iStubz

Well I've been wanting a nice RC car for a while, I used to mess around with tiny cars like xmods etc. when I was younger, but after driving a friend's Traxxas Slash, I've decided to give in. I'm 16, and needless to say I've grown up loving cars, and racing most of my life. I'm not too familiar with RC car's components, but I am a fairly good driver. There are a few things I'm almost positive on, and a few questions I'd like to ask about getting my first car.
- I'd like to go with an off-road short course car.
- 1:10
- Electric
- 4WD
-25mph+
- Around $200, not a penny over $250

-brushless?
-LiPo?
-2.4GHz?
-durable?
-RTR?
-brands?
-upgrades?

EDIT: I'll also probably be mostly driving in dirt lots, possibly the snow, the desert, parkinglots, etc. probably with friends with similar cars.
Feel free to make any and all suggestions/comments etc.
Thanks.

SyCo_VeNoM

XL-5 Rustler $180


or the evader for $119 (seems to be pretty popular on this forum) and if you want 2.4ghz goto hobbypartz.com and get one of the 2.4ghz controllers for $20 )



http://www.hobbypartz.com/flyskytxrx.html link to their controller page

Brush less ESC http://www.hobbypartz.com/ezrun-35a-...tem-combo.html is an ESC and motor setup that MIGHT work in it (out of stock as I type it) I have 3 or 4 of them in various 1/10th RC's and they do fine, not sure in the evader though one of the evader nuts might want to chime in

There are prolly others not to familiar with 2wd vehicles

markfos73

My suggestions.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXYYE1**&P=0

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...uck-w-24-Radio

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...t-Course-Truck

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...k-Bind-N-Drive

SyCo_VeNoM

last one requires a DSM radio so IMO that one won't work seeing I doubt the OP has any radio at all

sloppyG

don't get a traxxas, their 2wd stuff is all ancient and a pain in the rear to work on, very overpriced for what you get

that kyosho linked above is a good model and a good price, $200 is sort of as cheap is you can get for an RTR short course truck (AE/Losi are good choices also)

sounds like you're just bashing around, take a look at that newish electrix ruckus, I think it's $120 and is basically identical to the $180 traxxas pede
the monster truck type RC will be able to go more places than a short course truck, short course is the big trend right now, but they're not as great for bashing as monster truck type RC's

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...Charger-Orange

SyCo_VeNoM

forgot about those
they looks semi decent for the cash kinda wish I had room to store one to experiment with it

ThunderbirdJunkie

My Feedback: (3)

The Electrix cars have ESC issues on a very regular basis. It's best to stay away ITBJHO.

jjjjjoey

My Feedback: (1)

Hey, I'm new to RC's (zero experience), and just like you I was sorta looking for the same things.
Well today I just bought a Tempest by Hoppypeople. Its 1:10, electric, 4wd, RTR, brushless stadium truck. The guy at the store showed me a short demo, and it looked like it ran pretty good. To tell the truth I didn't know what to look for, but from some of the quick research i did before, this was a good buy.
Like I said its brushless, which I was told is better than brushed, and the truck is already set up to take Lipo batteries (Which I was also told is good because there isnt many RCs that are ready to take lipos batteries straight from the box). Its 4wd so its handles better than 2wd and comes with a battery and basic wall charger. The entire truck is RTR and out the door cost me 217 and some change.

The only down fall is that is not a 2.4GHz radio. I dunno what it is, but is just a basic radio. I don't know how fast it goes with the stock battery, but the associate who helped me ran the car with a lipo and it looked pretty quick.

SyCo_VeNoM

well he wanted 2wd could recommend a few 4wd's

BTW that tempest looks like a HSP rebadge. Probably sold under the exceed name in the US

Edit: Himoto Racing Megae-XR10 is the same truck as the Tempest just diff body color

iStubz

Actually, 4WD is okay, I just thought 4WD was more expensive.
Also, I heard if you don't have 2.4ghz controller than you can't drive around other cars?
and my friend tells me to get this:

http://www.nitrorcx.com/51c809-pro-r...p-ddgreen.html

or the one without the brushless system to save money, and to buy brushless upgrade later. I just don't like how it has an old-school antenna...

