At what point is it time to retire an RC?

[Jfpryde]

My first ground RC was a Helion Dominus 10TR that I purchased from my local hobby town. It was an impulse buy, and I wish I chose differently, but the past is the past. The problem is that it has been less than reliable over the years and I'm not sure it's still worth it to keep replacing parts. I'm looking at its current repair bill, and along with the have to do parts, it probably needs new/different shocks that will stand up better the abuse. If I get a new set of upgraded shocks I'm looking $150 plus in repairs on a vehicle that is no longer made (I paid 270 for it originally). When its working, its pretty fun, and I have upgraded motor/esc combo that can certainly be used in other systems. Sadly it spends most of its time in pieces, a shell of its former glory.

So I suppose I'm half venting and half asking at what point you guys decide that an RC is no longer worth the expense and effort to repair. I'm frustrated ATM so maybe the graveyard is premature.

 

[donkdave83]

I have a tmax 3.3 for 11 years now drove it for about a year and retired it still looking Pretry in the corner just don' like tuning it if it becomes more hassle than fun move on is my thoughts

 

[Jerry-Rigged]

I retire cars when they are no longer fun / enjoyable. Sometimes this is because I got bored with it. Sometimes because I was sick of fixing it. Some times because I just could not get it to run right.

 

[Vanning]

I will strip an old rc of all the hardware and It always comes in handy for repairs and mods. I retire RC’s when newer stuff comes out that I like. However...some RC’s are easy to keep because they are awesome and the company always has parts and aftermarket support.

 

[Voltron7]

If you...
-don't ever use it
-cannot or do not want to fix it (if broken.)
-if you don't have the physical space for it
I would retire it...

 

[Zeus]

Agreed, bashing involves the occasional breakage when pushing too hard...
But If it breaks most outings, and a 10tr will, then definately put it in the parts bin.

 

[crankestein]

Possibly when spare parts are lacking, does not inclue ARRMA vehicles LOL, and know that sooner than later there will no more replacements.

The good side of this, many panic under such thinking and start selling quick and cheap and thats when I instead of retiring, buy more parts/rollers.

Just in case, I usually give it a cooling period of about six to eight months, and see if I still have that I dont want to bash it anymore feeling. Have done it before where I sell quick and then regret it.

 

[deej78]

Similar to a real car, buy a new one if repairs to the existing car are more than half of a new one. Plus a lot of the parts can be used on keeping the new one serviced.

 

[olds97_lss]

If parts or aftermarket support more or less stops, I stop and get rid of it. Usually sell as a roller for someone else to get some use out of it and I move on to something else. That's for a vehicle I still use.

For ones that I don't use, if I have them on the shelf for a year or so without running them, I'll take them down, see what's needed (usually nothing as I hate keeping trucks on my shelf in non-working order) and perhaps take it out for a bash just to remind myself why it's been on the shelf for a year. If it still annoys me or reminds me, then I do the same as I do with others, take off the engine/motor/servos/receiver and post it in a forum for sale.

My 5B sat on the shelf for 2 years untouched... my LST sat for over a year. Others didn't sit that long because I got them, realized they were more trouble than they were worth, gave a valiant effort at making them tough enough for me to enjoy, then gave up and got rid of them (xtm mammoth st, t-maxx's, savage 21's, 1/8th buggies).

The only ones I get rid of that I usually regret is an 1/8th buggy. Then I get a used one again and remember why I don't have one. They sit to low for where I have to bash and roof landings at skate parks snap shock towers.

 

[Iamtheoutcast]

I have a tmax 3.3 for 11 years now drove it for about a year and retired it still looking Pretry in the corner just don' like tuning it if it becomes more hassle than fun move on is my thoughts

I just got a t axx nitro about 10years old yesterday in a clean ut that I was doing for a customer. I kno nothing about nitro rigs so out with the nitro in with a blx system. But in my opinion if you have other rcs yoku never really have to compltely retire a rig unless damaged beyond repair. Slowly throw a couple bucks here and there at it get her running again unless you have that itch that I get all the time about getting a new rig.