Newbie, first car around 200 dollars

[hamz9561]

Again I disagree about used rigs for people getting into the hobby. A new rig will have support from the mfr and the dealer that sells it. A used rig gets little to no support from its seller. You can always wrench on a new rig. I am always tinkering with my rigs in one way or another. The last truck I bought actually got a brushless upgrade on the counter at my LHS before it left the store, lol.

 

[cwal1774]

I don't completely agree I just got in this hobby last april, I have bought four rigs now and not one of them being new (still have three of them). it depends all on the type of person you are. are you a person that would buy a 57 chevy belair out of a barn in the middle of Iowa that needs completely restored or are you one to go to barrett jackson and buy one that is completely restored but maybe not exactly what you wanted.

That argument makes no sense. You're gonna spend a shitload of money either way.

 

[TRXaddict]

Ebay is your best choice for buying RC products in my opinion.... Everything I've bought was quite cheaper than most these online hobby stores...

If you want a truggy ....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TAMIYA-1-8-...ol_Vehicles&hash=item27c24d6b97#ht_6854wt_952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Redcat-Raci...pt=Radio_Control_Vehicles&hash=item256b259aad

monster truck.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/REDCAT-RACI...pt=Radio_Control_Vehicles&hash=item2c62540ccb
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Redcat-Raci...pt=Radio_Control_Vehicles&hash=item256b25a8f1

Stadium http://www.ebay.com/itm/DuraTrax-Ni...ol_Vehicles&hash=item2eba88c11b#ht_4444wt_952


I believe in ebay because all sellers now are required to include the exact item in the picture and there is NO way to get ripped off...

I bought my savage x4.6 off ebay for 450 shipped... my local hobby shop wanted 500 even.. and other online places wanted around 480 470... ebay is a great way to save money.... If you go on there and type nitro rc .. there will be tons of results for you to choose from.. from name brand to off name brand.. and i understand your budget .. some users may say DO NOT get anything thats not name brand but honestly there are some people out there with companies like red cat... exceed.. and others that are actually doing pretty well with them.. just take care of your truck..

 

[hamz9561]

I would not recommend Redcat for any reason, either. They aren't as high a quality as the brands like Traxxas, HPI, Losi and Associated. There is little aftermarket support for them and parts aren't always available locally.

 

[TRXaddict]

Yeah i would never recommend redcat but the thing is.. there are people out there that just simply can't afford 400 dollar + rtrs because bills and other stuff etc.. so when they get their hands on that 2-300 bucks they need to spend it right away or it will just go to bills.. so if hes in a budget where he literally needs to spend the money NOW then get something i listed or something others listed thats in your price range. If he doesn't need to spend it immediately then he needs to just save up and then buy name brand.

 

[mayrider]

[That argument makes no sense. You're gonna spend a shitload of money either way.

Sorry I should of said
"57 chevy belair out of a barn in the middle of Iowa that needs completely restored that you could build yourself to your liking or are you one to go to barrett jackson and buy one that is completely restored but maybe not exactly what you wanted."

I'm just saying some people enjoy the build as much as the final product

 

[cwal1774]

Yeah there you go that makes a lot more sense. I can see you're point but for me I would rather start with a brand new rig than inherit somebody else's headaches and screw ups.

 

[hamz9561]

+1. I am in total agreement for someone just starting out.

 

[jstutzman]

Again, thanks guys. It is not so much for me about having the money. I have it. I just dont want to buy more than I need. I just got interested in this hobby so i dont even know who is name brand and who is not. I think after reading the post, I'm just going to hold off and do a little more research. I really dont want to spend 400 or more dollars on a toy car so i may just wait. The red cat brands do seem to get pretty good reviews but some of the trexxas stuff is in or about the same price range. I just dont want to over buy and it looks like in this case, you really do get something for the extra 100 dollars that it costs to get a nicer truck. Thanks for all the posts they have been very helpful.

 

[TRXaddict]

Again, thanks guys. It is not so much for me about having the money. I have it. I just dont want to buy more than I need. I just got interested in this hobby so i dont even know who is name brand and who is not. I think after reading the post, I'm just going to hold off and do a little more research. I really dont want to spend 400 or more dollars on a toy car so i may just wait. The red cat brands do seem to get pretty good reviews but some of the trexxas stuff is in or about the same price range. I just dont want to over buy and it looks like in this case, you really do get something for the extra 100 dollars that it costs to get a nicer truck. Thanks for all the posts they have been very helpful.

Ahh alright, well yeah starting out with your first hobby grade the prices can really make you feel like " wow is this really worth it ? " and it is, its alot of fun and great way to just screw around and thrash at the park or just driving on your street.

Name brand companies:
Traxxas
HPI
Associated
OFNA
Kyosho
Mugen
team losi


Offbrand:

Redcat
exceed

honestly i dont know of many offbrand but the name brand companies are great stuff... i love my traxxas and HPI trucks.. I'm planning on maybe later getting an ofna truggy and a hotbodies buggy. Hot bodies is sort of like a sub company of HPI.. Almost like lexus being the sub company of toyota.

 

[hamz9561]

A realistic figure would $300-$350 for a RTR nitro truck. I paid almost $250 for my first hobby grade electric which was a mini.

 

[corvetteadk]

traxxas!

 

[FrostByte25]

Yeah i would never recommend redcat but the thing is.. there are people out there that just simply can't afford 400 dollar + rtrs because bills and other stuff etc.. so when they get their hands on that 2-300 bucks they need to spend it right away or it will just go to bills.. so if hes in a budget where he literally needs to spend the money NOW then get something i listed or something others listed thats in your price range. If he doesn't need to spend it immediately then he needs to just save up and then buy name brand.

My situation exactly.....

FrostY

 

[fescue101]

did you ever figure out what truck you are going to go with?

 

[jstutzman]

did you ever figure out what truck you are going to go with?

Not really, I have decided to not buy an off brand. I think i will be leaning toward the traxxis that is about 350 dollars. I have been very busy lately and this kinda took a back seat. Because of all the advice on here, i decided to just wait a bit, keep following posts and reading reviews. Most likely when we decide to buy one ill just get the good one and be done with it. I still have a lot of questions. mainly, if taken care of, how long do these engines last?. Are they rebuild-able or do you just buy new engines. How long do the batteries in the remotes last? are there better remotes to get. It looks like some of them are interchangeable.

 

[srusinek]

For the remotes I use rechargable batteries like energizer and then when I have to recharge them, I use a fast charger or my muli charger. 2.4 ghz is the way to go for the remotes but a quality fm radio will be fine for nitro running. Engines can last anywhere from 2 gallons of fuel to anywhere of about 10 gallons of fuel. If properly broken in and maintained, an engine will last you as long as you treat it well. Not over heated, never ran lean, use after run oil or some other corrosion inhibitor, and a regularily cleaned air filter. On the engine you can just trade in the old engine and get a new one in return for a fee or you can rebuild them as needed.