Seventy miles per hour. On a single 3S LiPo. For $299. That’s the Arrma Vendetta’s entire pitch — and it delivers on it better than almost any RTR car at this price point. This guide breaks down everything: the real specs, how it actually handles on pavement, what breaks, what upgrades are worth it, and whether this is still the right car to buy in 2025.
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Arrma Vendetta 3S BLX at a Glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scale | 1/8 |
| Top Speed (stock bash pinion) | ~50–55 mph |
| Top Speed (speed pinion, included) | 70+ mph |
| Motor | Spektrum Firma 3660 3900Kv (SPMXSM3300) |
| ESC | Spektrum Firma 100A Smart, 3S (SPMXSE1100) |
| Radio | Spektrum DX3 DSMR 2.4GHz with AVC |
| Drivetrain | 4WD (AWD), shaft-driven |
| Battery | 3S LiPo hardcase, max 165×51×48mm, IC5 connector |
| Weight (no battery) | 2.9 kg / 6 lbs 6 oz |
| Wheelbase | 335mm / 13.2” |
| Ground Clearance | 15mm |
| Price | ~$299.99 |
| Part Number | ARA4319V3 (Green: T1, Blue: T2) |
The Vendetta is Arrma’s 1/8-scale AWD speed machine — the only member of the BLX 3S lineup purpose-built to go fast on smooth pavement rather than survive abuse off-road.
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What Makes the Vendetta Different
Every other Arrma 3S vehicle — the Typhon, the Senton, the Big Rock — uses the same 3200Kv motor wound for torque across mixed terrain. The Vendetta ships with a 3900Kv motor, seven hundred KV points higher, optimized for top-end speed on low-resistance surfaces. It also comes with two pinion gears in the box: a 20T for bashing and a 26T for speed runs, paired with a 50T spur (vs. the 57T found on other 3S models). That gearing combination is why the Vendetta achieves speeds that leave its siblings behind.
The chassis sits dramatically lower than any other 3S Arrma — just 15mm of ground clearance — with an aerodynamic body that actually reduces drag instead of catching air. It’s the first Arrma 3S car to include front and rear sway bars as stock equipment, which matters enormously for high-speed cornering stability.
The Infraction 3S shares the same platform, motor, ESC, and radio — but wears a resto-mod truck body with more drag, costs about $100 more at current pricing, and tops out around 65 mph. The Vendetta is the right choice if raw speed on pavement is the goal. The Infraction is the right choice if you want something that photographs like a street machine and takes more bumps in stride. If you want to understand the broader lineup before committing, our complete guide to Arrma RC cars lays out every model.
For the brushless newcomers: the BLX system here is meaningfully different from brushed motors. If you’re weighing that decision for the first time, our brushed vs brushless guide explains what you’re actually paying for.
Performance & Speed Testing
The first time you pin the throttle on a Vendetta across a clean parking lot is a specific kind of moment. The motor doesn’t roar the way a nitro engine does — it screams. There’s a high-pitched turbine sound as the 3900Kv winds up, and then the car is simply gone, pulling hard in a straight line with a stability that surprises you. With the 26T speed pinion and a decent 3S 5000mAh pack, verified runs consistently hit 70–73 mph. One owner GPS-verified 59.2 mph with the stock bash pinion on an Ovonic 5200mAh. That’s what the “slow” setup does.
After spending a summer thrashing a Typhon 3S through gravel and grass, switching to the Vendetta on smooth asphalt was exactly like going from a dirt bike to a sports car. The Typhon eats everything in its path; the Vendetta demands a clean surface and rewards it with a completely different kind of speed experience. You’re doing two-tenths of a mile per second. It’s genuinely fast.