EDIT: Also I'm only looking for short course style trucks, where the body goes over the tires.
I just like that style more.

Here's a cheap one I found, Is this upgradable to brushless if need be?

http://www.helipal.com/hsp-destrier-...277aap885kr256

markfos73

No way I buy an Exceed when I could have the Kyosho cheaper or the Associated for the same price. But in the end it is your money. I really think you will be majorly disappointed. To me the exceed and HSP cars are just a step above toy grade. I know a few people who own them and they blew the motors and or ESC the first week. Not to mention a lot of broken parts.

SyCo_VeNoM

or get them broken, and have to buy parts before they are even ran (heard a few ppl complain about that) with customer support (if you get someone) telling you to buy the replacement [:@]

plasmaedge

go for either

sloppyG

http://www.ultimatehobbies.com/store/ASC7040!1007/SC10+2.4+BRUSHLESS+RTR%2C+LUCAS

2.4 ghz and brushless for $240

http://www.ultimatehobbies.com/store/KYO30856B!1012/1%2F9+ULTIMA+DB+2WD+RACING+DESERT+BUGGY+EP+RTR

AM radio, brushed but cool looking and $170

here's the hot deal, brushless 2.4ghz, but a buggy
http://www.ultimatehobbies.com/store/ASC9039!1007/RC10B4+RTR+2.4GHZ+BRUSHLESS

hpiracr28

Buy one of the traxxas xl-5 models (stampede, rustler, or bandit) and get a brushless and esc system from hobbyking.com. maybe even get one from ebay or amazon. i got the bandit vxl, all RTR for $280, but thats out of your range.

sloppyG

the traxxas 2wd stuff is horrendously overpriced for what you get

it's basically the same RC as the electrix stuff but it's $180 instead of $120

maybe the electrix stuff has a rep for bad ESC's (I haven't heard that personally but I doubt TBJ would make that up), even if the stock ESC does go bad, you're still 60 bucks cheaper than the XL5 traxxas stuff, and you can use the the money you save for a new one if needed (if the original isn't warrantied by horizon)

a bandit VXL is not a good choice at $280 when you can get the brushless AE buggy for $225

Link119

My Feedback: (1)

Team associated brushed sc10....

iStubz

well whats the real difference between brushless, brushed, etc?

cumquat

that's my Que.
that system would work but you'd be better off coughing up the extra $20 for this http://www.hobbypartz.com/car.html . thats what i have in mine and with 2s lipo ([link=http://www.hobbypartz.com/98p-40c-5000-2s1p-hardcase.html]this one[/link]) i am getting at least 30mph with stock tires and gearing and the front likes to lift on the street and even a little on dirt. runtimes are right around 50 minutes and it takes an hour to charge (the pack says 5c max charge but i'm not an idiot and i am pretty sure my charger only goes up to 5 amps anyway).

i have heard good things about the radios linked above. the best place to get the ext2 is ultimate hobbies http://www.ultimatehobbies.com/store...VADER+EXT2+RTR .

EDIT: i just did the math and you could have all the things linked with the charger on the battery page for under $195 and both are in CA so shipping will be low.

cumquat

oh, yeah. the sc trucks are for the most part stretched st's with over-sized bodies. with a little work you can retrofit on to an st and possibly save some $ in the process.

cumquat

as performance goes, brushless are faster, stronger, sometimes lighter and in general more efficient than brushed motors.
if you want the lecture course, check the wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushle...electric_motor

flyingfrog007

buy a plane not a car

markfos73

That is like saying go play tennis instead of football

SyCo_VeNoM

Helicopters are better IMO than planes

BKoz559

My Feedback: (3)

Going along with what some of the other folks have suggested; I encourage a brushless Associated, Losi, HPI or Kyosho Vehicle. The RTR packages available from these manufacturers are fantastic deals compared to what was available to some of us 12+ years ago. Add in a respectable battery and charger then go have fun. Admittedly this would put you well beyond your initial budget of $150-$200. In that price range, I might opt for the Electrix vehicles simply because they do include literally everything required to run, including AA batteries. Plus, they are supported by Horizon Hobby.Even my LHS stocks the vehicles and accessories; so, yours may also.