R/C Cars & Trucks - Which One?

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Pako

Pako

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Greets everyone,

I've been doing some research on getting into R/C cars or trucks. I mean, I aim to get my son one for his Birthday. I've only owned one R/C Truck that I built, and that was a looooong time ago. I no nothing on current specs or buying opinions of models... I have been reading some extordinary testimonials on HPI products, namely the Savage. A nitro-Monster Truck!

Any suggestions? Car or Truck, Gas or Electric?

:cheers:
 
I don't know what your son likes, but if it were me I'd go for a car - specifically gas powered.:trouble: Is there a real life car that he really likes a lot? If so, try to get an R/C version of it.👍

That's all the "advice" I can give. I know nothing about R/C car brands. I'm more into planes, helicopters, and definitely boats, myself.:)

Is there a certain price you're looking to not exceed? If so let us know so we can try to suggest things under that price.:)
 
be safe, get him a kit electric one (always run faster than the stock ones). But still, the speeds they get are nothing compared to what you can get with a gas car (I think the fastest for gas is like 117 or something like that). But still, if I were you, I'd get the electric (a little cheaper too).
 
Electric is so mush easier to take care of. Trust me its a good starter type.

Cars are a bit more complex but don't get as badly beat up.
 
I, personally, like buggies, but street cars are fun as well. Never liked trucks much. I would recommend an electric car for a beginner. Far less temperamental.
 
I'd say an Electric RC car...good for beginners (Which I am...never even had a "real" RC car before) and easy to maintain...:)
 
Yeah, electric is better for a kid. I've got a nitro car, and it's been no end of trouble. Because I'm warped, I actually like that (it's a project!!), but a kid won't. A kid will want to fire it up and have it go. Not be wondering about its rev limit, or whether that smoke coming out means the mixture's too rich or too lean.

As far as I'm aware, Tamiya is about the best make for mid-range cars, although Kyosho have come out with a budget range that might be worth a look.
 
Something to consider is that I am also going to play with it. :D Part of the benifits of being a dad that likes toys, eh?

This one here is RTR (Read To Run) out of the box. Even comes with a Controller. In the past I would look into a seperate controller, after all, that's where I would get the servos. So with a RTR model, does the controller have a seperate frequency chip that you can change out? My plan is to get a couple of cars/trucks so we can each have one to tool around with for some good Son -N- Dad activities. :D

Anyhow, here's the RTR model I was pricing out. What do you guys think?

http://www.traxxas.com/products/electric/rustler/trx_rustler.htm

I would like to keep the package price under or around $200, since I'm planing on getting a couple of them, as I stated, one for me and one for him. :D Also, does anyone one know if the body kits are a standard for a particular scale of car? Although the chassis would be the same, it would be nice to have a different body style on the different cars.

And finally this one:
http://www.hpiracing.com/kits/mt-m.htm

Thanks for your help guys!

BTW - His B-Day is June 26th so I have to find something soon, especially if I have to order it.
 
Any additional thoughts? I have decided on electric for ease of maintainence.
 
Originally posted by Pako
Something to consider is that I am also going to play with it. :D Part of the benifits of being a dad that likes toys, eh?

This one here is RTR (Read To Run) out of the box. Even comes with a Controller. In the past I would look into a seperate controller, after all, that's where I would get the servos. So with a RTR model, does the controller have a seperate frequency chip that you can change out? My plan is to get a couple of cars/trucks so we can each have one to tool around with for some good Son -N- Dad activities. :D

Anyhow, here's the RTR model I was pricing out. What do you guys think?

http://www.traxxas.com/products/electric/rustler/trx_rustler.htm

I would like to keep the package price under or around $200, since I'm planing on getting a couple of them, as I stated, one for me and one for him. :D Also, does anyone one know if the body kits are a standard for a particular scale of car? Although the chassis would be the same, it would be nice to have a different body style on the different cars.

And finally this one:
http://www.hpiracing.com/kits/mt-m.htm

Thanks for your help guys!

BTW - His B-Day is June 26th so I have to find something soon, especially if I have to order it.
Click to expand...

I like the look of the second one, the HPI Racing one.

On the bodies issue, there tends to be a standard chassis, onto which polythene bodies fit. That's certainly the case for the Kyosho kits, and I would figure that it would also be true for the models you're looking at, especially given that each of the kits shows different bodies for the same fundamental car.

I would also imagine that the controller frequency was a user-set feature, but I would check this out before ordering.
 
YESSSSSS!! I'm not the only one into RC. Ok, like everyone said, got with electric. Don't do with a car, you will regret it. I had an HPI RS4 Sport 2 for my fist car, and I got sick of the road soooo fast. A good truck to start with IMO is a Traxxas Stampede with the ESC. It is a very very tough truck, I've only broke 2 parts on mine. If you do get a Stampede, be sure to get the Kimbrough #121 servo saver to go with it, the stock one will break. As for me, I love nitro too. My Rc10Gt is cool, But My Ofna Ultra GT LX has been clocked in at 63 MPH. :D I have an OS .21 in it. Its cool to see all 10 1/2 pounds pull up next to a car on my street that is supposedly going 35mph and smoke it. :cool: The people in the car are soooo amazed.


