Bringing Shame To The Avante Brand. Building An Avante MkII DF-03 Kit 58387 & Being So Unimpressed.

[@joeji7442]

I think the DF-03 is a great chassis with lots of support. Races well. And if not for the Avante scheme, I wouldn’t have discovered/considered it. Tamiya knows what they are doing.

[@MarkBryanRC]

Good video, I see where you are coming from, Gav. but I don't think the DF-03 is that bad! My friend has just built one, and I quite like it - a big step-up from the entry level kits. That said, it doesn't really live up to the Avante name, in the same way that the Comical falls short. Anyway, enjoyed the chat and interesting thoughts, mate! :)

[@magnumcyclonex]

The Avante Mk. II and Aero Avante are based on the Tamiya Mini 4WDs that were released before their R/C variants. I was ok with their designs on 1/32 scale, but I have to agree, they don't translate as well to 1/10 or larger scales. (Fun) fact, there is a real Aero Avante race car that Tamiya built. It can actually be driven, and they installed fake rollers to mimic the Tamiya Mini 4WD version, so while the enthusiasm was there, even as a fan of Tamiya Mini 4WDs, I was put off a bit after seeing it.

[@2SubaruBrats]

Great Video. I never really owned a Schumacher Cat but remembered one it was out and how competitive it was at the track and at the same time heard stories from owners that they were difficult to build as some of the parts don't fit well but once assembled, they are great cars. I agree about some cars which I'm not crazy about at first, but once I own it, I became crazy about it, this is the case with the Tamiya Clod Buster and Lunchbox. The Clod being too big and bulky and the Lunchbox being terrible handling but that's what make it fun.

[@ericwood2790]

It’s not an Avante by any means , but look at the bright side being that you don’t have any attachment to it , you can actually run and enjoy it and test some hop ups on it . Would be cool if you made some videos on it experimenting with different motors and other hop ups .

[@peterrenaud9639]

Try the uv light plastic pens to fix stripped holes. Few drops in, stab it down a bit with a pin or toothpick. Wipe off excess. Shine the light on it. You may have to redrill the pilot hole. Under $20cad, I have the bondic brand. heat will ruin it and doesn't set where you can't the light into, but should be great for stripped holes and the like. P.s. I only bought an ugly Manta ray cause it shares parts with my top force, and now I secretly like it.

[@Pablo668]

Good vid Gav. The DF-03 is a fun chassis in and of itself. There are a heap of upgrades for it out there too. I bought a Dark Impact for one of my boys to get him into the hobby years ago. This kit is a travesty though. It should never have been made.

[@gerrithendriks6718]

I love the car, I did put all upgrades on it, including the smoke plastic. It is not the original Avante but a nice little buggy.

[@si4177]

Tell your wife that you're so disappointed with it that you'll have to buy all the hop-ups. That way you can turn it into a car worthy of the Avante name. Seriously though, the DF-03 is a cracking chassis and it'll give you loads of fun.

[@RCACTIONAUSTRALIA]

Not a True Avante but Still a Nice looking Chassis 😎

[@NordicRC]

I love the looks of the box art Mk II. And the Aero. And the DF-series. Getting too biblical saying it brings ‘shame’? It’s just a name. Avante. Well, opinions and taste and approaches to a model differs and that’s okay.

[@GTMatukka]

What shame? As you said, it's just a name :) I really like to body, can't see as an Avante but a very nice body for DF-03 :)

[@choke666]

AWESOME VIDEO MAN. NOT SURE WHAT I THINK BOUT THE CAR EITHER HONESTLY. GOOD BUILD THO! LOOKS GOOD W/ THE BLUE.

[@RCKickschannel]

I’m going to fit Avante decals.

[@markscotchford4159]

Hi Gavin, did you ever get round to doing the running and upgrades video? Or did you lose interest? I can't see it listed on your website.

[@RCKickschannel]

I did some running in a video for the MK2 but 1 don’t think it was much as it broke if I remember correctly. I haven’t upgraded the buggy yet as I’m not really a fan.

[@markscotchford4159]

@@RCKickschannel Thanks Gavin. Yes I did get that impression. Your honesty is always appreciated.

[@rworden96]

You're right, it's not an Avante... It's better than any Avante on performance by a wide margin.

[@innovirtua]

I like the DF-03. Bit of a marketing ploy to stick the Avante body on it though. Could tell you didn't like the idea before you started the build ;)

[@robsteel8318]

Well it's no Avante but it's still the best looking DF-03 option.

[@milesmeister2675]

While it’s nowhere near the original Avante in terms of chassis, the DF-03 chassis is a very capable chassis with lots of tuning capabilities. That said, yes there are no bag labels in the kit and the ball diff seems to be made from mozzarella. A friend and myself have squeezed 3S brushless systems to ours and bashed the hell out of them. You can see a video of that on my channel.

