Originally Posted by
kywx
They say you get what you pay for, but my son has had much more fun and has gotten much more use out of the $60 big box store R/C vehicles than he has this Redcat Blackout XTE. What a piece of garbage this thing is.
First the truck stopped steering.
Then the next day it stopped going forward or backward.
So I got a new servo and receiver under warranty.
Then the steering arm (we call it a pitman arm in the real 4x4 world) still wouldn't work because the splines are all plastic, so of course it was stripped out.
So I spent more money and got yet another servo with metal gears, and an aluminum steering arm and ditched the "servo saver", which worked beautifully and eliminated all the steering issues.
Two weeks later the truck stopped turning on. Switch won't elicit any reaction whatsoever. I tested both of the batteries we have, both are putting out between 7 and 8 volts. So what the **** has happened now? ESC dead?
At this rate, this truck will be completely brand new again in another couple of weeks.
I could have spent this $180 on multiple big box store R/C vehicles and he'd have loved them for a few years. I thought by going with a hobby grade truck I was getting him an upgrade. Instead, I can count on my fingers how many times he's actually gotten to drive the truck since Christmas. Ridiculous.
I guess I'll clean the truck up and throw it on craigslist.
As someone with a son who drives RC along with me, i spend tons of time wrenching on our RC's -especially the one's he drives - in fact i'm lucky if we don't break something every time out. I have vehicles from tons of brands, ofna, traxxas, redcat, tamiya - it's part of the hobby, especially when the driver is not overly concerned about accidents - adult or child - even myself sometimes i do dumb stuff, but i accept the consequences.
My point is ANY brand you own will break parts, especially, but not limited to, with a child driving. The redcats i've owned have had decent track records, especially the blackout which survives insane beatings. I like traxxas, but their ESC's stink and basically require replacement out of box, but the drivetrains are very good - it's not all peaches and cream at other brands.
bottom line, if fixing broken parts or routine maintenance bothers you, you either have to drive it like an old lady or just do the shelf queen thing (which many guys do)