Traction and stability are better than expected for a speed-only platform. The combination of 85mm low-profile tires, a flat center of gravity, sway bars, and the AVC traction control system makes the car feel planted. AVC is adjustable via the DX3 transmitter — turned up to 80–90%, most drivers find it a one-handed experience at full throttle. Traction rolls, which you’d expect to be the big risk, are rarely reported. What does happen is speed wobble above 65 mph if the surface has any imperfections, and tire ballooning — where expanding rubber at high speed contacts the inner fenders.
Heat is the legitimate concern. The Firma 100A ESC runs warm during extended sessions — 155°F is typical after 30 minutes. The stock body design restricts airflow, and the 3900Kv motor pulls hard current. Running the 26T speed pinion for sustained driving will thermal-throttle the ESC. Community consensus is clear: the 26T is for drag passes and speed run attempts, not for general bashing. For everyday driving, the 20T bash pinion keeps temperatures in a safe range. An aftermarket 40mm motor fan and an ESC fan are strongly recommended first upgrades.
Runtime on a 3S 5000mAh pack runs about 10 minutes at spirited pace, 25+ minutes at cruising speed. Battery temperatures around 114°F after a session are normal and within spec. You’ll need a solid charger for those 3S packs — here are our top picks for RC LiPo chargers to keep you running between sessions.
Build Quality & Design
The V3 platform is genuinely well-engineered for its price point. The composite tub chassis is rigid, the oil-filled coilover shocks come pre-set and actually require minimal adjustment out of the box, and the independent double-wishbone suspension at both ends provides real handling feedback rather than just absorbing hits. The diffs ship with metal gears rated for 4S abuse, and the Spektrum electronics are among the most capable stock packages in the 3S RTR segment — Smart ESC telemetry, a digital metal-gear servo, and a proper 3-channel transmitter.
A few things frustrate immediately. The body clips are the most hated component on the entire car, universally described as oversized, difficult to seat, and prone to launching across the parking lot. Replacing them with standard thin-wire clips costs under $5 and eliminates the most common daily annoyance. The 14mm wheel hex is a more structural problem — it’s an unusual size that limits aftermarket tire options significantly. Most performance tires and upgrade wheels are made for 12mm or 17mm hexes. Swapping to 17mm hex hubs (Hot Racing ATF117XT02, ~$34) opens up the full dBoots Hoons range and most aftermarket options.
The body shell itself has mixed durability feedback. At speed, it does its job. On crashes, it cracks. This isn’t unique to the Vendetta — thin aerodynamic bodies always sacrifice impact resistance for drag — but it’s worth managing expectations. At one particularly overly ambitious speed run attempt involving a parking lot curb that wasn’t visible until the last moment, the body took damage that the chassis didn’t. The body is sacrificial. The car underneath was fine.
One known issue to watch for: some units shipped with differentials that were inadequately lubricated from the factory. If the car feels rough or grinds in tight turns during early use, pull the diffs and inspect. Refilling with 10,000 cSt silicone oil front and gear grease rear will fix it and extend diff life significantly.
Best Upgrades for the Arrma Vendetta
Speed Upgrades
Pinion gearing is the lowest-cost, highest-impact performance modification. The included 26T pinion is the starting point; forum members report fitting 28T–30T (0.8 Mod, 5mm bore) on the stock spur for theoretical 80+ mph, though heat becomes a serious limiting factor above 28T. Robinson Racing and Hot Racing both make quality steel alternatives. For dedicated speed running beyond stock, the preferred community path is a steel spur gear (40–50T, GPM Racing, ~$25) combined with a larger pinion, rather than pushing the stock plastic spur.
For battery, a 3S 5000mAh 50C+ hardcase LiPo fits the 165×51×48mm tray. The best-value picks are the Ovonic or Gens Ace 3S 5000mAh around $30–45. Spektrum Smart 5000mAh packs (~$65) unlock full telemetry if you want speed and temperature data on the transmitter screen.
Belted tires become necessary above 60 mph to prevent ballooning. The dBoots Hoons range fits the stock wheels in three compounds — Gold (grip), White (balanced), Silver (speed durability). After switching to 17mm hex hubs, the dBoots Hoons 42/100 2.9 (ARA550062, ~$35/pair) offer the best pavement grip.
