Kyosho Fazer Mk2 Rally *NEW* FZ02-R RALLY CHASSIS Subaru Impreza WRC 2002 REVIEW

I'm no rally expert, or even very knowledgeable when it comes to RC rally cars. However, here's my "review" of the newly released Fazer FZ02-R Rally chassis fitted with the Impreza WRX 2002 body.
Summary: I like it! I like it a lot. 👍
LINKS:
Kyosho Fazer
rc.kyosho.com/en/34481t1.html
FZ02-R Initial Impressions
• Kyosho Fazer Mk2 FZ02-...
FZ02-R in Outrun!
• Fazer Outrun (a little...
XV-01 Forest Rally
• Tamiya XV-01 Lancia De...
Kai City RC Facebook
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Kai City RC Instagram
/ kaicity_rc

[@poorboysrc]

Great video, brother! I was just thinking of making a similar (TT-02 v.s. Fazer MK2) comparison video, so I started going down the rabbit hole, and here you are. Wonderful presentation on a couple iconic RC's.

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks!

[@scaleworksRC]

I just picked this beauty up today and much appreciate that breakdown. They all have their quirks and issues, but this one is a winner.

[@matusknives]

Your humbleness, honesty and attention to detail are the main reasons I follow your channel. You may be surprised, but this video indeed classifies as a review 😁 Sounds like this little car would be a great way to get into rally cars. I do wish though that it would also come as a kit. I am very tempted to get a Kyosho car, but I really want a kit to enjoy the building process.

[@KaiCityRC]

I really appreciate the kind words. Thank you! 😊 I know what you mean about wanting to build a kit (though, in all honesty I'm so glad the body was already done for me! 😅) With one of Tamiya's XB's normally the first thing I'd do would be to take it apart and install bearings, but as this already has them, I didn't feel the need. I do have a selection of option parts to install, so at some point I will tear it down and rebuild it. But for now I'm enjoying it as is. 😊

[@Jaysqualityparts]

Another great review David. Thanks.

[@KaiCityRC]

Thank you!

[@MauzyrockRC]

Wow really great over view of this model. tons of useful insight. Thanks!

[@KaiCityRC]

Glad it was helpful! 😊

[@RallyandTrail]

Awesome video ! The handling looks great off-road 👍🏻 Waiting patiently for the 15th when this hits the UK 😎🏁🎄

[@KaiCityRC]

Not long to go! It's surprising they will arrive in the UK later than Japan. For most Kyosho releases, it's the other way round! 😅

[@RCShiney]

Nice review. I do like watching to see the body roll like real rally cars. One of the most fun rc cars that I've driven was the Vaterra Ford Fiesta 1/8 rally, the way it pitched around just made for such a cool rally experience. Unfortunately I never got a chance to try Kyosho's DRX

[@KaiCityRC]

Thank you! I totally agree with the body roll thing. My XV-01 can corner faster (on smoother terrain) but it just doesn't look as good while doing it! 😊 Body roll is usually seen as bad, but in the case of a scale looking rally car, I think it really adds to realism. I'll add that despite the roll, at no point did it ever completely roll over. The only annoyance was the body catching on the tire. Which I have a theory about - I suspect it leans more on left turns as the (light) lipo battery weighs less than the motor, esc, receiver and servo all sitting on the other side of the chassis. I slightly heavier battery might alleviate the problem.

[@kahmed7328]

Great review on a cool model!

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks! ☺️

[@-1-2-1-]

Btw Kai, I like your channel because you are articulate and give lots of authentic and considered thoughts. Its the USP of your channel and the reason I subscribed. Don't fall into the sensationalist trap.

[@KaiCityRC]

Thank you! No need to worry about that. I'm not here to make money, grab headlines or sell mech. I'm just a guy who loves RC, photography and (now) videography and enjoys making videos. If people watch, enjoy and maybe even find something useful in the content I put out, well that's enough for me. 😊 It's also nice to be able to share my thoughts and "converse" with my viewers via these videos, as I rarely have the chance to talk in English about RC! 😁 (well, except with my wife, who is probably getting sick of hearing about "Tamiya this" and "Kyosho that..." 😂

[@sbkpeace.24]

Thoroughly enjoyed it 👍 But man can talk! 😂

[@mikeruhl]

Great review, thanks.