[@SHAYEN-cd5qw]

Me personally I like it man and yes you will have the haters but each to their own. Thanks for sharing it with us Gavin 2 thumbs up.

[@aviano72]

Hmm, totally disagree with you. Mk.2 looks great. DF03 is great chassis but you have to do a few of mods to it because the gearbox is not so great out of the box. I had a similar feeling with the Monster Beetle. I loved it when i was a kid. When i built it in 2015 i hated the chassis so much.

[@bluesimon13ify]

You dont like it?? It looks great but it's the hand of the beholder, great car great build, 😀😀😀

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

Gavin, I agree with most here - it's NOT an Avante by any stretch!! 😖 Poor marketing ploy on Tamiya's part. However, the DF-03 Chassis is a fantastic Buggy! With the usual array of Aluminium upgrades, will be a solid performer. ...... The AERO AVANTE!!!??? 😖😲 I'd seriously be tempted to purposely leave it OUT of my collection, if I ever have one again. You're not kidding... YUCK!! 😝 But again, it's YOUR Collection. Cheers 🍻 Mate! Carmine ✈🚂🚙

[@DocWolph]

I would leave it out simply because it is technically, and technologically, NOT of the Avante lineage. The body looks okay but looks like it should be more "involved" than just a simple body shell. If it ws a multi-piece making those odd wings there own piece(s), it think the look could be salvaged. But that still does not cure he the fact it is NOT in the "Avante" family. Its like slapping a Boomerang body of the Hot Shot and saying it is in the "Shot" family.

[@VestedUTuber]

All the Avante facelifts are scaled-up Mini4WD cars. They're designed to try and get the Mini4WD guys to give RC a try.

[@Chunky246]

My DF-03 didn't come with labelled bags. I got tungsten balls for mine.

[@paulrobinson9355]

Hi Gav, watched this again great video and really warming to this one! Can't find anything you've done on your Areo Avante.......?

[@RCKickschannel]

I haven’t found an Aero Avante yet

[@calvin1mac]

Another great video. Maybe you could try to find a carbon chassis set for it, carbon towers, TRF shocks, slipper etc to make it something special like the original. I’d like to see Tamiya produce a carbon/frp chassis kit for the DF03 like they did with the manta ray that ended up being the top force. I have the DF03 MS which I think is a great kit 👍🏻 Also if you can point me in the direction of a rear carbon tower, I’d appreciate it. 😉

[@Martin27Scott]

Maybe should have got a Dark Impact just to get away from thinking about it being an Avante. Got my DI back out after your last video and had some fun actually. The DI body shell is also really good Looking.

[@evo4ralliart]

Part 11 is the raised spoiler mounts mate

[@RCKickschannel]

I changed it over and it made almost zero difference.

[@evo4ralliart]

RCKicks it’s not a huge difference but is slightly higher , I know what you mean though it should be a lot higher

[@DeliriumElectric]

I have a DI with a Keen Hawk body and this Avante shell is better. Just needs to be painted right. Also reckon it would work well with a trf wing mounted a lot higher. I like the gold wheels

[@michaeldack4930]

Car looks good, stickers in bin!!!!

[@kentdegama1218]

Just a thought here. Now I do agree this is not a true Avante I still like it and think it would be fun for club racing. I like the orange wheels and the body style is similar to the original. I watched a video on a dark force upgrade. Same chassis. All kinds of blue anodized aluminum components. I think that would look great with the bodies classic blue colour. Everything he used is made by a company called CPV. I have asked him to post the part numbers. If any of you know them I would appreciate it. Put a set of gold anodized shocks on this and it would really start looking the part.

[@theeviloneohyes]

definitely bring shame to the name avante , chassis has to be something special to get the name

[@36tornado36]

The chassis was the naff part of the original Avante, about as tough as cream cheese and a fortune to repair 😕

[@VestedUTuber]

@@36tornado36 To be fair, you can blame the cast aluminum suspension components and GFRP chassis plates for the durability issues with the original 1988 release. The 2011 rerelease is proving to be quite a bit more durable, although I wouldn't bash it hard or try to run it on a 1/8th scale track or anything like that.

[@eco8gator]

Love your videos and passion for the hobby. This is typical if Tamiya marketing BS...they reuse an iconic name and slap it onto the crap. Too much plastic. This is 2020, Tamiya needs to do better on their basic kits. Btw my favorite car from Tamiya is the F201, very unique driving experience but once you learn (basically point the nose and goose the throttle and it will go where it pointed) the car it's fantastic to drive around a track. I will admit though that my F201 has all the upgrade available...the plastic base car looked like crap.

