SPL2Alan

What i'm looking for is a low end and cheap used nitro RC to get my 6 y/o son and myself started with something that won't break my heart if we trash it.

Obviously if I buy used I want to get something that replacement parts are available in case needed, but i'm not familiar with the brands to stick with. If speed is a concern, I can probably rig up some kind of makeshift governor on the remote for when my son is using it.

Any other suggestions or things to watch out for when buying used would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

jmaxey51

ofna and jammin are tough and have plenty of parts for it, good for bashing and entry into racing.

Foxy

Jammin is a good choice. Cheap and lots of parts. If you wanted to go cheaper, you could get a buggy, better to learn with, harder to drive well, and get a Hyper 7. Even more parts avilability, even cheaper.

Shenanigans

My Feedback: (12)

If your new to the rc hobby I would not recommend buying used...especially if you are looking for a nitro powered vehicle. There is a learning curve to adjust to, and depending on your patience can leave you really frustrated and lost in terms of getting your vehicle to run properly. Used vehicles typically elevate this frustration since you really have no idea what condition the mechanics of the vehicle you purchase are in...outside the aesthetics.

Buy new, buy quality, and there is quality w/o spending 600 bucks. As stated above Ofna and Jammin offer inexpensive platforms that are known for quality. If you do buy used...I would recommend getting a roller, and buying the engine new.

xerxes

it absolutly has 2 b a 1/8 scale truggy, & nitro?

blackrain

get him a tamiya lunchbox

SPL2Alan

No, it does not have to be 1/8 scale. I guess nitro is not a requirement either, but for some reason I find fuel powered RC to sound a little more exciting than electric. Dont' have much luck with rechargeable batteries these days, and don't really like the charge time wait either, so thats basically where i'm at there.

I would like it to be something that can go offroad well, since we've got a large yard with lots of grass.

If there are electric models that fit the bill better for beginner than nitro, that's fine too I guess. . .

Chucksolo69

Well it isn't a truggy, but a cheap NEW nitro stadium truck (almost a truggy) would be the Traxxas Nitro Sport. It can actually be had for less than $300.00 from Tower Hobbies. It is pretty user friendly and since it comes with the .15 Traxxas engine, the break in routine isn't as involved as their 3.3 series engines. The electric start is pretty nice too since you or your son won't have to fiddle with a separate pull start and glow igniter. One thing I completely agree with is not to buy a used nitro RC. You never know what the previous owner did to it or how he treated the engine.

If you must have a truggy, the Losi Ten T is a 1/10th scale truggy based on a 1/8th scale buggy platform. It is a bit pricey at around $500.00, but it comes loaded with features. The best part of it is it comes with a Spektrum DX3S radio that accounts for about half the price of the kit. The Ten T has a remote onboard starting system (R.O.S.S.) that let's you start the engine with a push of a button on the radio transmitter. The Ten T also has full telemetry built into the radio and allows you to monitor stuff like engine temperature, MPH/RPM, and TX/RX battery voltage while you are running the car. Breaking in  the Ten T engine is a snap and I have not had to retune my engine since I fist tuned it after break in.

I currently have a Losi Ten T and  had a Traxxas Nitro Rustler back in the early 2000s, which is basically the present model Nitro Sport. Both of these trucks are high quality nitro vehicles and are not that difficult to learn if you are a beginner.

Foxy

Chuck, no doubt the ten t is a great car, but I certainly couldn't recommend a car with such a bewildering array of features to a beginner or a young 'un.

OP, how about this...something more his size...

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...6-Cell-Battery

It's a good truck, easily upgradeable, ready for stronger electronics when the boy is, and good batteries will give you good runtimes.

Wow, never thought I'd recommend a Traxxas, I guess they are good beginner RCs after all! Cos I can't think of anything better for what you need to be honest. If you wanted to wait a bit longer, the HPI Savage Flux XS (small monster truck) is coming soon, and it will be EPIC. Maybe a bit fast for the young 'un though.

SPL2Alan

That looks pretty nice. I don't want to buy him anything from radio shack.

Thanks for your advice.

