From Avante 2011 to Super Avante: High End Tamiya RC Cars Upgrade & Maintenance for Beginners
Avante 2011/Black SP, Egress, VQS and Super Avante
In 1988, Tamiya did something that seemed almost impossible. They released a buggy so futuristic, so radically engineered, and so breathtakingly beautiful that it instantly became a legend. That car was the Avante. With its space-age styling, inboard suspension, and shaft-driven four-wheel drive, the Avante was not merely a remote-controlled car—it was a statement of intent, a declaration that Tamiya could build something to rival the finest racing machines from any manufacturer in the world. But the Avante was also fragile, temperamental, and expensive to repair, a thoroughbred that demanded more patience and skill than most hobbyists possessed.
Tamiya learned from the Avante’s shortcomings. In 1992, they released the Egress, a hardened, refined evolution of the same platform. The Egress kept the revolutionary suspension and drivetrain but replaced delicate materials with carbon fibre, added a center one way, and strengthened every weak point the Avante had exposed. It was the car the Avante should have been from the start—still complex, still expensive, but finally durable enough to race with confidence. Then, decades later, Tamiya surprised everyone again with the Super Avante, a modern reinterpretation that updated the classic layout for contemporary electronics and driving styles while preserving the spirit of the original.
Together, these three cars form what enthusiasts call the Avante dynasty. They share a common DNA: the unmistakable presence that sets them apart from every other buggy on the track or shelf. Yet each has its own personality, its own quirks, and its own specific maintenance needs.
This book is written for the beginner who has just acquired one of these magnificent machines—whether a re-released Avante, a cherished Egress, or the modern Super Avante—and wants to do more than simply display it. You want to drive it. You want to understand how it works. You want to keep it running without breaking the bank or your spirit. Perhaps you have already discovered that these cars are not like building a modern, parts-bin Toyota buggy. They demand attention to detail, a willingness to learn from mistakes, and a respect for engineering choices made thirty years ago.
Do not be intimidated. Every owner of these cars started exactly where you are now, staring at a bag of gears or a puzzling suspension link and wondering if they had made an expensive mistake. You have not. The Avante, Egress, and Super Avante are among the most rewarding RC cars ever produced, but they require a different approach than the average kit. This book will guide you through the practical upgrades that actually matter, the maintenance routines that prevent heartbreak, and the common pitfalls that catch even experienced builders off guard.
We will compare the three models honestly, showing you where they share parts and where they diverge. We will explain the controversial center one-way torque splitter, the fragile gearbox assemblies, and the secrets to keeping your suspension smooth. We will help you decide which upgrades are worth your money and which are merely shiny distractions. Most importantly, we will help you build confidence, so that the next time something breaks or wears out, you will reach for your tools rather than your credit card.
The Avante dynasty deserves to be driven, not merely admired. Let us get started.
