RC Car Buying Advice

[aigel]

I need to buy an RC car for an 8 year old. Something light duty that can run on a neighborhood street. Electric, to keep the neighbors happy. What is the minimum I need to spend to get something that isn't junk and will last? Where do I buy? What do I buy? What type of controller?

Sorry, really green on this!

Thanks!

George

[island911]

A Tesla.

...you said; green on this.

[David McLaughlin]

Radio Shack has some decent cars these days but even still they run north of $100 for the good ones. I'd recommend a hobby quality car as you can then replace the parts when (not if) they break. While these are more expensive to start, you get a better piece that will last a long time if taken care of. I'd recommend an off road car or truck to start as they tend to be built a little stronger and can take a few extra bumps and jumps in stride. Also stay with the larger brand names such as Tamiya and traxxas. Stay away from racing machines as they are more fragile and maintenance heavy. I've been a loyal customer of tower hobbies and highly recommend them (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/listings/cat-c.html) if you don't have a local shop to buy from. Local is nice when you need a new a-arm or body post or what not in a hurry.

Here's what I'd buy for my 8yo:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJSW5&P=0
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVWN0&P=0
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPM82&P=0 (kids love wheelies)
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFSG8&P=0


IMHO, it's always better to buy a kit and assemble it with your child as it teaches them about mechanics or the car and will help you when you need to replace a few broken parts. Yes the RTR (ready to run) cars will get you on the road faster and with only a few bucks more, but assembly is easy with most companies (Tamiya especially) and has more payback in the long run.

edit: look for combo kits to get everything you need to run. don't forget to buy at least 2 batteries for the car as you'll need one to run while the other is charging.

[bell]

I've got an hpi e-savage I'm selling for 275......with new dual batter charger, remote, nimh's , everything you need, it may be too fast for him though, it'll do 20-25mph on a full charge...

[71T Targa]

IMO Bells truck would be an excellent option. Used is cheaper, and you're getting it from someone you can trust. If he's played any video games he'll have no problem with the hand eye coordination to run something like this. At least my 8 yr old doesn't.

My other suggestion would be to go to the local hobby shop and buy what they sell the most of, and have parts on hand. You don't want to be waiting a week to order parts for some off-brand something.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by David McLaughlin

Radio Shack has some decent cars these days but even still they run north of $100 for the good ones. I'd recommend a hobby quality car as you can then replace the parts when (not if) they break. While these are more expensive to start, you get a better piece that will last a long time if taken care of. I'd recommend an off road car or truck to start as they tend to be built a little stronger and can take a few extra bumps and jumps in stride. Also stay with the larger brand names such as Tamiya and traxxas. Stay away from racing machines as they are more fragile and maintenance heavy. I've been a loyal customer of tower hobbies and highly recommend them (http://www3.towerhobbies.com/listings/cat-c.html) if you don't have a local shop to buy from. Local is nice when you need a new a-arm or body post or what not in a hurry.

Here's what I'd buy for my 8yo:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJSW5&P=0
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVWN0&P=0
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPM82&P=0 (kids love wheelies)
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFSG8&P=0


IMHO, it's always better to buy a kit and assemble it with your child as it teaches them about mechanics or the car and will help you when you need to replace a few broken parts. Yes the RTR (ready to run) cars will get you on the road faster and with only a few bucks more, but assembly is easy with most companies (Tamiya especially) and has more payback in the long run.

edit: look for combo kits to get everything you need to run. don't forget to buy at least 2 batteries for the car as you'll need one to run while the other is charging.

Those tamiya kits are classic but I think there are better choices out there. For a younger kid you might consider one of the 1/18 scale models. They are less expensive and require less battery.

My recommendation would be for one of these:

http://www.duratrax.com/cars/dtxd13-vendetta/dtxd13-index.html

Or

http://www.duratrax.com/cars/dtxd30-evader-exb/index.html

Or

http://www.duratrax.com/cars/dtxd29-evader-ext/index.html

Each of those has what they call a 'stress tech parts' guarantee. There are certain parts which are guaranteed for a year - if they break - free replacement.

They will break. For an 8 year old with no income - that guarantee can be helpful for him and the parents in keeping the car running.

[bell]

My e-savage can run through tall grass at speed, is pretty darn durable, I also have headlight/taillight leds on it (shortens battery duration though).
You can run it for about 15 minuted on pavement and 10 or so in grass before the batteries fall off, they can recharge in about 30-40 minutes....
It's a pretty serious machine, without the big cost of the brushless motors and dangerous lipo batts (mine has new twin 550 motors and twin batteries for 15.5v).
Charger is new, newer batteries(3600 venom) have been cycled 15 or so times...
There's a thread in ot with vids of it, search my name it'll pop up.....

[Heel n Toe]

You say you want a car for him... and it's for running on a neighborhood street.

You may already know this, but the nibs on offroad tires like the ones shown on the on the Duratrax Vendetta (a car that is a good choice for a first-timer) will get worn off pretty quickly on asphalt.

If you think he may want to run it in dirt once in awhile, maybe try to get some foam tires on a separate set of wheels for the street.

The advice given above about checking for a good local hobby shop is good... do that... they can help you with the onroad/offroad tire/wheel thing.

If it is going to be exclusively for asphalt, the Vendetta is available as a Touring Car with street tires:
http://www.duratrax.com/cars/dtxd15-vendetta-tc/dtxd15-index.html

[Highlander179]

I just got my son who turned 9 this one.

electric, comes with remote, fast, upgradeable

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNJJ0**&P=0
http://www.traxxas.com/products/electric/stampede2006/trx_stampede.htm

[bell]

here's a vid of the one i'm selling.....

[sammyg2]

I put together an old RC-10L pan car for my 10 year old son.
it's electric, has a hot motor and goes like stink. Not sure of the top end but it's up there for an older car.
I spend about $140 total on e-bay for the car, a couple of batteries, the radio and the charger.
It took a while to find it all, did I mention that I'm a cheap SOB?

[Tervuren]

A lot of the under 10's at the local rrack race something I think called a Traxxas Slash, even the adults through inthe class for fun, they seem pretty darn tough and durable. Get a set of hard compound road tires and you could be set.

Also as posted, look into what your local hobby store carries. It stinks to break something and not be able to fix it in a timely manner.


Its expensive to buy, requiring 2x more batteries and chargers, cost more when it breaks, etc...but an RC monster truck is the most fun for just driving around. Unless he's got really good driving skills, probably not the ideal for him as 10lb's of mass hitting something at 30MPH+...hurts the truck or what it hits pretty bad.


Also on the what not to look for list is a racing road car - these are super light weight, and will not just drive away from a hit into something like an off road RC will. For a kid, get an offroad and put hard compound street tires on it for driving in the street, if it hits a curb it will jump it, or is more likely to absorb the hit.

[Dave L]

hmmmm. I always bought the RC car magazines as a kid but never could afford one and my parents refused to buy me one. I have a 7 year old, is he to young for a proper RC car

[bell]

not really.....you are definitely not too young

the local track runs a slash series (elec stadium truck), there is also the associated rc10, and the new losi strike is coming out very soon which is supposed to be the cats meow.....