let everyone know if the price of the vehicle is warranted. Just because it has a big price tag doesn’t mean its worth it.
The Traxxas Slash has proven to us time and again that it is worth every penny and more. Wait til you get your hands on this thing Dinh! You’re gonna love it. π
If you any other questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to keep in touch. We are more than happy to chat.
Thanks for stopping by ~Jeremy
It is true that we can consider the Slash 2WD as an entry-level Traxxas RC car. However, the handling and the fun you get on this RC car are amazing.
You won’t only learn how to play and control RC cars, but also you will understand how an RC car works.
The Slash platform and chassis are the best places to test your capabilities in modifying and upgrading your RC car. You can even turn it into a Slash Ultimate with a 2WD system.
That’s crazy!
Thank you for this review!
Awesome my friend!
The Slash is still one of my all time favorite RC’s π
Thanks for dropping by & happy bashing!!!
#RCInsiders
Had the slash for awhile and love it. I wish mine stayed charged for longer. How long do you get a single charge? I’m averaging about 15 minutes at full runtime.
Hey Mike,
Yes, about 15 minutes depending on terrain & on/off trigger time.
The easiest way to get more run time would be to go with a larger capacity battery.
The Slash has been my favorite short course truck for years π
Do you have other RC’s?
Thanks for dropping by & happy bashing my friend!
@RCInsiders