I just wanted to say Hi and to introduce myself, my name is Giuseppe and I just got involved with rc racing. I am looking into purchasing my first gas powered car and was wondering if anybody had advice to give me before I went on with the purchase. Right now, I am looking at CEN or HPI. Out of the two, which whould be better. I appreciate any advice or opinions that I recieve. Thanks and I look forward to hearing everyones advice.
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kwong2001
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On-road or off-road? What scale? 1/12, 1/10, 1/8?
SilentHunterKellen
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Heres some good advice which i hope you take serously. Heres a story: My frind Named ___ ______ bought a CEN fun factor MT2 and it sucks. What a piece of poop! Man...engine got weak after half a gallon and steering broke. He needs about 20 feet of clearance to do a 180 turn. HPI on the other hand...much better but the MT RTR comes with a kinda weak engine. What are you looking for? A basher or a racer?
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I thank everyone for there input. I am getting the feeling that CEN is out of the question. What I am looking for is an on-road car..something that is quick and sleek looking. I was looking at the HPI RTR Super Nitro RS4 Lamborghini Murcielago...what do you guys think?? or is there something else that you guys have in mind?
SilentHunterKellen
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O yeah i forgot to say something. Stay away from cen but..the HPI cars (RS4 series) KIK A$$!!! Get one if you can but a Nitro TC3 (team associated) is also a good choice. Those cars are good parking lot racers. If you are into bashing...get a Nitro Rusty From traxxas. People dont call them Bricks for nothing. But they are FAST!!!
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SilentHunterKellen
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Okay here it is! Go with the HPIrs4 RTR3 or the Hpi Rs4 3. the non rtr version doesn't come with radio i believe. And you have to build it. It does come with a better engine and a two speed. But hey...for the brick thing. its called ab brick because it Durable and it flys fast!
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Welcome Stepps7.
There are alot of deciding factors to take into consideration before you buy your first car. First definately stay away from the cen. If you are going to be running parking lots and streets, I strongly suggest a shaft drive car over a belt driven car. Since parking lots have a lot of tiny little rocks and pieces of asphalt on them belts can strip easily. There are two nice shaft drive cars that are not very expensive. The HPI RS4 3 SS and the NTC3 by Team Associated. How much is your budget? Do you want a kit or RTR?
There are alot of deciding factors to take into consideration before you buy your first car. First definately stay away from the cen. If you are going to be running parking lots and streets, I strongly suggest a shaft drive car over a belt driven car. Since parking lots have a lot of tiny little rocks and pieces of asphalt on them belts can strip easily. There are two nice shaft drive cars that are not very expensive. The HPI RS4 3 SS and the NTC3 by Team Associated. How much is your budget? Do you want a kit or RTR?
SilentHunterKellen
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RTR is ready to run...but for traxxas its ready to RACE.lol...but hey..the hpi rs4 rtr3 and the rs4 3 are good cars. They have shafts not belts and they are durable. The only drawback to the rtr one is that it comes with a Not-So-Powerful engine the .15fe but the one in the kit is alot stronger (.12r type SS)
The tc3 is an all around good car. can't go wrong. But keep shopping around. Btw: the radio in the RTR version is a good radio probably worth around 100bucks!
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The tc3 is an all around good car. can't go wrong. But keep shopping around. Btw: the radio in the RTR version is a good radio probably worth around 100bucks!
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kwong2001
Hardcore RCTalk User
rtr = ready to run.
Generally, all you do with those is put batteries, glue the tires (depending on the manufacturer) and go. Of course you still have to break in the engine.
Personally, I don't like HPI products. To me, they seem to be a pain to work on. They seem to toy-like, but that's just me.
I like Team Associated. My ntc3 is easy to work on and parts availability is great as is HPI.
If you get a kit, then you'll be paying more than a RTR. Kits are good because you will know the car inside and out, you can choose your radio and engine, but you do have to build it. If you're not really into building or you just want "instant" fun, then you might look into RTR.
Some RTR's have unpainted bodies, so you'll need to paint it and cut the body out. But i think i've been seeing more prepainted, precut bodies with RTR's
One thing you might do, which will help you better find a car, is goto your local hobby shop and see what kind of manufacturer parts availability they have. That will help you narrow down you choice of cars. You don't want to get a car that you have to mail order parts, that can put you out of commision for a week, but hey, if you're patient (i'm not), then mail order might be alright.