[@KaiCityRC]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you! 😊

[@mpower_36]

Sehr gut erklärt 👍 Der Kyosho ist sehr gut meiner Meinung nach und die Karosserie ist auch sehr scale!! Wird definitiv 2024 gekauft 👌 & der Tamiya Impreza '99 TT-02 ebenfalls 😅

[@KaiCityRC]

Vielen Dank! Thank you! 😊

[@rob2738]

Love the look of this. 😊

[@KaiCityRC]

The body on this is very well done and looks great when ripping through the dirt! 😁

[@user-oo7sv6dq6p]

走行動画待っていました😊とてもスケール感があってカッコイイです。素晴らしい動画ありがとうございます♪

[@KaiCityRC]

動画を見ていただきありがとうございました！楽しんで頂けてこちらこそ嬉しいです。これからも頑張ります。Thanks for watching! 🙂

[@electricnitrorc]

Wow 👌 awesome video 😊 looks like a really good rally car. It's pretty powerful for a brushed motor.

[@KaiCityRC]

I've got to admit, with the throttle EPA set to maximum it was a lot faster than I was expecting! 😮 The 550 sized G14 motor is plenty fast for running in the park. 👍 Nevertheless I will probably install a brushless set up at some point, purely for ease of maintenance and reliability in dusty conditions.

[@Pablo668]

Very cool car, good review.

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks! 👍

[@christophblack9390]

Thanks for sharing. I have one on pre order.

[@KaiCityRC]

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the FZ02-R. It's a great piece of kit.👍 Just be sure to get the photo shoot 📷 and beauty shots done before you drive it, as it won't stay looking pristine for long! 😅

[@kevintaylor1626]

Looks lioe a great “budget” rally car this is what I really wanted when I purchased my Fazer mk2 Dodge Challenger....may have to pick one up also like that is built vs having to build the xvo1 great video and running videos!

[@KaiCityRC]

Thank you! I'm not rally expert, but right out the box the FZ02-R performs really well, especially if you run on rougher terrain.

[@theoagrc]

Great video David. Sorry I missed this before. I am very tempted by one of these but I have a XV01 and didn’t like the XV02 so I am concerned this will under deliver against the XV01. RC decisions are always tricky 😂

[@KaiCityRC]

Likewise, I wasn't too keen on the XV-02. I really like my XV-01 and the way it drives. But the Fazer is really good too, even in stock form. And the body is a work of art. 👍

[@RFVCXR200R]

Blue is an excellent color for a Fazer as well 😊

[@KaiCityRC]

Oh yes, I'm a huge fan of this blue. I always wanted to own a 1:1 Subaru Impreza WRX, especially in this blue color. But I couldn't bring myself to sell the GTR I had at the time, that was also in blue. 😊 It looks fabulous. 👍

[@cyberswine]

I totally understand what you mean by more leaning = more entertainment :) The car looks so realistic! But I don't see this kit anywhere. Hopefully, it will be in America soon.

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks! I believe the kit should be available elsewhere in the world very soon. 👍

[@rbaldino]

Looks like fun. I have a TT-02 with some upgrades but I've been thinking of getting the Fazer chassis kit as well. I had a Kyosho Ultima Pro XL way back in the day and really want one of their machines again. Should I pull the trigger and do it?

[@KaiCityRC]

Absolutely! 👍 Even though they're quite similar, I think there is enough of a difference to justify getting the FZ02-R. I love the way it drives! That said, it's probably not the best idea to ask an RC addict whether it's a good idea to spend yet more money on another RC...😁 😅

[@bespincustompropsbombarta8300]

Nice video, looks like a good car overall, shame they put the bug eye body on it. Urm, real rally cars are road cars 😉 they just raise the suspension on coilovers for the dirt and gravel stages then, drop it down for the tarmac stages. You can do exactly the same with this and the tamiya kits by changing the shock mounting position to give more clearance. The front motor design in the xv01 is liked because it gives a more realistic drive as most real cars have front engines.

[@derekc6425]

Great video mate! I just ordered one too! Does the car comes with the light kit? Or I can I easily use any standard light kits. Are the light buckets holes standard size?