[@Waikatotek]

I got of these NIB only to have a fleet of Avantes. Looking at this video, the decals do look piss poor. They could have done so much better.

[@stevintyska2449]

that mosquito flying in front of the lens was bugging me out, pardon the pun. I kept thinking was in front of my screen

[@jennyetherington3326]

I think it looks OK 👍 another good build Gavin

[@DocWolph]

I think the Aavante Mk2 is actually part of the "Force" family, which succeeded the "Shot" family.

[@philmoffett366]

The df03 chassis is a good chassis as an rc buggy of its own but to call it an avante is stretching it a bit? I've not long built the dark impact (same chassis) and it works well although I give up trying to fit a brushless combo in it because the only way it would fit I would have had to butcher the body and part of the chassis at the back and I wasn't willing to do it because it's the white edition!, In my opinion the avante mk2 has already been released but tamiya called it the egress🤔! Good vid again keep em coming👍

[@bwjones8903]

Gavin, thank you for the excellent content! I fully agree that this was a poor use of the Avante nameplate, and a disappointment. Having said that, apart from the front suspension, the DF03 chassis and drivetrain architecture are strikingly similar to what we see in photos of the new Super Avante. That might be enough to justify a second look at the Mk.II. Of course, the question of whether or not the Super Avante itself belongs in the family remains to be explored.......

[@RCKickschannel]

I'll get a Super Avante as soon as I can on the show. I hope it does well for them and with a few adjustments it can look the part.

[@rcalltypes8230]

The DF03 has a weak rear diff, I used 3mm Tungsten Diff balls & the front (all steel) Diff cups joints. The rear 1/2 plastic & steel diff cup combo is just a Joke, terrible.

[@budbarlang3729]

its a good chassis but they shouldn't have name it the avante mk2,too big of a boot to fill.

[@Ben-Lloyd]

How about the Tamiya Avante juniors ? Got to agree with you Gavin, it's not an Avante. As I'm watching your video, I can feel your hate for the car 😝😝😝

[@Aro800]

DF03 is great little buggy, just got a MK11 for a steal. Definitely no Avante apart from the name it doesn't share any DNA with original. Similar to you I put on two stickers and stopped. It's just all wrong. Looking fwd to seeing what it looks like with 2011 Avante stickers.

[@brianargo9306]

I do like the shape of that body but do you think you need to keep the decals as they came with that kid just so you can see the evolution of the Avanti?

[@RCKickschannel]

It just looked a mess with all the decals on.

[@kikazdrumer]

So you’re saying it’s a dark impact with a avante body? 🤔

[@DocWolph]

The Vanquish was the budget Avante. Maybe too small of a budget, but it was "in the family", at least.

[@Thomasmoston]

Hi Gav, loving the channel, I've just built a dark impact, before you run it I would suggest rebuilding the rear diff, you can either use the same solid metal ones that are on the front, or 3 racing also do some solid ones. There's loads of cases of the plastic melting and screwing up the diff. Also if you're intending on putting lipo and more power through it, the slipper clutch along with a solid steel pinion is recommended. Neil at RC Racing has a steel pinion, very friendly chap who if you email can send you one, cost less than a 10er posted(not on the website). You can slide the old one off very easily in a vice and replace it. There's a guide here: www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?/topic/79446-df03-dark-impacthardened-slipper-gear/&tab=comments#comment-784109 Cheers pal and keep up the good work 👍

[@RCKickschannel]

Thanks for the info 🙏🏻👍🏻 I’ll add it to the project.

[@darrengrimmer8541]

As I’ve said it’s not an Avante... that said I’m not totally disgusted by it!!!. It is what it is.. As you say Gavin you will make a few changes to improve it to your taste. It’s ok.... Can’t see the Avante lovers wanting one.. but hey ho

[@jasonandrewford4926]

It's not bad, but it's not the original.

[@bravo0105]

I love the DF-03, especially the RA, but it’s no Avante.

[@bespincustompropsbombarta8300]

Hate the front uprights on this car, they should of made different lower ones to change the angle of the shocks and make it look more like the original. Also if it was real how would you see were you're going 🤔🤣 Also the Aero IMO is better looking mainly because the front uprights look beeter.

[@denozed6554]

Not any relation to the Avante family at all. That being said that Df03 chassis looks tough as nails. That steering looks bullet proof. I'm sure it will out perform any Avante any day. It's not an part of the family no way.

[@VestedUTuber]

If anything, it's related to the Jr Avante Mini4WD car and its lineage, rather than the original RC buggy.

[@arnoldapplewhite3149]

Sell it Gav!!! O the shame...................... lol

[@andreiconcepcion7264]

Does it come with the electronics?

