Top 10 TLR 22 character pros

I recently wrote up a top 10 list of the things I find a bit annoying about the 22 platform, so I thought I’d put up a list of the top 10 things I think the 22 platform excels at.

1. Shocks: the shocks on the TLR 22 series are flat out amazing.  You have aluminum shock bodies and caps, 3.5mm shock shafts, durable and smooth X-rings, and the pistons are machined.  They are some of the highest quality shocks on the market today.
2. Mid and rear motor: the 1.0 and 2.0 kits allowed for mid or rear motor, which was one of the first platforms on the market for both setups.  This allows your vehicle to work in anything from high grip clay to super loose outdoor tracks.
   
3. Option parts:  TLR is constantly testing and refining their platform and coming out with option parts all the time.  When they find something that works (front mounted shocks, 3-gear transmission, dirt laydown, etc.), they will quickly release it to the public and make it available.  You don’t have to wait for the next X.0 release, these changes come out incrementally throughout the year.
   
4. Diff:  the 22 diff has ground diff rings, second stage machining on the outdrives, and tungsten-carbide diff and thrust balls.  They are extremely smooth.
   
5. Support:  the TLR team is quite active online and on social media to answer questions, provide support and tips.  I think they have the most direct interaction with the customer of any company out there.
   
6. Durability:  while the plastic parts don’t wear especially well, they are quite durable platforms.  My son drives my T 2.0 and often plays “tag” with his friends’ cars, and it holds up extremely well.
   
7. Parts compatibility:  many of the parts are interchangeable between the buggy, truck, and short course which allows for experimentation on shocks, arms, wheel offsets, etc.
   
8. Out-of-the-box setup:  the stock setup is usually fantastic and pretty close to perfect out of the box.  You usually only need to make minor changes for your particular track and driving style.
   
9. Lexan:  I’m not sure if the polycarbonate they use is different than other manufacturers, but I find the bodies and wings to be especially tough and durable.  In fact, I use the 22 wing on all of my non-TLR buggies too!  Throw in the fact that they’re usually pre-cut, and these kits use some of the nicest Lexan out there.
10. Out-of-the-box thinking:  TLR often experiments with some unusual ideas, like race-level RTR’s, support kits, full screw replacement kits, etc.  A lot of these ideas don’t pan out, but it’s nice to see a company experiment not only with the vehicles, but also different ideas in the marketplace.