[@KaiCityRC]

No it doesn't! You can install four clear at the front and up to six red at the rear. The size is 5mm. You won't need light buckets as the body already has them. Just remove the plastic retainers and pop the LED's in. 👍 I bought a couple of sets of Kyosho's LED Light Units ( #97054-4CR and #97054-2B) and then wired them up together into a single connector. I use a small extension piece that runs from the receiver through a small hole in the chassis cover to another connector. That will make it easier to remove the body as you can simply disconnect the lights. Hope that helps. 🙂

[@derekc6425]

@@KaiCityRC Thanks mate for the tips will definitely try it out!💪🤩 Do u think drift tyres & wheels fit on the Kyosho chassis too? I'm thinking of using those from my MST RMX drift car and swap the wheels onto the Kyosho as I'm afraid the off-road bashing is gonna damage the bodyshell & chassis. Just hoping to keep this car as much a shelf queen if possible 😁

[@KaiCityRC]

Kyosho Fazer drift wheels and tires will definitely fit. I'm not familiar with the MST RMX, so can't comment on whether they'll work or not. The Fazer uses screw type fitment (not wheel nuts). I know what you mean about beating up the body. The chassis is real tough, but the body does take a beating driving off-road. 😥 But I keep telling myself it's a rally car and meant to be driven in the dirt. @@derekc6425

[@MRX5000X]

Another great video! Is that your Jimny at 6:01?

[@KaiCityRC]

Well spotted! 😊 I finally took delivery of it after waiting 18 months! My youngest son will be inheriting my previous JB23 Jimny once he passes his driving test.

[@MRX5000X]

Very cool! I wish we got those here in the states.

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks! 😊

[@Hanstra]

Great video! One thing to keep an eye on is the drive cups (I think that's what they're called?) in the wheels, where the dogbones connect. The stock plastic ones seem to get chewed up very quickly, and in my opinion it's the "Achilles Heel" of the Fazer Mk2 chassis - the ones in my Mad Van, which I've put about 10 packs through, are already looking super worn out and I think they'll need replacing soon. Replacement plastic ones are cheap enough, but the metal upgrades that'll presumably last longer are $88 USD for a set of four, which seems nuts to me. I'm curious to see if you'll have better luck with yours.

[@KaiCityRC]

After about 5 packs through mine the drive cups seem to be holding up ok, but I’ve been doing a lot of filming at lower speed with the throttle EPA dialed right down. At 100% the G14 motor is very quick so I’d imagine plastic components would wear out relatively quickly. I already have the alloy upgrades and will replace the plastic ones when they wear out. Thanks for watching and commenting! 👍

[@peterlewis7172]

I'm looking at the exploded view of the car and still can't figure out which 'cups' you are referring to? The Wheel Shaft Set FZ02 FA505B?

[@KaiCityRC]

That's the one. FA505B. They're made of plastic on the Fazer (and several Tamiyas too, including the DT-02/03 and TT-02B). @@peterlewis7172

[@peterlewis7172]

Too bad there isn't a hop-up option made of metal @@KaiCityRC

[@KaiCityRC]

There are! part FAW202 & FAW207 replaces the stock units. I also have several other upgrades waiting to be installed. I'll put a post up on KCRC's Facebook page with more info.@@peterlewis7172

[@sxixlxnx]

Chuck a MAX10 combo in here and they fly!

[@imanabdurahman5966]

Awesome video, but have you experienced the body cover rubbing againts tire when turning?

[@KaiCityRC]

Not the chassis cover, no. But the Subaru body catches behind the front wheels during hard cornering. That said, I don't use the body pins to attach the chassis cover, instead opted for velcro.

[@imanabdurahman5966]

Owh sory, yes I mean the subaru body, any advice to avoid this happen?

[@KaiCityRC]

@@imanabdurahman5966 I’ve not yet done anything to reduce rubbing. But looking at it, I can only see four options. 🤔 1. Raise the body. It won’t look at good, but it might stop the rubbing and has the benefit of reducing damage to the front lip on rougher ground. 2. Trim a little of the body where it catches. 3. Fit less aggressive rally block tires. Tamiya rally blocks are a little smaller in circumference and likely wouldn’t rub. 4. Fit the included narrow tread wheel hubs or use wheels with a different offset. I’m not sure what I’ll do with mine yet.the rubbing hasn’t damaged the body, it just doesn’t sound good when it happens. 😅

[@imanabdurahman5966]

@@KaiCityRC thank you for your advice, it is really annoying to hear when the body rubbing the tires 😅😅😅

[@jonthomas8487]

I’d like to try the XV02 Pro and get the KillerBody version of the Subaru body. For a while there was another company selling an Audi Quattro S1 lexan body with some scale items but I cannot seem to find it now

[@KaiCityRC]

The XV-02 Pro looks good and at some point I would like to get one. But in all honesty right now the LC Racing PTG-2R is probably going to be my next rally car. 👍

[@jonthomas8487]

@@KaiCityRC The XV02 is nice because it has a center diff

[@uncletom1971]

The Fazer seems to be of better plastic material. Also, when comparing to the XV01 mind that XV01 is belt drive besides having a front mount motor.

