Traxxas Rustler vs Stampede Comparison. Which is Better?

Comparing two close RC cars is so hard especially when comparing Traxxas Rustler vs Stampede. These two RC cars are Monsters. But who’s better for you? Rustler or Stampede?

Both the Rustler and the stampede are some of the well-known Traxxas RC cars alongside the Maxx and the Slash. Also, they’re so popular.

Their only problem is that they’re so close in when it comes to performance and price.

For the Traxxas Company, this is a good competition. However, for the buyer, it’s really hard to determine and decide which one to take home, and which one to leave!

You don’t have to worry anymore! Because we won’t only compare how they work, but we will also help you choose the best one for you.

But before starting the comparison of Rustler vs Stampede, you need to know that both cars come with different versions. So, to avoid getting confused, we will review the Traxxas Rustler 4×4 VS Stampede 4×4.

Ps. You can see the full review of the Traxxas Stampede 2WD from here and the review of the Traxxas Rustler from here!

Read Also: Traxxas Rustler 4X4 VXL Best Review. Is it worth it?

Traxxas Rustler vs Stampede Design

The Body

The difference in the bodies of those two RC cars reminds me of the same difference between the X-Maxx and the E-Revo. One of them looks high and muscular. And the other looks low and sporty.

This is the same rule applied on the Stampede VS Rustler.

Traxxas Stampede is high, has big wheels, with a monster truck design on the body.

On the other hand, Traxxas Rustler looks lower, has a lower center of gravity, smaller wheels, but, with a sporty and fast design.

As you see, there is a big difference between those two RC cars. The body of the Stampede is a high truck with a big wheelie bar at the end.

However, Traxxas Rustler has a big spoiler in the rear, which is something cool. And, its body is aerodynamic friendly. That means that it’s made for speed and high jumps.

Another feature in the Rustler that the Stampede doesn’t have is the clipless body.

This is an easier way to remove the body with one click. It’s much better than removing 4 clips to get to the internal parts in the Stampede.

Personally, I like the Rustler because I’m a speed guy. What about? Do you like Trucks? Tell me in the comments below.

Read Also: Traxxas E-Revo vs X-Maxx. Which Monster Is Better For You?

The Chassis

Traxxas Rustler vs Stampede Comparison. Which is Better?

When it comes to the chassis, The Rustler and Stampede have some common and different things as well.

The first thing you have to know is that they both have the same platform as the Traxxas Slash.

And, as you know Traxxas Slash is one of the most reliable RC cars. This means that you don’t need to worry about the reliability anymore in these cars.

When it comes to height and width, both chassis are wide. However, they differ in the level of height. (As I said in the previous section).

Read Also: Traxxas Stampede 2WD Best Review. A Powerful Beginners RC Car?

Traxxas Rustler vs Stampede Performance

When it comes to performance, Traxxas Rustler and Stampede have a lot of common parts!

They both come with a Titan® 12-Turn 550 Modified Motor with an internal cooling fan. In addition to that, they come also with an XL-5 Waterproof Electronic Speed Control.

With these combined with the 4WD system, they can reach up to 30mph.

And of course, the electronic speed control comes with 3 modes. Which are the training mode, Sport mode, and the Race mode.

With these modes, you don’t need to worry about your kids playing with these RC cars because they’re safe!

The Rustler and The Stampede also come with the same 2.4GHz controller.

Unfortunately, both cars don’t come with the TSM. This system makes driving easier and much funnier.

However, if you would like to have the TSM in one of these RC cars, you need to get the brushless version.

The brushless version is much stronger than the actual one we’re reviewing. It is also more expensive, but, it is worth it!

So as you see, in terms of numbers, they’re pretty the same. And there is no difference.

Read Also: Traxxas Slash VS Stampede | What’s better Traxxas Slash or stampede?

But, in terms of real practice, each one has its own features!

Traxxas Stampede’s height for example gives it a great advantage when it comes to off-roading especially with rocks.

Landing from high jumps can be a great deal for the Stampede.

However, this height has also its own disadvantages. It’s not good for corners! This means that it is hard a little bit to go with the car at high speeds while turning suddenly without flipping to the side!

On the other hand, Traxxas Rustler’s strengths are Traxxas Stampede’s weaknesses.

So, if Stampede can’t go with corners because of its height, the Rustler is the best one to choose for turning with high speed without worrying about flipping.

You can also do high jumps and control the car easily in the air. This thing can’t go well on the Stampede.

Moreover, The Rustler will definitely struggle in the high rocky grounds because of its low center of gravity.

Well, in the end, each one of these is made for a certain mission. And all you have to do is to choose which you want basing on their practicality and not on numbers.

If you want a speed and corners friendly RC car with the possibility to do high jumps. Traxxas Rustler is the best for you!

However, if you need to do some bashing on different grounds without worrying about cracking your chassis. Then, Stampede is the one!

Read Also: Traxxas Slash 4×4 VXL vs Traxxas Rustler 4×4 VXL. Which Is Better?

What About the Batteries?

Batteries are so important for any RC car. Because a battery doesn’t only make the EC car work. But the battery can transform your RC car into a monster.

And usually, it is one of the best and cheapest upgrades you can have to increase your RC car’s performance.

Fortunately, Traxxas is including a NiMH battery in the packages. So you don’t need to worry about it.

Normally, you can buy a NiMH battery. Which is the regular one. It doesn’t have special power on your RC car.

You can take the Traxxas 7-cell NiMH battery for the Stampede. And the Traxxas 3000mAh, 8.4V, 7-cell NiMH battery for the Rusler.

(Sometimes, the package doesn’t come with NiMH batteries. So, you can wait and see and then decide whether or not to order an aftermarket battery)

On the other side, if you want to awaken the monster inside your RC car. You need the Lipo battery (and this is what most people do, they throw the NiMH and add the Lipo because the fun is there!).

For both Stampede and Rustler, you can have the 3s Lipo battery (Check its price).

Traxxas Rustler vs Stampede Upgrades & Price

Traxxas Rustler vs Stampede Upgrades & Price

What I love about the Traxxas RC cars is that you don’t need to worry about the upgrades and the parts because they’re everywhere!

Especially for the Slash platform-based RC cars!

First of all, before buying an RC car of these two. You can choose from the different versions they offer.

You have the:

Of course, the 4×4 VXL version is the most powerful. They don’t come only with powerful motors and parts. But also, with different and new systems like the TSM and the self-righting system.

BUT, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on the stock RC cars. You can buy the basic 2WD or the medium 4×4 version. And then, you can upgrade what you want.

Be aware that the upgrading parts should be compatible with the other parts of your vehicle. You don’t want them to be damaged, right?

Concerning the price, both cars have almost the same range of price. There might be some slight differences depending on the season.

But, you can check their actual price from here:

Read Also: 10 BEST TRAXXAS STAMPEDE PARTS YOU SHOULD HAVE NOW

Final Judgement:

I see that after analyzing every aspect of each car. It becomes easier to decide which one to choose. And to make it simpler than that, let me tell you this:

If you’re a truck and off-road guy, pick the Stampede!

If you’re a speed and jumping guy, pick the Rustler!

Other than that, both cars have the same power and the same electronics. They’re safe for children as well.

And they’re a good fit for you if you’re a beginner. Believe me, you’ll enjoy them so much!

So, based on this Rustler vs Stampede Comparison. What would you choose? And why? I would love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Read Also: Top 10 Easy Upgrading Parts For Traxxas Rustler 4×4 VXL

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