Oh yeah, my cousin broke his foot with a Monster Pirate, it ran into him, while HE was driving. :lol:

If you need more help, email me at MuddinPede@hotmail.com , and I'll see if I can put my 3 years of RC to any use.


MuddinPede
 
MuddinPede:

Thanks for the advise. What I've finally decided on was the Stampede for my son and the Associated RC10T3 Sport Truck for myself. Atleast that way, his truck will be bigger, which counts for kids ya know. :D

What do you think about the associated stuff? The reason why I ask, the RC10's always were the standard back in the day, but I'm hearing great stuff about the Team Losi stuff, mainly this one:
http://www.teamlosi.com/newprod/2002prods/XXXTRTR.htm

Which I'm also considering.....

Any Thoughts?
 
I personally own 2 Team Associated trucks, The RC10GT, and the T3, both got me high ranks at the races. The T3 however, is really not that much of a backyard basher, tall grass seems to work against it. It is a great truck however, but it is intended to be a race truck.


When you buy the Stampede, you will want to get the Kimbrough #121 servo saver(only $6) because the stock one won't last. Mine was gone the second day. Just drill two 1/8 holes in the top most outer holes, and install, took me every bit of 5 min. :D



Good luck with your new cars, and remember you can e-mail me if you have any troubles.


MuddinPede
 
Right on, thanks for the heads up....

I'm on my way this morning to pick them up...

:cheers:
 
$200-$400. The hobby only gets as expensive as you make it. I have spent over $2,000 in RC, but racing isn't cheap. ;)

BTW, I'm planning on jumping my Ultra LX over my creek, I'll see if I can get some pics.


MuddinPede
 
:eek: Creek Jumps? :D I gotta see some of those pics...

I've attached some pics of the Losi 3X-T I picked up today for me. I did go with the Stampede for my boy, but I haven't tore into that one yet. ;)
 

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Finally, street tires and wheels:
 

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This reminds me of when I first got my car(the Sport 2) and got sick of the road, whick resulted in a broken chassis running up the driveway. My Pede is now a rock crawler/mudder. Do you understand my name now? MuddinPede, Mudding Stampede :D Good luck for you and your son, And I'll see if I can talk Nate into lettin me use his digicam.




MuddinPede
 
For a beginners ride I'd go with Traxxas stuff. They make good tough equipment, that can be made fairly competitive if you want to go that route. I personally went "gas" first, and loved it, but it takes some dedication and learning to not just be frustrated. I also went with "stadium truck" class first, as it's fast but suitable to just about any terrain. Also fun to lower down and throw some onroad tires on, and pretend you got an onroader. :) Those are my brief suggestions/expierences.
 
if you have the nitro cars then, whatever you do, MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS HAVE GOOD BATTERIES!!!!

lol. i was at a racing touney with my firend (he is a FREAK with that stuff. owns like 6 of em.) and this guy ran out of batteries on like the 11th lap or something. anyways, his car went FLYING. hit the side pipe and took off like a bat outta hell. raced down (probly at about 60-70 MPH) the lot and hit a curb where it flipped on it's back and later exploded. needless to say, the whole engine probly melted and there was smoke everywhere. and needless to say, my friend won. lol.

but, that car is pretty cool. traxxas has better off road stuff but i like HPI better for street. also, R2R models arent that great if you plan to install upgrades and everything. but they are good because of that fact that you dont have to build them (duh). I only say this because instead of taking apart the car, you can install the things while you are building it (duh, again).

i will shut up now. lol. hope you and your son have fun with your new truck.

laterz...
 
I've had my Ultra LX run away once, it was pretty scary. Imagine an OS .21 running wide open with no pipe on it, stright out of the manifold. You are right Omnis,batteries should be checked before every run. My batteries were fine, but my crystal fell out. The next day, I made a fail-safe(a spring to pull the servo back). Never ran off again. Anyways, I'm kind of obsessed myself, I own 5.



BTW, Ready to run is RTR, not R2R. ;)




MuddinPede
 
Well, going on Day Two with my new Team Losi XXX-T but I think I might have a charger or battery issue. None of my Piranha 1800 packs are getting warm after a charge. I've looked everywhere, but haven't had much luck. Well, heading over to RCUniverse to see if I can pick anyone's brain overthere.

:cheers:

and thanks again for all the help, and still waiting for the creek jumping picture.
 
Pako,.. if your talking about controller or vehicle rechargables,.. the general rule of thumb it to charge them very slow,.... low amps (if thats the correct terminoligy)
 
RER, you are correct to an extent. Charging them at a very low amperage where it takes a long time(15 hours or so) is a good trick for racing. However, if you plan on charging them for a play session, that extra 30 seconds or so is not worth the wait, for me anyway.



About them not getting hot, I don't understand. Ineed more info. Are they charging good?


About the creek jump, we have rain scheduled for a few more days. :( As long as it stops before Sunday, that's my weekly gold day. ;)


MudinPede
 

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