CEN cars?

[RSfan8]

my friend is looking at CEN. is that a good brand? i dont remember the specific truck, but its some .16 RTR truck. what do you think?

thanks

p.s. is it pronouced "sen" or "c-e-n"?

 

[Mike c.]

I think cen "c-e-n" is a better (but not much) version of duratrax (thats duratrash) and for that price area you can get REALLY better car or truck. like a xxx-nt sport from team losi is ALOT better then ANY of CEN's cars/trucks.

 

[Fett]

The CEN Monster truck is a POS compaired to the TMaxx or the Savage. The Hobby store I first went to had the CEN for like $325.00. (They are notoriously high priced though) Tell your friend to spend a little more and get a good start. Also, I don't seem to see the support (spare parts) for CEN products like Traxxas, Lossi or other top brands.

 

[SilentHunterKellen]

My friend has a cen and its steering system broke within 2 days and the engine is crap and also..the body is weak AND weak steering servo AND crappy radio system! Done. theres more but nah...=devil

-Kellen

 

[mad sceintist]

if it his first truck or car, id suggest somethign else since that is prolly gonn a be more of a hassle than anything esle.

 

[Rob D]

I would pass on the cen cars get something from traxxas, hpi or AE

 

[RobH]

Originally posted by Mike c.
I think cen "c-e-n" is a better (but not much) version of duratrax (thats duratrash) ....

You guys always tell these new people to buy expensive stuff. Then they run out and burn up the engine or smash it into a tree or just loose interest in it. Why toss $500 away if you're not going to stick with it?

I look at my duratrash as "testing the water". I knew it was junk when I bought it. I would much rather beat the crap out of a $200 car than a $500 one.

Now, having said that, if I get into this hobbie and I start racing my piece of trash, I may want that $500 rig. At that time, however, I'll have some experience and maybe wont trash my investment.

If you can't get parts for the CEN don't buy it. If your buddy is a R/C newbie, I personally suggest he look for something cheap he can learn with. Don't buy used cause you also buy someone else's problems and as a newbie he won't know how to fix them.

my two cents,
rob

 

[nitro dave]

NR-
While I do agree with you on some aspects of what you said, I also disagree slightly. Let me explain: 1st-Fett said that CEN is notoriously overpriced, and he suggested a few other products. There is no use overspending on a product that wont work well. He mentioned Traxxas, which aside from the T Maxx makes reasonable vehicles at affordable prices. I know this 5th grader who got into the hobby with the bottom of the line HPI car. He liked it ok for a minute, and then got bored with it. The thing broke and he couldn't fix it. I suggested he look at some Traxxas porducts. He ended up gettig a Stampede. He is now hooked on the hobby. He almost gave up because his first car was little more than a toy.
2nd- I play the guitar. It makes me cringe when I see someone new to the instrument buy the cheapest guitar simply because it is cheap. I know that one of two things will happen. a) they will quit becuase playing a poopy guitar absolutely sucks. They don't sound good, wont stay in tune, are physically harder to press the strings down etc, etc, etc. This adds up to a miserable experience and they end up quitting something that is an awesome activity. b) they are determined to play the guitar, and they realize quickly they need something better. They save money and buy a guitar they should have gotten in the first place. They actually end up spending more than they should have. I know many people who have quit guitar who might not have if they had gotten the correct instrument in the first place. I think you are seeing the parallels to RC here.

Just to let you know, I also cringe when I see some beginner buy a $1000 guitar, because there is a good chance it will be wasted. There are many good choicess for guitars that are good and affordable, just like RC. If you have to save for it an extra month, I'm all for that.

The bottom line- having the correct RC or guitar or whatever will set up the beginner for success in a great activity and encourage continuing rather than quitting because the equipment sucks.

Just my .02

 

[Rob D]

Well said ND

 

[TWIZTIDNINJA]

Originally posted by NoviceRob




You guys always tell these new people to buy expensive stuff. Then they run out and burn up the engine or smash it into a tree or just loose interest in it. Why toss $500 away if you're not going to stick with it?

I look at my duratrash as "testing the water". I knew it was junk when I bought it. I would much rather beat the crap out of a $200 car than a $500 one.

Now, having said that, if I get into this hobbie and I start racing my piece of trash, I may want that $500 rig. At that time, however, I'll have some experience and maybe wont trash my investment.

