nitro virgin

[dannie]

i am about to embark on my first nitro car and need help. looking for a car that can run on grass and tarmac. its got to be fast and reliable, new or secondhand.something to pop my cherry!!! :
you have proberbly seen this question a million times before but would really appreciate the advice on make,model etc

regards dannie the nitro virgin

 

[mxracer]

I'm a nobody so don;t listen to me but I might sugest a 1/8 buggie!!

 

[NCNitro]

Nothing runs great on grass unless the grass is cut very short, it will cause nitro engines to run hot. But if you want that option, about the only rig I would suggest would be a monster truck. And as far as monster trucks go, I would strongly recommend an HPI Savage.

 

[brad55102]

Traxxas T-maxx, it's much cheaper and very reliable. Oh ya it's better than the savage too, (but dont tell anyone) they get mad when you say things like that. lol

easy guys.....

 

[newviennajj]

my tmaxx shreds grass,it almost mows it for me

 

[qaart]

revo runs on my thick tall grass. but revo coast like 350 to 600

 

[novak]

I would recommend a monster truck too scale 1/8.

You should buy one that is not too hard to tune for your first rc truck. I know a lot about these big brands like HPI, Traxxas, and so on and I know they do amazing stuff but Duratrax is a brand that should not be overlooked for beginners -their rc trucks and cars are reliable, quite robust and relatively easy to tune and not hard to maintain.
They also offer tons of hop-ups when you feel the time comes for you to mimprove/modify your baby.
Finally their price is ok.

My last advice before you buy: read RC magazines (buy 3 or 4 at the same time) like RC Driver or Xtreme action or RC Car Action they write tons of reviews and it's usually well done.
Also it will open your eyes to more stuff and I think will help you make a better choice at the end (even though at the beginning of your readings it might confuse you more).

Good luck & have fun with your first car.

 

[NCNitro]

I never said they won't run on grass, I said it causes the temps to run high. I prefer to not add that stress to my rigs, but hey, if you guys want to buy a new engine every couple of gallons, go for it.

 

[qaart]

really i would buy a el cheapo car for like 120$ learn how to tune and get the hang of it before spending real money on it and tearing up the car

 

[scoobydoo2u]

really i would buy a el cheapo car for like 120$ learn how to tune and get the hang of it before spending real money on it and tearing up the car

I really would avoid said el cheapo car and do it right the first time.

The internet is full of stories of how people went to cheap and regretted it.
No offense is directed toward any one on a small budget or any one that has gone that cheap route.
I am simply giving my opinion and my opinion mean nothing unless you want it to.

I can strongly suggest a HPI Savage, great trucks that will treat you right.

Savage X from AMAIN

 

[NCNitro]

I agree with Scooby, avoid the el cheapo rigs. You will either have to buy something better anyway after you break el cheapo and can't get parts, or you will give up on nitro all together.

 

[Lessen]

first MT nitro? reliable, cost efficient,, durable.

Associated Mini MGT 3.0

 

[LosiLST]

Losi Aftershock.

 

[flandersander]

HPI savage. No regrets. breaks way less than my tmaxx. In fact, the only thing I have broken on it was a set screw that goes on the drive shaft.

 

[RC Addict]

Here we go with the old Maxx--Savvy--LST thread. My best advice is to research them all and weigh the pro's and con's of each and get what you feel best represents what you want your rig to do.

That being said TMaxxs are cool for 1/10 scale and there are tons of hop-ups for it and Traxxas has great customer support.

Savages have a big following here but even their fans will tell you they are bashing rigs. If you want to race they require a lot of work to get there.

Losi's LST series (LST, LST2, Aftershock, etc.) are the closest to race-ready you can get in a RTR. The radio gear is top notch and the support is second-to-none. And yes, I am biased toward my LST but I can attest that it is one serious rig.

Remember that the Savvy and LST's are 1/8 scale and in the Monster class bigger is ALWAYS better!

 

[MadKawi650]

I don't have any advice on What Brand... I own a Revo 3.3 and its OK. I bought it used and this is where my advice starts... I thought it was a great deal untill I learned something about RC... It was all worn out. I paid $300 for it, it came with 2 bodies and some tools. It needed a Starter battery so I could not hear it run when I bought it...

I got the engine to run, but it was WORN OUT. I ended up buying a new engine for $159 plus $12 shipping. (Traxxas ERP is useless in Canada, NO LHS will honor it). Then I needed a new one way bearing $25, Tank seals, pivot ball boots, axle boots, body clips, starter battery, and Hubs... the Hubs must have been alomst shot, cause they stripped in about 2 quarts of fuel (driving on dirt).

You don't notice all these little things when you're excited about your first nitro(and you finally convinced the wife). But you sure pay for them later.... I am into my Revo for more than a Brand new one and I still have an old truck with stripped bolts holes and worn parts.

I know it expensive, but wouldn't you want to be the one who wears it out first ?
Save the headaches, save for a little while longer, and get the new truck. My $0.02 worth.

 

[charliejp]

I have to agree with MadKawi on buying new. Just face it though if you plan on getting into the hobby its gonna cost you some money. I would suggest buying something decent for your first nitro because I myself would'nt want to spend the money repairing a cheapo. There are a lot of cool nitros out there so the choice is yours ultimately. If you find something you like then research it on the forum. See what people pros and cons are for that model. Hope thats helpful and enjoy.

 

[mxracer]

Like I said, don't listen to me, but this dude wants to run on pavment to!! Is a MT to high will flip over on pavment?? I don't have pavment within 2 miles so I wouldn't konw!!

 

[MrClean]

New to nitro + used rig = someone who will hate this hobby in no time.

Even a new rig can give you enough trouble to not enjoy the nitro side of RC. I know that first-hand. If I would have started with a used rig, I'd be out this hobby. There are so many things that can go wrong, it can be overwhelming, and a used one can present so many more "what-ifs" that it makes it harder to learn.........IMO. I own a Revo3.3 (that was my first one) that was new and an LST1 that I got from a friend. Both trucks are great I think. Let us know what you decide on.

 

[BradZ_09]

I'm only quite new to the hobby myself, my first(and current) nitro was(and still is) a GV Dominator 1/8 scale buggy
Its great fun for someone new to the hobby, very tough
One thing i will say, for your first, buy from ur lhs
My mate got his first from ebay, thing broke down and he had major expenses getting it shipped bak and foward, and a lot of messing aroung with no help