ORIGINAL: t9dragon
ORIGINAL: Druss
How is a tamiya kit overprice? They are usually in the $100 to $200 range unless you're looking at one of the 1/14 semi trucks, crawlers or TRF models. The average RCer can get a decent buggy for under $200.
You might be able to get one for under $200
then you have to buy the electronics for it. Most of my LHS only stock parts for the ''Big 3'' (Traxxas, Losi and Associated) and of the other RC's are considered special order and you might be lucky if the LHS will even order the parts.
Let's be honest here, how many of us keep the stock electronics in our RTRs? Most Tamiya's will come with the 27t motor, which isn't great but lasts a hell of a lot longer than most 550's from Traxxas.
Let's compare Tamiya kits to other kits, not RTR's so that it's fair. When you compare kits only then they aren't overpriced are they? Plus you don't have to throw away the junk electronics that come with most RTR's.
In Touring Cars the cyclone S is $160, HPI kits are $100 to $200 (same as Tamiya)... etc. so no they are NOT overpriced when compared apples to apples. If you want to compare them to entry level RTR's then you'd have to say that ALL kits are overpriced.