[@RCKickschannel]

Nope

[@andreiconcepcion7264]

@@RCKickschannel Oh, ok. Thanks, and BTW, I think you are the first one to reply to any of my comments. I'll remember this.

[@RCKickschannel]

@@andreiconcepcion7264 LOL, most welcome. I try to read all the messages posted

[@dave691974]

I may snag one , and turn it into a dark impact.

[@BenAppleTre]

Defo not an Avante, however I was going to get a Dark Impact & quite like the look of it now built! :-)

[@harlyquin]

not saying this is a bad buggy but its way to generic to be an avante with is boring plastic chassis , the oridginal was like lets make the best thing possible, no expence speared, this new avante is like lets biuld the new mini, and also why did they call it the mk2?, did they just forget about the avante 2001.

[@brianpreston8483]

I am one who fell for the bait, after my first avante in the early 90s. This wasn't as good. I did like it but it wasn't the same

[@theeviloneohyes]

good luck with the steering .. lol

[@perfectsplit5515]

Bringing "shame" to the Avante brand? The Avante brand is ALREADY shameful! I had the classic Avante in 1988, and it was a piece of crap that could not even withstand a single collision! The STUPID front lower suspension arms had a back link that consisted of a thick threaded rod screwing into a short plastic sleeve. There was such little depth penetration, that the link was fragile and broke easily in a collision! The rear suspension arm was almost as bad. It was a fusion of metal rods and plastic. In a collision, the shock impact is not evenly distributed throughout the whole arm. The more fragile plastic component took all the load! The Avante was the most expensive RC car on the market in late 1988, a whopping $300 for the version with the motor standard; the Mercedes of radio control. (The Optima Mid was $200). And the Avante turned out to be little more than a pretty shelf queen. I was afraid to run it in the grass, for fear it would run into something else and break. My idiot best friend in high school ran it in the grass after I told him not to, and the rear suspension arm broke, like I suspected it would. They would have been better off with the traditional 1-piece plastic A-arm, than the fragile metalworks they had! It was slow, too! In RCCA's 4WD shootout comparison test, the Avante came in dead last - 4.) Tamiya Avante, 3.) Kyosho Turbo Optima Mid SE, 2.) Yokomo C4, and 1.) Schumacher Cat XLS. There is nothing honorable about the Avante brand!!!

[@rnichol22]

No just no the the df03 looks garbage in an guise, aero at least looks nicer

[@kentdegama1218]

I will make one more comment. OK I am going to agree with our host. By design it;s nothing like the original. But Tamiya owns the name so they can call it whatever they want to. My background was largely in racing and with all humility I wona National ROAR championship but that was kind of by default. My car was limping but everbody else broke down. I was running for Bolink at the time. Allways was more of an off road guy. It was what fun was available. In if you want to call it that my career as a racer something like an Avante was around. So was something like a kyosho Ultima. But very few. Avante is very heavy. But that is not that bad a thing.within reason. A bit of weight holds the ground. Top guys with Team associated in time went to graphight chasis but then switched back to the aircraft aluminum tub. It had more weight on the front wheelsw. It steered better that way. Depends on the track you are running on but top speed isn't everything. Avantes were competitive in performance but the problem with them Is if somebody hit you or you crashed they broke into a thousand parts. I think it was sort of a design mistake. It;s super cool but it's no fun if you can't race. The design was too complicated. But I think it was the coolest rc car ever. That was not like replacing a Arm it was a bunch of links that would shatter, It was a hobby but I ran competitevely, Lots of fun Here is my advice from my viewpoint and a critisism. I really ran everything. Lots of fun. Simplicity can be the best design. I ran a Schumacher Top cat for a while. It's a performer but there are weak links in a unique front suspension system. I would not reccomend buying those but if you do I will tell you what will break. Just what parts you want to stock up on.You will need them and they are hard to get. Buy a Schumacker don;t say I didn;t warn you. The X:S 4WD is also a performer but parts supply is poor. My advice is if you like the hobby buy something with good parts supply. Around here it was largelt Team Associated and Team Losi. By a landslide I have to go with Team Losi. It's just better all the way around. They handledd better before they wen't to A arms. Here is my take on Tamiya, Its a special place in my heart. My first car was a hornet. Regardless of the price tag it will outperform easily something like an RC10 on solid ground. A solid rear axle has less friction and delivers power more effectively. But it won't do as well on uneven terrain. Tamiya largely is a company that makes plastic models. So you can expect them to use those resources. So they make very cool interesting stuff, My problem is they always change it, Its always something new hobby grrade made of plastic, Two wheel drive is usually the same. Just depedns on a few things. Something like a Super Astute should keep pace with anything. They are known to shatter though. An Avante is very unique.Given the opportunity I would say I could run laps around them with one, But thats an expensive toy.