Durability Upgrades
First priorities: aftermarket body clips (immediate), a 40mm motor fan ($10–15 on Amazon), and Hot Racing 17mm hex hubs ($34) to unlock better tire options. GPM carbon steel CVD driveshafts ($37 for a set) replace the weaker stock plastic versions and handle 4S power if you go that route. A stronger servo is worthwhile once you start speed running seriously — the Reef’s RC RAW 500HD ($80–100, 565 oz-in) is the community’s premium recommendation, with budget options around $20–30 providing meaningful improvement over stock.
Body Shells & Cosmetic Options
The 335mm wheelbase opens up a solid range of aftermarket bodies. The PROTOform 2023 Nissan Z ($55–65) is extremely popular and fits true to the mounting points. The Bittydesign Divina hypercar body ($80) is the showpiece option. Delta Plastik USA offers Italian-made polycarbonate options including Ferrari F40 and Porsche 935-inspired shells at $79–126. The OEM clear replacement body (ARA414004) is available at AMain for ~$25–30 for custom painting your own livery.
Search Arrma Vendetta pinion gear upgrades on Amazon
Arrma Vendetta vs. the Competition
No other RTR under $400 touches 70 mph on 3S. The comparison table makes this clear:
| Model | Top Speed | Scale | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrma Vendetta 3S BLX | 70+ mph | 1/8 | ~$299 | Speed bashing on a budget |
| Arrma Infraction 3S BLX | ~65 mph | 1/8 | ~$399 | Street style + bash versatility |
| Arrma Felony 6S BLX | 80+ mph | 1/7 | ~$549–699 | Serious drag/speed, muscle car look |
| Traxxas XO-1 | 100+ mph | 1/7 | ~$749 | Extreme speed, experienced drivers only |
| Traxxas 4-Tec 3.0 | ~30 mph | 1/10 | ~$329 | Scale realism, licensed bodies |
| Team Associated Apex2 | ~25 mph | 1/10 | ~$299 | Scale fun, Hoonigan builds |
The Infraction 3S is the obvious sibling comparison. Same motor, same ESC, same radio, same tires — but the aerodynamic disadvantage of the truck body costs it roughly 5–8 mph. It handles casual off-road edges far better and offers more body options. If you want to occasionally drive over parking curbs and cracks without worrying, the Infraction earns its $100 premium. If you want maximum speed, the Vendetta wins.
The Felony 6S is the natural step-up — larger, heavier, designed to accept 4–6S power and hit 80+ mph with the right gearing. At roughly double the price, it’s a different category of commitment. For anyone wanting more than 80 mph, the Arrma Limitless roller (~$799) with custom electronics is where the speed running community invests.
The Traxxas 4-Tec 3.0 and Associated Apex2 are at similar price points but are fundamentally different products — scale touring cars with brushed motors. Reaching Vendetta-comparable speeds requires $150+ in brushless conversions on top of the RTR price. They’re not competitors to the Vendetta; they’re competitors to each other.
If you’re newer to the hobby and want to start smaller before committing to 70 mph, check out our Arrma Grom Series comparison for scale options that are more forgiving as a first car.
Who Should Buy the Arrma Vendetta?
✅ Ideal for:
- Speed run enthusiasts who want 70 mph without a $700 investment
- On-road bashers with access to a clean parking lot or private tarmac
- Arrma ecosystem owners who already have 3S batteries and IC5 chargers
- Intermediate drivers comfortable with high-speed RC behavior
- Anyone who wants a purpose-built speed machine at the lowest possible entry price
❌ Not ideal for:
- Off-road bashers — 15mm ground clearance is a hard limit; rough surfaces will damage the chassis
- Beginners who want versatility across terrain types
- Drivers without access to smooth, open pavement (the car needs 500+ feet to stretch out)
- Anyone expecting monster truck durability — this is a precision speed tool, not an indestructible basher
- Those chasing 80–100+ mph; this car tops out around 73–75 mph with safe upgrades
FAQ
How fast does the Arrma Vendetta go?
