RC Car recommendation

[seggons]

I see that there are a handful of people that run RC cars. As I have zero knowledge about RC cars I hope someone can guide me. What im looking for:


Something that can cope with off road terrain
Can also be used onroad
Would like it to be quick
Would like it to be big in size
Would like it to be fuel powered unless electric is best


I have been looking at the HPI Cars (http://www.hpi-europe.com/) which look pretty impresive. But if you have any oppion please let me know

Thanks for any help you can give me :thumb: .

[mrodgers]

For racing or just messing around at home? Electric off road trucks and buggies are the most popular around here and they are all as fast as you want with simple motor upgrades. If it's just for messing around with, my buddy has a Revo and it was the fastest 4wd nitro powered monster truck when he got it last year. But there may be something faster now, not sure. And the term "monster truck" doesn't mean like Bigfoot in the RC world. It is just a big nitro powered 4wd that can easily handle running in the yard and messing around off an actual built dirt track at home.

[seggons]

For racing or just messing around at home?
Mainly for just messing about.

Thanks for that dood :thumb:

[keiran]

What sort of price range because you could go mad and buy a £1000 truck :razz: I can't remember the name of the thing that this guy has got but what a machine it is. The HPI savages seem a popular choice for messing about with but im not really into nitros to much work for my liking :tilt:

I see you live in the Uk take a look at http://www.microtechracing.com/ they have there sale on at the moment and provide great service.

Keiran

[seggons]

Keiran can you check to see if I have have got the right bits and have got everything I need for this truck (http://www.microtechracing.com/code/products.asp?recid=863&subcatid=55):

Will that work for the truck? (http://www.microtechracing.com/code/products.asp?recid=4888&subcatid=168)
Which 5 litre bottle do I need? (http://www.microtechracing.com/code/products.asp?subcatid=10&catid=9)

For the 12 AA cells, would it be ok to use rechargeable battries?
(My budget is about £400 btw.)

Edit: Do I need to order the things in seperate orders? ie:
Monster Truck to go first class
NITRO STARTER PACK FOR ROTO START to go on the shipping class: postage for starter pack
Then the 3rd order for the fuel to go with the Fuel courier?

[RMachucaA]

Get an early 90's Tamiya WRC 1/10 electric, they can be offroad and onroad.

[seggons]

Get an early 90's Tamiya WRC 1/10 electric, they can be offroad and onroad.
I had a slightly smaller WRC car brought for me about 2 or 3 years ago. The problems I had were that they scratched easily, damaged a bit easyer then I liked and took about 4 to 6 hours to charge up after only 30 mins use.

Thats why I am willing to pay the price for something decent that can go through long grass and not get stuck every yard or so :D

[mrodgers]

Actually, if it was me and I was looking for something, I'd search E-bay for a Tamiya Bruiser. Since I am a big fan of Toyota 4x4's (the real ones, they can't break if they take my driving :D , or how I use to drive, anyway), I'd absolutely love to have one of these things. They have a scale working suspension just like the real thing. Leaf springs, shocks, driveshaft, not like normal RC parts. They are so cool, but VERY expensive if I recall ebay prices correctly.

Some pics on the net I've found:
http://www.rc4wd.com/images/site/photo/juggerneer/2.jpg
http://www.rc4wd.com/images/site/photo/juggerneer/7.jpg
http://www.rc4wd.com/images/site/photo/juggerneer/8.jpg
http://www.rcrock.com/images/feature/ultimate/4.jpg

Here's a pic of the chassis. You can see the leaf springs, rear axle, driveshafts. That is a 3 speed tranny as well:
http://www.rcgrabbag.com/rccars/bruiser/images/DSC02294b.jpg

Really really cool and I've always wanted one SOOOO BAAAADDDDD!!!!!
There also is something like a Willy's Jeep I think called the Mountaineer maybe.

Ah, and here is some ebay auctions for complete Tamiya trucks.
http://search.ebay.com/bruiser_W0QQfromZR8QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ3
One is bid at $805.00, one at $1201.00, and the new unassembled in the box complete kit is a nice cheap find at a starting bid of $2250.00.

[keiran]

Your best bet would be to phone them up and ask them about what you'd require to get going. Take a note of the stuff and have a look around the net and see what the prices are like. For me microtech are usually the cheapest. I've seen a few Savages going about at the last meetings which looked great fun :) Maybe you chould post over at http://www.rcracechat.com


@mrodgers
Never been a fan of Tamiyas myself :razz: When I hear Tamiya I instantly think of the cheap plastic bricks :razz: The only one I'd ever consider owning would be this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/keiran/misc/imgp2619.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/keiran/misc/imgp2611.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/keiran/misc/imgp2610.jpg

Keiran

[Hyperactive]

I'd suggest reading some reviews about different trucks.

Here are couple of links:
http://www.rccaraction.com/rc/articles/index.asp
http://www.rcuniverse.com/product_guide/carguide.cfm
http://www.rccartalk.com/rc-cars.html
http://rcvehicles.about.com/od/rctrucks/

Do you want to build it yourself or do you prefer ready-to-run sets? Some day I buy one too, mmmh (dreaming)...

[seggons]

Ready-to-run. Cheers for the links :up:

[seggons]

Another question:

I hear alot about people not liking the amount of maintaning petrol/nitro engines need. What is invovled then? Why do people not like it?

Thanks for any info you can give me :D

[RMachucaA]

Because nitro is messy, the stuff gets everywhere and smells, you have to clean the gunk off the body\chassis\engine after a couple of runs. You also need to maintain the engine every couple of months, if it sits for too long it will need a good proffessional cleaning inside the engine to get it to work good again. Asides from that they are a blast, i have a Mugen 1\10 nitro onroad and i've enjoyed it a lot. My old bro. got an HPI RS4 nitro fully decked out, 2 gear tranny and all, and a novarossi engine, the thing FLIES!

[Roadie]

one word... HPI Savage. ok, thats 2.. but SAVAGE!!! omg... its the best. I have one and love it.

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/1175/rollcage27op.jpg

http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/5285/rollcage9zc.jpg

[seggons]

What other things should I get other then the basics, basics being:

Glow starter and charger
Stick pack and charger
Fuel bottle
Fuel
12 AA Cells

[Hyperactive]

Not sure but many shops offer these start-up kits where you get all those glow-starts, fuels and for little less than if bought separately.

One thing missing in your list are the paints, if it's not already painted :) Another thing is that you will need some kind of wrenches, some of those that come with the package are made of plastic (!).

What kind of starting system does you car have?

[RMachucaA]

or you could just get a glow plug and a pull start engine.

[Dazza289]

Just noticed this thread im currently saving up for a Traxxas jato . 2wd stadium truck on road and off road. 55 mph top speed and under 300 pounds:thumb::thumb: Id buy one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRAXXAS-JATO-55Mph-Truck-Car-HPI-Savage-GENESIS-Hobao_W0QQitemZ6026202879QQcategoryZ19168QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem <<< theres one buy it now brand new 230 quid cheap as :razz:

[Hyperactive]

One more link, here more tip/tricks/reviews/... : LINK (http://rc411.com/)

[seggons]

The HPI Savage 25 has a roto start system. I emailed Microtech Racing (www.microtechracing.com), they point me in the direction of this (http://www.microtechracing.com/code/products.asp?recid=4888&subcatid=168) which I think will cover most of my needs.

The shell that comes with it is all painted up with the option of adding stickers to it.
The fuel I am going to get from a model shop not too far from me instead of ordering it for the sake of ease.

I am also going to get the reversing module for it because I think that could come in handy if I end up facing a tree :D

Cheers for the advice and links Hyperactive :up: :up: and thanks for the pics Roadie :up: and thanks everyone else for your input, it has really helped :D

[Hyperactive]

Glad to help:)

Post some piccies when you got it running :shy:

[vrooom]

Hiya

I got savage. I highly recommond savage. They are fast and strong.

HPI Spares are PLENIFUL on ebay and the like.

Hope you have fun.

[rc10racer]

or if u are after a fast eletric car have this one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6048003756&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

[indo420]

The TRAXXIS T-MAXX hand down.. It's what i own.

get the 2.5RS NitroMethane 2 speed trans and ceramic disk brake if you can. also look into dumping 300-400 more $$$ to upgrade the body/suspension.

the T-MAXX is about $499.99 USD :)

but heh as for power.. it throws 5 foot rooster tails when you step on the gas on gravel.

i'll take some pictures if you want. im waiting for the new bulkhead to arrive.

and you'll want to buy 20 not 10 nitro fuel.. i run 30 but ya gotta once again upgrade for the power upgrade

VIDEO (http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96781308/K=T-maxx/v=2/OID=ba75beab2038e840/SID=e/l=VDP/;_ylt=A9iby0jjRDxEnPUAl138w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NDgyNW N0BHNlYwNwcm9m/SIG=121rkr6ot/EXP=1144886883/*-http%3A//w1.515.telia.com/~u51507560/T-Maxx.WMV)

[RMachucaA]

I just got meself this Tamiya hilift, love the scale look, i hate non-scale kiddy looking RC cars\trucks.

http://pages.videotron.com/machuca/HPIM1237_small.jpg

[P5YcHoM4N]

I have a cheapy TT-01 with the Carson's upgrade kit which, if you believe the marketing claims, can keep up with entry level nitro cars.

The only problem with this chassis is it doesn't like to corner, it just understeers like a pig, although if you put on the solid tyres it can drift nicely and on fine gravel it is great, but never use it on tarmac if you want to turn as it just drives into a tree. Or for added fun, use the drift tyres (starter drift tyres, still have grip but will break free if you push them) at the rear and standard up front, it makes the back end nicely loose but the front grippy, which counters some of the understeer, although you do get snap oversteer it is a lot more fun than understeer.

[G!NhO]

I just got meself this Tamiya hilift, love the scale look, i hate non-scale kiddy looking RC cars\trucks.

http://pages.videotron.com/machuca/HPIM1237_small.jpg
woah, i really like those Tamiya High Lift's, they look so real and fun. :nod:

gonna do some rock crawling or mudding with it? :)

[P5YcHoM4N]

gonna do some rock crawling or mudding with it? :)

Picture that, they are range from the happy side of $600 up to $1,100 a pop, do you really think it'll do anything other than leave dust free patches on his shelf?

[Hyperactive]

Picture that, they are range from the happy side of $600 up to $1,100 a pop, do you really think it'll do anything other than leave dust free patches on his shelf?

I'd (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gOgr1ELf3ZA) hope (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fWyYWcmR61w) so (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kT9b-I0_9HE) :thumb:

[G!NhO]

Picture that, they are range from the happy side of $600 up to $1,100 a pop, do you really think it'll do anything other than leave dust free patches on his shelf?
what?? lol

[11SuLLy11]

Ask Nikimere he does RC racing he could give you a good recomendation:)