Nitro RC cars? Info / help for beginner?

Question

Ok so I'm quitting all of my online gaming and going to pick up a more healthy hobby than sitting at a pc for endless hours. I have always wanted a nitro rc car since I first saw one years ago. I know they are pretty expensive and that's fine. I was just wondering if anyone has any useful info that may be a little "outside the box" from what I would hear when buying and getting info from a hobby store. And if anyone would recommend any brands for anything or a good hobby shop to go to. I know they may have some complex and easy to screw up aspects to them, and that is part of why I want them over other things. Any info would be helpful, thanks.

Answer 1

I haven't been into them for awhile but my friend just got a Slayer Pro 4x4, he seems really happy with it and it's one of the fastest ones he bought right out of the box with no modifications.

The new radios are really good too, they work on a 2.4 ghz wavelength and you can use them for several cars.

I'm looking to get rid of my stuff but it's kinda old.

Answer 2

Rc Cars For Beginners

Answer 3

First thing is first, nitro RC cars=no fun and extreme danger. They are super explosive if they have a defective or broken part and after such an explosion there is no way you can fix it. It also poses a danger to spectators like if it loses control and flies off the track and hits a person and explodes. Well giving someone 3rd degree burns is not really something you were trying to accomplish through RC racing. You can only race these type outside since they have exhaust (It's Earth Day, hello ;) be good to the planet). So if it rains then you can't race. And if you race after the rain then cleaning this orange, hard, tough, sandy clay from your car is no fun either. And you said you want a healthier hobby, well breathing in processed nitro fuel is not healthy at all! Here is a video of a nitro RC plane crashing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aajp-A43glA



So go with Electric RC Cars. I have a Team Associated SC10 Brushless which I highly recommend. They can be raced indoors and outdoors since they don't have exhaust (that's green. score!), at least 3 times easier to fix, and last a lot longer. With electric RC cars, they can work great through your whole lifetime and last as long as you will live, as long as you take really good care of it. So it's basically a buy-today-and-keep-all-the-way kind of deal where you will replace the battery, engine, steering, tires, shocks, etc. Obviously you eventually will end up with no original parts but you will buy step by step a new part to replace the broken one. IMPORTANT: Never, ever buy a brushed motor, always buy brushLESS. A friend of mine had a brushed motor and it set on fire because it was not cleaned from the clay they race on. Also, never buy the Traxxas RC cars because they have lots of issues; you have to align the steering after EVERY race and and after every day of racing you must fix the acceleration and tires.



You can purchase the Team Associated SC10 Brushless from a local hobby shop, eBay, or Amazon. I recommend you purchase from the hobby shop in your area because you can buy other things like battery, charger, or any additional accessories that you desire. Plus they can help you set it up and tell you the do's and don'ts'. Hope this helps :)

Answer 4

LOL Kaz, some expert you are. Nitro cars do NOT explode and are no more dangerous than electrics. He forgot to mention how Lipo batteries can explode if overcharged in your home and have caused more property damage and injuries than any reports of nitro RCs. NOW, on to your question.

You want to get a hobby grade RC so I would go with brand names like Traxxas, HPI, Associated, Losi, Tamiya and Kyosho. A great place to get one of these is www.towerhobbies.com. Keep in mind that on the home page of this site there are coupon codes for extra $$$'s off and they have free shipping on their vehicles (not parts). You also have to look at what kind of RC you want to get. On-road, like a car. You need a lot of room and open space, like a WalMart/shopping cent parking lot to run one of those. And there aren't many tracks out there for On Road. You could get a monster truck like the Traxxas T-Maxx or Revo, HPI Savage. These, in my opinion are the best since you can run them anywhere on any terrain. One of the most popular RC class out today are the Short Course trucks like the Traxxas Slayer Pro. I lean more towards Traxxas since they come with waterproof electronics. So you can basically run them in any season, which is nice if you live where it snows or rains a lot. The other brands I mentioned are great as well, but I have had the best luck with Traxxas out of the 15+ years I have been in this hobby....and I'm no expert like Kaz (HA).

There is nothing too complex about RCs. You just need a little patience and practice and you will be fine. There are a ton of RC forums on the web, I go to the Traxxas forum every day to answer AND ask questions. They are always willing to help out if I have a problem. I have to mention that Traxxas customer support is second to none. They have the best support that I have ever dealt with, and that is important if you have a defect from the factory or need assistance with an issue.

Electrics are fun too but they are more of a plug and play in my opinion. I like working with the small motors and tuning them so they run perfect. Electrics require some tuning as well but nothing like the nitros. And the sound and smell of nitro RCs is just that much more realistic. I have 5 nitro and one electric, so you can tell which one I like better....and Kaz, I have never blown one up or injured someone in over 15 years.

If you find an RC that you like on Tower Hobbies, go to YouTube and do a search on that RC. It will give you a chance to see how that particular RC runs before making the purchase. This is the best hobby I have ever had and you are going to enjoy it. In closing....I would recommend the Traxxas Revo 3.3. It's been voted Best 4x4 Nitro RC of the year since the year it was produced. I have one and it is my favorite out of my fleet. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

The best place to buy cheap Remote Control RC Cars is from Amazon.com



There are some pretty awesome RC Cars to choose from here including brand names like Traxxas, MJX and Redcat Racing.



http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Controlled-Cars/b?node=166588011&tag=yah-toys-20



Hobby RC vehicles are sold either as kits or RTR or RTF ("ready to run" for cars and trucks or "ready to fly" for aircraft). A kit requires assembly with the help of an instruction manual. RTR or RTF vehicles are ready to go right out of the box.



Off-road buggies and monster trucks are both popular starter cars. With big knobby tires, these little trucks can handle the roughest terrains and the steepest climbs and some of them come with 4-wheel drive. On-road cars are faster and more streamlined, and are designed to run on a track or paved surface.



The fastest models travel at over 80km/h! Most of these are about 45cm long and some come with 4-wheel drive. Trucks and buggies will run between 16 and 40km/h.



http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Controlled-Cars/b?node=166588011&tag=yah-toys-20



Most new RC hobbyists get started with a new RTR. You can get started with a very basic car or truck for between $80 to $100. If you are a more serious hobbyist, you should expect to spend around $300 to $500 for a more advanced model.

Answer 6

I must agree with kaceypi on this one.

I am lucky enough to own both brushless, brushed and nitro models.

They each have things to recommend them, but nitro is no more dangerous than brushless.

There is a learning curve with this sort of thing, for nitro, you need to learn to tune the engine, and diagnose any issues you will run into.

With brushless, it will be gear rations, lipo discharge rates, balance charging amperage draw etc. (Admittedly, most of the learning curve with brushless comes from the batteries.)



I race both, and i prefer nitro. It takes a little bit longer to get competant at, but most things that may go wrong with a nitro can be fixed with a good set of tools down the track. If you fry an ESC (electronic speed control) your out for the day.



The best piece of advice is to join your local club, what ever model you decide to get. Having that knowledge base is invaluable.

Answer 7

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