With the included 26T speed pinion and a quality 3S 5000mAh LiPo, the Vendetta reaches 70–73 mph on smooth pavement. With the stock 20T bash pinion, expect 50–55 mph. Verified GPS runs from owners consistently land in the 70–72 mph range on stock electronics. Community members have reached 80+ mph using the 28T–30T pinions with upgraded cooling, but sustained runs at that speed require careful heat management.
Is the Arrma Vendetta good for beginners?
With caution, yes — but it demands respect. The Spektrum AVC traction control system makes 70 mph significantly more manageable than it sounds, and many drivers treat it as their first serious speed car without issues. The key requirements are: smooth pavement access (mandatory), some experience with RC car control at lower speeds first, and an understanding that this car will not survive curbs or rough terrain gracefully. If you want something more forgiving as a starting point, a Typhon 3S or Infraction 3S gives you the same electronics with more chassis forgiveness.
Arrma Vendetta vs. Arrma Infraction — what’s the difference?
Both share identical hardware: same platform, motor (3900Kv), ESC (Firma 100A Smart), radio (DX3 with AVC), servo, and tires. The difference is entirely the body and resulting aerodynamics. The Vendetta’s low-slung sports car shell produces less drag and adds about 5–8 mph over the Infraction’s resto-mod truck body. The Infraction handles minor surface imperfections and curbs more tolerantly. The Vendetta currently costs about $100 less. If speed is the primary goal, buy the Vendetta. If you want a streetcar aesthetic and a bit more versatility, the Infraction is worth the premium.
What battery does the Arrma Vendetta use?
The Vendetta requires a 3S LiPo hardcase battery with maximum dimensions of 165 × 51 × 48mm and an IC5 or EC5 connector. The recommended capacity is 5000–5200mAh at 50C or higher. Popular choices include the Ovonic 5200mAh, Gens Ace 5000mAh, and Spektrum Smart 5000mAh (which enables telemetry). Soft-pack batteries will not fit the rigid tray. Running 4S in the stock ESC is not recommended — the Firma 100A is rated to 3S maximum.
Can you run the Arrma Vendetta off-road?
Technically you can drive it off-road, but you shouldn’t expect good results. With only 15mm of ground clearance, even a slight rise in pavement or an expansion joint can ground the chassis. Rough surfaces at any real speed will bounce the car unpredictably and risk breaking the body, suspension arms, or diffs. Arrma’s marketing language calls it “All-Road,” which refers more to the fact that it can handle minor imperfections than any serious off-road capability. Think pristine asphalt and smooth concrete only.
Conclusion
The Arrma Vendetta 3S BLX remains the best argument for on-road speed running at a budget price — 70 miles per hour for $299, with a factory radio system that makes it actually driveable. The AVC traction control works, the sway bars work, and the Spektrum electronics package is among the most capable stock setups in the RTR segment. The heat management limitations are real and the body clips are infuriating, but neither should deter a committed on-road driver.
One honest note for 2025 buyers: some retailers are marking the Vendetta as discontinued, and production signals suggest this model is in its final inventory run. As of early 2025, Arrma has not announced any V2 or successor model — the community has been speculating about a potential 4S refresh since mid-2023, but nothing official has materialized. If that changes, we’ll update this page. Until then, the V3 remains the only Vendetta you can buy. At $299 — or lower during clearance events — that makes it an even sharper value, but it also means acting sooner rather than later if you want one at this price. Check current availability on Horizon Hobby or at AMain Hobbies before the clearance window closes.
For a full breakdown of Arrma’s complete lineup — from the Grom all the way up to the Limitless — see our complete guide to Arrma RC cars.