If you can't get parts for the CEN don't buy it. If your buddy is a R/C newbie, I personally suggest he look for something cheap he can learn with. Don't buy used cause you also buy someone else's problems and as a newbie he won't know how to fix them.

my two cents,
rob

I bought the losi xxx-nt and its 309.00 at mylhs thats not much more than 200.00 and a ways from 500.00

 

[RobH]

good points ND

I dont think I'm having any less fun with my truck just cause I saved $300 when I bought it. I've had my share of problems and it hasn't stopped me from being totally obsessed with the hobby. (just ask my wife )

whats that thing people say about opinions and assholes? something about everyone has one? hehehe

I see my duratrash as my learning car. I can use it to learn how to drive and how to fix stuff. After I'm good at both, maybe I'll buy a good 1/8th scale buggy or something.

I think it's more of a person to person thing. Some people, like me, may want something thats going to break -- something to learn with. Other people may want a more solid product. The down side to that is when it does break, those people don't have the experience nor the confidence to try and fix it themself. Tinkering is half the fun in this hobby.

lets see that makes ummm four cents now
-rob

 

[RSfan8]

the kid is 13 (or 12 I'm not sure), and he already has a Associated RC10GT RTR. he uses it and runs with me (T-Maxx). personally i have no idea why he wants another car, basically his choices are:

keep the GT and get a CEN

----or----

sell the GT and get a Schumacher (the stadium truck that goes 70)

 

[Mayhem]

RS Click Here might help you out.

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

Originally posted by NoviceRob




You guys always tell these new people to buy expensive stuff. Then they run out and burn up the engine or smash it into a tree or just loose interest in it. Why toss $500 away if you're not going to stick with it?

I look at my duratrash as "testing the water". I knew it was junk when I bought it. I would much rather beat the crap out of a $200 car than a $500 one.

Now, having said that, if I get into this hobbie and I start racing my piece of trash, I may want that $500 rig. At that time, however, I'll have some experience and maybe wont trash my investment.

If you can't get parts for the CEN don't buy it. If your buddy is a R/C newbie, I personally suggest he look for something cheap he can learn with. Don't buy used cause you also buy someone else's problems and as a newbie he won't know how to fix them.

my two cents,
rob

But on the other hand we are helping them to not buy junk that they would run for a week and get board with it or be thoroughly discusted with when they see something decent. Then have to loose half of what they spent on it when they sell it on ebay. I wish I would have known what not to buy when I started as It would have saved me time, money, and frustration. If someone is on a budget of $200 for a nitro I say then dont do it. For $200 you just can't get something you will be happy with for a while. Granted everybodie's wants and needs are different but if your like most of us where this hobby turns into an addiction of more speed and more bling bling than start off good. So my suggestion is to start at like the $350-$400 range so your not ripping yourself off in the long run.

I am definetly not trying to flame or put down anyones opinion I'm just trying to put mine in so sorry if I offend in advance.

Nitro=$$$$

 

[RSfan8]

i talked him out of a CEN and am gonna show him an Ofna Hyper 7 RTR buggy (i think thats the name...). what do you guys think of that car?

 

[Mayhem]

I don' think it comes RTR

nevermind it does:sneaky:

 

[RSfan8]

wow ofna makes a ton of buggies. which one is the best? the RTR limit is like $425ish, the Kit limit (assuming it has an engine, basically everything you need except radio/servos) is like $300.

 

[RobH]

Originally posted by humboldtblazer
I am definetly not trying to flame or put down anyones opinion I'm just trying to put mine in so sorry if I offend in advance.

No offense taken.

I got the $200 nitro deal and I'm happy with it. I dont ever see myself having $350 - $400 to spend all at once on anything. So if I break stuff on my $200 cheapy, I know they sell aluminum parts and I'll just go with that -- none of them cost very much. Sure, I will put more money into it in hopups than it would have cost just to buy a good one, but thats fine.

 

[SilentHunterKellen]

I say Stick with the good brands. CEN IS CRap
no doubt about it. I've seen it running. The brand needs more engineering experience. I think they just put the money into developing the engine. The engine is strong but everything else is Crap. no doubt.

-Kellen:TROUT:

 

[SilentHunterKellen]

damn...here we go

-Kellen:trout: