New to the hobby, wanting to get into with my son. we need to know what we will need... we were thinking about getting the Frog as our starter car. But we need help in all areas... Items we need help with:

Buggy two wheel drive

What kind of battery/ charger

Radio

Would like to keep the total price under 400 or as close to it as we can.

Thanks to all that help.

Batteries, charger and radios are easy.
http://www.hobbypartz.com/fs-g2-24ghz-radio.html Great basic radio, not lots of adjustments, but really inexpensive. Can't beat $20!
http://www.hobbypartz.com/73p-ac680-accharger.html Charges all kinds of batteries, including LiPo, when you get there. $50

Those will work with any car or battery you choose. Being that you guys are new, and the Frog comes with a brushed motor (if I'm not mistaken) you might want to start with a couple of NiMh (Nickel-Metal Hydride) batteries. Those are fine for brushed motors. And will last you fine until you get good enough at driving where you'll want more power/speed, and will want to go brushless. However, I HATE the battery connectors that Tamiya uses. The first thing you should do is ditch it, and replace it with Traxxas type connectors. Convert everything: charger plug, battery connector on ESC, and battery connectors on batteries you buy. These connectors are made to handle high-current, UNlike those crappy white Molex connectors Tamiya uses, which can melt.

When you are ready for a brushless system, this is a great one:
http://www.hobbypartz.com/ezrun-35a-9t-3650-motor.html Only $80 I run these on my Evaders.
For LiPo:
http://www.hobbypartz.com/98p-40c-50...se-direct.html $42!!

The only thing about HobbyPartz is, when they have something you want, better order it. If it goes out of stock, you'll wait six months for it to come back into stock. They have to send a new container ship from China, after all. You may have the wherewithal that you don't need to buy budget stuff or want to "Buy Amurican". In which case there are a few "sportsman class" US makers, like Castle Creations and Novak for motor systems, HiTec for servos, Futaba and Airtronics for radios. And of course, Traxxas. Most hobby stores that cater to RC carry Traxxas, almost to exclusivity, because Traxxas makes it so easy for stores. Check out your local hobby shop (LHS) to see what they carry, especially when it comes to parts. It sucks having to wait a week to drive your RC because you broke a part. Having the ability to pick one up at the LHS makes for happier kids.

Hang out on these forums and read read read. Ask questions. Research.
Ask yourself: "How good am I with my hands at repairing and working with small parts, and soldering?" (There's something else you'll need: Soldering station. Have you done soldering before?)

There is tons of stuff to learn, but don't let it overwhelm you. That's what we're here for. Lots of folks here willing to give you their two cents.

I hear a good number of people started out with a Tamiya Frog. Are you guys going to build a kit? Or a ready-to-run?

Thanks for the help. We are both good with our hands and we are going to get a kit. I figure what better way to learn in the ins and outs of it. That way if we break something we will know better how to repair it. We have been reading all day and watching youtube videos... We were overwhelmed with all the radio choices. Thanks again for your help!!!

Ab-so-tively! A kit is a great way to learn, literally, from the inside out. You'll have a great time together. C'mon back with any questions, we're here to help!

Sorry to bug ya again... what about servos? what would you recommend?
Thanks Again!!!

I just finished a Aero Advante with my boys for the first car. It runs greats and is loads for fun. Car, Batteries, and Radio from Tower Hobbies for around $260. I'm using a Futaba T3PRKA radio and a standard S3004 futaba servo with it. The frog was on my list as well, but I wanted to go with 4wd. The Avante has the newer ESC then the others. I like Tower cause they always have discounts and free shipping for most their stuff. I used them a ton when I was flying planes.

You guys should upgrade those standard servos you can get a hell of a lot better relatively cheap.

Like these: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...-Digital-Servo

Or these: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...-Digital-Servo

You do this mod?
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-e...m-chassis.html
If not its a good thing to do haven't snapped a chassis on either of my DF-02's since I did it. And they were through quite a bit. That fix's one of the few real weaknesses I've had issues with on the chassis. I've done plent of other things, but those were mainly for performance, or to help it survive the brushless setup I threw in

Side note I'd recommend a DF-02 over a frog as its a more modern chassis, it can take a decent beating, and you can do a few different things to make it different. Like I have one set up as a stadium truck with truck tires on it

My Brushless one has been in 2-3 full speed crashes, and only thing that happened was I lost part of a shock (my nephew turned into it head on when I was doing a speed run thinking it was funny) Still drove it for 20 mins missing a shock as the BL setup I run pulled the front end up enough where it was drivable

Not yet, that mod is on my list before I do any motor or speed upgrades. Right now I run it in the fields around my house and it stays pretty safe out there. How did you convert to a truck. My only compaint is I wish I had a bit more clearance under it.

Slapped some 2.2in Truck tires I had laying around, and threw a truck body on it(I think it was a RC10 body) Also added 2 body mounts that I had laying around to the front shock tower.

It had 2.2in Monster truck tires originally (it was a bootleg the company sold as a MT for $100 RTR) But I threw the tires away as they were so imbalanced the truck was virtually un-drivable it shook so much hell I had screws actually back out with the stocks.

Tires on it now are dirt hawg's that I are like 13 years old (they were stock tires I got on a used, and abused MT1 I bought a few years back), and still work great