Hope this helps
Generally, all you do with those is put batteries, glue the tires (depending on the manufacturer) and go. Of course you still have to break in the engine.
Personally, I don't like HPI products. To me, they seem to be a pain to work on. They seem to toy-like, but that's just me.
I like Team Associated. My ntc3 is easy to work on and parts availability is great as is HPI.
If you get a kit, then you'll be paying more than a RTR. Kits are good because you will know the car inside and out, you can choose your radio and engine, but you do have to build it. If you're not really into building or you just want "instant" fun, then you might look into RTR.
Some RTR's have unpainted bodies, so you'll need to paint it and cut the body out. But i think i've been seeing more prepainted, precut bodies with RTR's
One thing you might do, which will help you better find a car, is goto your local hobby shop and see what kind of manufacturer parts availability they have. That will help you narrow down you choice of cars. You don't want to get a car that you have to mail order parts, that can put you out of commision for a week, but hey, if you're patient (i'm not), then mail order might be alright.
Hope this helps
yeah i heard CEN is bad. dont pick a car because it has a cool body, because if its a good car with some uglyass body you can just get a new body for about $20-30.
HPI is supposed to be pretty good, the Associated TC3 would probably be better.
http://www.rc10.com/shusting/CatalogHub/kitspecs_ntc3/kitntc3.htm
HPI is supposed to be pretty good, the Associated TC3 would probably be better.
http://www.rc10.com/shusting/CatalogHub/kitspecs_ntc3/kitntc3.htm
once you decide on your car/truck get a good air filter(motorsaver is good) a fuel filter and a throttle return spring to save the kit if you loose your radio signal...also have several glow plugs on hand,good luck:classic:
I would suggest the NTC3 more than the HPI for one reason. Parts. The NTC3 parts around here are in well supply, as for the HPI.. No.. But that's cause of the LHS. Pick what you want.
My opinion is the NTC3. Great setup, and many things are possible with it.
"The Nitro TC3 is the only nitro touring car that accommodates either pull-start, side exhaust, or rear-exhaust engines, both slide-valve or rotary carburetors, and your choice of flat-pack, hump-pack or dry-cell receiver battery configurations. So no matter what your power preferences are, the Nitro TC3 can handle them.
After all, nobody knows touring cars... or NITRO... like the Team!"
That is true.
The rear exaust system on this one guys NTC3 down at the LHS looks SOO kickanus. And man, the dual pipes are SWEEEEEET sounding. 
My opinion is the NTC3. Great setup, and many things are possible with it.
"The Nitro TC3 is the only nitro touring car that accommodates either pull-start, side exhaust, or rear-exhaust engines, both slide-valve or rotary carburetors, and your choice of flat-pack, hump-pack or dry-cell receiver battery configurations. So no matter what your power preferences are, the Nitro TC3 can handle them.
After all, nobody knows touring cars... or NITRO... like the Team!"
That is true.
The rear exaust system on this one guys NTC3 down at the LHS looks SOO kickanus. And man, the dual pipes are SWEEEEEET sounding.
M
mjime714
Guest
Welcome to the boards.
I agree with what everyone is saying.
You should be very happy either the HPI RS4 or NTC3. A few things to consider though.
• Part support in from your LHS
• Do you have a lot to spend?
• Do you have some to spend on me?
• Do you want an RTR (cheaper) or a kit (better)
• Do you eventually want to race or just bash?
• Are there other racers you will be running with?
-if so, what are they running?
The last point is very important. You will catch this bug, like a lot of us have, where you will want to be faster than the next person. Some cars can be made fast, but are not so quick out of the box. Be prepared to go parts hunting. If you buy a car with a lot of part support that can be found locally, you will be a lot happier.
Oh and dont worry about the body. Just switch the one you have out with a new one.
I agree with what everyone is saying.
You should be very happy either the HPI RS4 or NTC3. A few things to consider though.
• Part support in from your LHS
• Do you have a lot to spend?
• Do you have some to spend on me?
• Do you want an RTR (cheaper) or a kit (better)
• Do you eventually want to race or just bash?
• Are there other racers you will be running with?
-if so, what are they running?
The last point is very important. You will catch this bug, like a lot of us have, where you will want to be faster than the next person. Some cars can be made fast, but are not so quick out of the box. Be prepared to go parts hunting. If you buy a car with a lot of part support that can be found locally, you will be a lot happier.
Oh and dont worry about the body. Just switch the one you have out with a new one.
