What is a good hobby grade electric for a 4 year old

[theant]

I got my now 4 year old son hooked on rc at an early age and he is dying to get a new rc. My wife and I bought him a cheap walmart rc for xmas last year and of course it is now broken. Given that women typically do not understand the desire to have good quality in an rc vehicle, it is hard for me to convince her to spend a bit more money on something that is going to last!

Does anyone here have any suggestions on a good brand electric rc that is not going to get me in trouble for spending to much.

In saying all of this, I am a nitro guy and have no real idea of what is good for electric, just thought that someone else has gone thru the same for their little guy.

Thanks:canadafla

 

[HPIguy]

The 2wd Traxxas Slash RTR. They're tough as nails, not too fast for him on 6s packs, very simple mechanically when Dad has to fix it, and very affordable. Kudos for being a great Dad.

 

[MudSlinger33]

I would suggest either a traxxas rustler or a 2wd slash. Both are pretty durable and good for begginers. Plus they both have a training mode built into the esc that limits throttle to only 50%, but still faster than walmart brand!

 

[construction]

hi,
Yes i know how you feel and how your son may
feel when it is broken...well fear not as i bought a
mercedes benz slr mclaren from a shop called argos
and it was 39euros it has a hyper speed motoer and is extremely
fast and when it comes to driving it there no such thing as breaking down it just keeps going and its a 1:10 scale..
The manafacturer is called Eztec... http://cgi.ebay.ie/Eztec-RC-Mercede...oryZ2565QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[theant]

Thanks for the input, I have seen those before (slash). Actually someone else has one of those in our neibourhood and he always gets super excited to watch it go! Any feedback on anything smaller, say for indoors? Note: we live in south west canada and it rains 200 days a year here..really, I'm not joking!

 

[MudSlinger33]

Associated makes some good quality 1/18 buggys and truggys like this: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZHH7&P=ML
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXARLU&P=ML
Good for running indoors.

 

[theant]

Yeah thats what I was looking for!! Thanks Mudslinger. The now disposed of walmart rc was I think 1/36?? anything in that category.

 

[MudSlinger33]

I believe Losi makes a 1/24 scale truck, not sure though, Ill try to find it.

Here it is, and its a 1/36 scale too! http://www.losi.com/Products/Features.aspx?ProdId=LOSB0230

 

[HPIguy]

Losi Micro T for indoors. 1/36 scale, less than $100 and as he gets better, you can add lipo power for rippin' wheelies in the living room. I love mine

 

[MudSlinger33]

Losi Micro T for indoors. 1/36 scale, less than $100 and as he gets better, you can add lipo power for rippin' wheelies in the living room. I love mine

Are they durable rigs hpiguy? I was looking at getting some sort of micro truck but not sure what. Sounds like a good deal for under 100!

 

[theant]

That looks awesome, thanks. can't beat the price. That would be even better for indoors!

 

[bgbdwlf2500]

I think at that age you're better off sticking with toy grade. He needs to learn how to steer at slow speeds before going to a hobby grade. I loved rc from very young, i had every new toy grade from tyco every christmas. I learned how to steer them coming and going and thats what keeps the hobby grade, extremely fast ones together. There is no learning curving to run an electric, but as already said you will be the one paying for and fixing the vehicle when broken. I think what i learned from the toy grade ones was "if i break it, its done". Teaches a little respect for what you have, dont run it too fast cuz if you hit something it will break.

Thats just where i came from, i was out of the actual hobby for 10 years which is less than how long I've had an RC vehicle

 

[duramax47]

1/16 e-revo!

 

[Lessen]

I'm a big fan of the HPI Wheely King for very young kids. It's not very fast so it's great for learning, as the name suggests it's designed to pull wheelies easily which adds substantial entertainment value for young kids (who generally tend to be easily bored sometimes). Of course it's hobby grade so if it does break it's easily fixed and considering the thing tops out at like 9 mph it's kind of hard to break it in the first place. HPI Wheely King all the way.

 

[bgbdwlf2500]

I'm a big fan of the HPI Wheely King for very young kids. It's not very fast so it's great for learning, as the name suggests it's designed to pull wheelies easily which adds substantial entertainment value for young kids (who generally tend to be easily bored sometimes). Of course it's hobby grade so if it does break it's easily fixed and considering the thing tops out at like 9 mph it's kind of hard to break it in the first place. HPI Wheely King all the way.

if thats as fast it goes then +1... toy grade is faster than that

 

[Lessen]

My boy is 5 and he enjoys it. He's had it since his 3rd birthday.. at that time the truck basically got driven into trees and fences at full speed. I've replaced the ESC and Rx over the last couple years as they took a crap, but he's never actually broken a part from running it into stuff.

 

[HPIguy]

Are they durable rigs hpiguy? I was looking at getting some sort of micro truck but not sure what. Sounds like a good deal for under 100!

Yeah, mine has been pretty durable. The only thing that really breaks is the tie rods, and you can make new ones out of just about anything plastic, like a milk jug.

I'm a big fan of the HPI Wheely King for very young kids. It's not very fast so it's great for learning, as the name suggests it's designed to pull wheelies easily which adds substantial entertainment value for young kids (who generally tend to be easily bored sometimes). Of course it's hobby grade so if it does break it's easily fixed and considering the thing tops out at like 9 mph it's kind of hard to break it in the first place. HPI Wheely King all the way.

That's good to know Lessen. My nephew is showing some interest, so maybe I'll look into one for him.

 

[theant]

your right when you say that he needs to learn first, but the toy grade usually does not even have a pistol grip radio, so when I do get him a hobby grade rc, he will have to learn all over again. the 1/36 losi looks like a good option, durable. and the mini revo looks awesome and it has training mode, I'm a traxxas guy so this thing looks like a winner!

thanks to all of you who have have chimed in on this, I think that I can make an informed decision on this now.

cheers

 

[hamz9561]

Just a warning about the Micro-T, The 10,250 kV brushless motor is too hot for anything but parking lots.

 

[smartz]

you may have a try at the Syma S107G 3.5ch Mini helcipters:

It's reported to be very stable and affordable