SyCo_VeNoM

you can get a Jammin X1 CR RTR for near $300 or most of the other ofna buggies which will blow the traxxas away in durability, and ease of use...

Agree with the not smart to buy used nitro thing I started used, and you got to look at ads like they were wrote by stereotypical used car sales men. When it says Engine runs great, used very little. That is about equivalent to the only driven by a granny to church on sundays line. Chances are like the real car from a used car lot the engine in the nitro would be shot. EVERY used nitro I bought that said runs great the engines were trashed beyond the point it was cheaper to replace them then to repair em.

I own a Mine revo only real complaint I ever had with it was the battery compartments. Its a ROYAL PITA to find batteries to fit it due to its size.

Also could look at the electrix they are kinda cheap around $120 but from reviews look like they can take a pile of abuse, you can get 2 of them and race around with your kid. Or the HPI Wheely king is kinda neat at $200ish RTR (seeing you said it don't have to be a truggy) 4wd Monster truck which can take some decent abuse.

Chucksolo69

Did Iread this wrong or did the OP want a NITRO vehicle as opposed to electric? Foxy,while I agree with you about the Ten T, I really don't think a MERV is the right vehicle either, seeing how it is an "electric" vehicle and the OPwants a nitro car. OFNA cars are great, but no where near as easy to get parts for as with the Traxxas products. Basically what is happening here is that we are giving the OP advice on products he didn't ask for. Iadmit maybe I should not have mentioned the Ten T, but he did mention truggys and the Nitro Sport is EXACTLY what he is asking for. The Nitro Rustler was the second nitro car Ihad (the first being a Nitro 4-Tec) andI never broke anything on it but I did eventually wear out the engine. I know that many on these boards NEVER recommend a nitro RC vehicle as a first RC car for a beginner; I don't particularly agree with that. Having had extensive experience with nitro cars back in the day (2 Nitro 4-Tecs, Nitro Rustler, T-Maxx, Duratrax Nitro Quakeand a friend's HORRIBLE HPI RS4) I can honestly tell you that a Nitro Sport is quite suitable for a beginner. Iknow he asked for other suggestions, but suggesting an Electrix vehicle will probably put him off the hobby since those things are really slow;theyare good beginner cars though. Let's give him advice on what he asked for.

Foxy

No, you didn't read wrong, you just stopped reading too soon.

I don't honestly think nitro anything is a good idea for a 6yo. Glow plugs, fuel, high temperatures, high speed, high maintenance, high downtime... If it was a highly experienced hobbyist teaching his kid, that would be one thing, but it doesn't sound like dad (no offence Alan) is that experienced either. I stand by my recommendation. Batteries for the merv are cheap, last long and charge fast (with minor investment in a decent charger), and when he gets more experienced or dad wants to play, he can add another battery and go nuts (dual batt). I don't think there's anything better for what his needs are. Unless he decides he really wants to go through nitro with a very young lad, then that changes everything, but as he said, it doesn't have to be nitro.

K_B

I wouldn't recommend nitro either. Just the other day I was down at the track and there was a father/son at the track with a nitro stadium truck. The dad spent most of the time trying to "work out the kinks" as he put it. We helped him get it running, but by then, the kid had that "this is lame" look on his face

Chucksolo69

Yeah, I get ya, but I'm not really sure a 6 y/o is gonna stay that interested anyway. I really think this is gonna be mostly for Dad. Nitro cars really aren't that complicated anymore. I really hate to hear all this talk about nitros because it is an integral part of our hobby. So many people on these forums make nitro out to be this hard, mysterious thing in RC. I have never found nitro cars to be hard to run, never; especially today. I think a lot of people are afraid of nitro and the subsequent cleanup and maintenance,  but yet are perfectly fine with building a kit. Heck, I can clean and maintain my Ten T in about 30-45 minutes or so after a run in the dirt. All I am saying to SPL2Alan is, don't be afraid of nitro cars. Take a look at the Nitro Sport by Traxxas. It can be had at Tower Hobbies for less than $250 and is very easy to learn nitro on and parts support is superb. Heck, I learned on a Traxxas NItro 4-Tec back in 1999 and it wasn't hard then, let alone now.