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With an $800 budget , what would you get?

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I had a dentist appointment this morning. And on the way back , I decided to take the scenic route which passes right by the hobby shop coincidentally šŸ˜€

I found out they have a small , packed dirt bash area out back. Must be to test out cars. So after chatting a bit with the guy , he took me out back and let me drive a Stampede 4x4 VXL. What a blast! That truck packs a punch. Much faster than I was expecting. Lots of fun. I didn’t wanna leave. So now I want one , obviously. I’m just surprised it comes with plastic Ultra shocks. I was figuring on aluminum but apparently not. Bummer. But they could always be replaced.

Now I’m back at work but my head never left the hobby shop. They also had a Rustler 4x4 Ultimate on display. I love the look of that truck. I think that’s the one for me. I want every vehicle now. I need to settle down.
For about the same price as the Rustler 4x4 Ultimate you can buy the Kraton 6S. I have a Rustler 4X4 and its great but its not the Kraton 6S. Just food for thought. :)
 
Those old school RC’s you mentioned were the ones that had me drooling back in 1987/88. It was my first glimpse into hobby-grade RC’s. I remember obsessing over the 1987 RC Car Action Buyer’s Guide. Now my son is at the same age I was back then. I didn’t have any male father figures around back then so it’s very important that I’m always there for my kids as a dad. This RC hobby we can share together.

I saw this morning that my son has a Traxxas Maxx on his iPhone as the background. And actually thought to myself.ā€That’s not a bad idea!ā€. 🤣

I was NEVER without one of those mags! Loved them!
I used to carry around a little Tamiya sales booklet with all sorts of cool stuff to dream about during geography class.
See THAT Mr Mac??? It DOESN'T matter and the whole world IS different now! 🤣🤣🤣
The best part is that its a family thing! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
 
I was NEVER without one of those mags! Loved them!
I used to carry around a little Tamiya sales booklet with all sorts of cool stuff to dream about during geography class.
See THAT Mr Mac??? It DOESN'T matter and the whole world IS different now! 🤣🤣🤣
The best part is that its a family thing! ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
Hahaha , that’s awesome šŸ˜‚ it seems like RC is a much more mainstream hobby these days than it was way back when. I also feel like the fact that most companies have RTRā€˜s available made the hobby more appealing to a wider consumer base. Not as intimidating as having to build your own model and then put in a motor. Now it’s pretty much plug and play.

I realize for the guys into racing and those who are on the next level in the hobby , they much prefer to build kits. And I can see the allure of doing that. Once I know what I’m doing and I get a feel for everything, I’d like to build my own kit. Those Tekno’s seem like the pinnacle of 1/8 RC fun.
 
Hahaha , that’s awesome šŸ˜‚ it seems like RC is a much more mainstream hobby these days than it was way back when. I also feel like the fact that most companies have RTRā€˜s available made the hobby more appealing to a wider consumer base. Not as intimidating as having to build your own model and then put in a motor. Now it’s pretty much plug and play.

I realize for the guys into racing and those who are on the next level in the hobby , they much prefer to build kits. And I can see the allure of doing that. Once I know what I’m doing and I get a feel for everything, I’d like to build my own kit. Those Tekno’s seem like the pinnacle of 1/8 RC fun.
I can't seem to find anyone who DOESN'T like Tekno. If I can find a good deal on a 1/10 scale, I'll prob bite.
I JUST bought an Ebay Optima Mid to Resto-mod so I'm pretty exvitrd to go that route right now.
If I can throw one thing at you here...
Assuming the cost of tools are a given, you WILL need them to maintain an RTR too, you have a WEALTH of knowledge here from ppl who cvan build these cars in their sleep and sometimes have. Watch a live build vid on youlose some time! 🤣
Don't let kit building deter you. Buy the one you love. Building it IS part of the fun. Its not just about racers pickibg primo parts to win.
The best part is that when you crash and break, EXPECT THAT!!!, you know how to do the repair.
You hear a noise and are able to narrow it down to 3 things instead of having to look, listen and guess.
This is huge for me anyways. I love to build stuff! 🤣
 
Damn you šŸ˜‚ I thought I had made up my mind. I was watching Kraton vids on YT last night and it looks fantastic.
You won't find a better rig than the Kraton 6S in its price range I don't believe. It will take a beating, and it's surprizingly fast for how heavy it is. Just do not get in front of it 😱
 
I can't seem to find anyone who DOESN'T like Tekno. If I can find a good deal on a 1/10 scale, I'll prob bite.
I JUST bought an Ebay Optima Mid to Resto-mod so I'm pretty exvitrd to go that route right now.
If I can throw one thing at you here...
Assuming the cost of tools are a given, you WILL need them to maintain an RTR too, you have a WEALTH of knowledge here from ppl who cvan build these cars in their sleep and sometimes have. Watch a live build vid on youlose some time! 🤣
Don't let kit building deter you. Buy the one you love. Building it IS part of the fun. Its not just about racers pickibg primo parts to win.
The best part is that when you crash and break, EXPECT THAT!!!, you know how to do the repair.
You hear a noise and are able to narrow it down to 3 things instead of having to look, listen and guess.
This is huge for me anyways. I love to build stuff! 🤣
Great advice. I’ll have my tools ready for whatever I end up buying next week. And maybe a kit for Xmas time. I’m already planning ahead 😁
 
Great advice. I’ll have my tools ready for whatever I end up buying next week. And maybe a kit for Xmas time. I’m already planning ahead 😁
That track is still going in your head right now, huh? 🤣
Aweome!šŸ‘šŸ»
 
I had a dentist appointment this morning. And on the way back , I decided to take the scenic route which passes right by the hobby shop coincidentally šŸ˜€

I found out they have a small , packed dirt bash area out back. Must be to test out cars. So after chatting a bit with the guy , he took me out back and let me drive a Stampede 4x4 VXL. What a blast! That truck packs a punch. Much faster than I was expecting. Lots of fun. I didn’t wanna leave. So now I want one , obviously. I’m just surprised it comes with plastic Ultra shocks. I was figuring on aluminum but apparently not. Bummer. But they could always be replaced.

Now I’m back at work but my head never left the hobby shop. They also had a Rustler 4x4 Ultimate on display. I love the look of that truck. I think that’s the one for me. I want every vehicle now. I need to settle down.
Keep in mind the Rustler 4x4 is on a low center of gravity chassis, while the Stampede 4x4 is the exact same motor/esc/transmission plus front and rear assemblies on a high center of gravity chassis.

If all your doing is track or similar terrain, the Rustler handles a little better, but the higher ground clearance on the Stampede is a plus if the course gets rough, or the grass is tall.
 
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Keep in mind the Rustler 4x4 is on a low center of gravity chassis, while the Stampede 4x4 is the exact same motor/esc/transmission plus front and rear assemblies on a high center of gravity chassis.

If all your doing is track or similar terrain, the Rustler handles a little better, but the higher ground clearance on the Stampede is a plus if the course gets rough, or the grass is tall.
Not all that much involved in switching from one to the other is there? I've thought about going lcg with the Hoss.. but I do enjoy the Hoss in winter, so undecided.šŸ¤”
 
Of course it is. I need to construct something in my backyard like that. I know I’m gonna get caught by my wife staring out my kitchen window at the backyard, envisioning an RC playground. Like Field of Dreams šŸ˜†
Yah, except its "Build it and she will leave" 🤣🤣🤣
 
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