[@wanichanoktongpijit2787]

If I change the wheels to drift wheels and use them for drifting Do you think it will work?

[@KaiCityRC]

Absolutely! It will drift, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to drive. I don't know much about drifting, but all the high spec machines seem to have unique motor layouts and crazy steering angles! 😁

[@rbaldino]

Mark Bryan RC has a video in which he drifts a standard TT-02 against a TT-02D. Drift wheels will help anything slide, but not as well as an actual drift chassis. The same is probably true for the Fazer. Of course, there are drift versions of the Fazer RTR you can buy to begin with.

[@KaiCityRC]

I had a look at the FZ02-D chassis, and it looks identical to the road going version, only with drift tires. Perhaps it has other modifications too. I guess if you're just starting out drifting, a drift spec TT02 or Fazer will get you going. But in the long run it's probably better to buy a drift chassis such as Yokomo's affordable Rookie Drift 2.0. 👍

[@Sidewalkchalk27]

Think if you stiffen up the suspension a bit, it will perform better.

[@KaiCityRC]

Yeah, that's true. But to be perfectly honest I like the way it rolls around! 😁

[@trevorb3521]

Which light kit did you use? The KYOSHO clear and red 4 bulb one? #97054-4CR?

[@KaiCityRC]

That's the one. I also wired in an additional two white LED's for four at the front.

[@trevorb3521]

I'm new to custom lighting. Does KYOSHO sell a 2 clear LED one as well like the 4 bulb one and is it a plug and play like the 97054-CR one or do I have to solder them in?@@KaiCityRC

[@KaiCityRC]

@@trevorb3521 Yes, Kyosho sell a couple of different sets of LED's. I used one set of 4 (2 white & 2 red) plus an extra set of 2 white. To reduce the number of cables, I simply soldered them together so they're all running off the same plug in the reciever.

[@trevorb3521]

Did you put the red ones into the left and right buckets of the lens or put them side by side? Do you think it would be possible to run 6 red and 4 white? Could the receiver handle that? I see that KYOSHO sells a 3 way splitter with a male spade and the other sets have a male spade and a female connector...the male spade plugs into the receiver and the female end is for an extension to plug in more? Sorry for all the questions but I'm new at this! I appreciate your feedbacks! :) @@KaiCityRC

[@KaiCityRC]

@@trevorb3521 Kyosho's LED's use a pass-through system, so you can install them in channels 1 and 2 and run them between the esc and servo. The included receiver has 3 channels, plus a socket for a gyro. I run mine out of channel 3 and soldered them together mainly for neatness and to reduce the amount of wiring. But you could use splitters and multiple sets of LED's to achieve the look you want. The body can accept 4 white and 6 red lights. I'm not to familiar with the specs of the supplied Kyosho receiver, but I've run up to 8 LEDs off some Futaba receivers without issue. The current draw is negligible and I don't think it would be an issue. Another option would be a lighting kit. I use locally available ones in several builds. The have provisions for 12 lights and can include working brake, high beams and turn signals. The only downside to all the lighting is the added complication of removing the chassis cover and body. Hope that helps!

[@Sebastian-rd4fw]

You're right. I addition the scale speed of rallye cars on a forest path look more realistic. sometimes onroad cars in races look like "800kmh high speed time travel vehicles" 😵 if you extrapolate😅

[@KaiCityRC]

Thanks!

[@offsetrc]

Funny how you siad a bout slapping sticker on a road car and takeing it reallying thing is rally cars a road legal cars that can be driven on the road you could take your Subaru rallying but you would have to spend about 40 to 50 grand on the set-up you would need harnesses roll cage and meet the regulations to enter the race So technically yes you can take your road car rallying

[@KaiCityRC]

That's quite a bit of money on top of the cost of the car to get it race ready! 😁

[@offsetrc]

@@KaiCityRC ya but would be worth every penny for a competition ready car I'm a big fan of rally mostly from 90s 2000s