RC cars

Discussion in 'Off-Topic' started by silver03, Oct 19, 2009.

  1. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    My 15 year old has been working hard, saved his money and wants to spend at the most $100 for and indoor outdoor RC car. I know nothing about these. Gas v battery? Insight apprectiated. Thanks
     
  2. WRX1
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    WRX1 _ Staff Member

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    Well, you will be hard pressed to find any kinda of gas RC car for $100, then you would not want to run that indoors. $100 for a rc car will not get you a very good one either.

    Russ
     
  3. Gridlocked
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    Gridlocked Well-Known Member

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    I've just started to look back into getting an RC setup as my young son LOVES to watch the car drive around. I don't think you'll be able to get into a gas one for $100.00. I would go to a hobby store and ask them what they think. They'll narrow down a few of them for you taking into account what you're looking for. After that, I'd search Craig's or E-bay for a used one.

    I'm getting rid of a bunch of stuff that I've had laying around for a while and going all out. :)
    [​IMG]
     
  4. zyklon
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    zyklon Well-Known Member

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    HPI Micro RS4 is an older line that I have, don't think they make it anymore, but I'd bet a used kit off of Ebay or something could be had around $100. Great fun on concrete floors and outdoors on a smooth street or parking lot.
     
  5. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    Ok...what about battery ones? Brands? specs?
     
  6. yamie700
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    yamie700 Well-Known Member

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    Not a car, but as you said indoor I'm just throwing this out there. Micro helicopters are fun indoors, especially during our long winters. I have a blade mCX and just got a blade mSR. I got mine from this place in plymouth, but you can order them online all over the place.
    http://www.hobbyzone.com/rc-helicopters-eflite-blade-micro-cx-rtf.htm
     
  7. ofspunk7
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    ofspunk7 Well-Known Member

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    Gas = more fun

    Battery stuff is fine, but you are going to get less power out of it. It depends on how hardcore you think your son wants to get into it. I say +1 for the hobby store to help you out.
     
  8. pbedroske
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    pbedroske Well-Known Member

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    With today's LiPo batteries and brushless motors you'd be hard pressed to have "more fun" with gas. Very impressive technology advances! But it does come at a price $$.

    For $100 you're really limiting your options. I'd check ebay for a good used micro/mini or 1/18th scale - you might get lucky
     
  9. errorcode3
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    errorcode3 Member

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    gas seems to have more options open, but it comes at a price and i don't know how much your son wants to put into them. My truck cost almost 500 bucks, and i spent more time fixing/crashing the thing. so i can say it was money not well spent. And the gas ones can really go, mine did almost 50. And that can be quite uncontrollable for some people, hence more crashing.

    http://www.rc-car-fun.com/rc-nitro-cars.html gas vs electric
    http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56890 found this one too
     
  10. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    for that price , i would check the losi mini t , its fully upgradeable and there are some indoor tracks that have winter races for them in the metro area , it also comes with a battery and slow charger :) , also team associated have similar cars but are 4wd... just a little more $ , i had one of the 18b's from team associated and loved it , get an extra battery though (1/18 scale and about 6" long)


    http://www.amainhobbies.com/product...549/n/Team-Losi-1-18-Mini-T-Stadium-Truck-RTR

    or a bigger size

    check out the traxxas line up(stampede and ruslter) these are 1/10 scale and are about 1 foot long

    hub hobby on france ave. have these and can answer any ?s

    and also electric is far better for a noob
     
  11. KSAL
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    KSAL Well-Known Member

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    I've bought all 3 of mine from RC car kings in Burnsville! http://www.rccarkings.net/ kind of a chincy website but deff have the best prices on cars and trucks around here as well has a VERY knowledgeable team of guys there. I drive from anoka down there (45 mins) just for their prices and service
     
  12. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    +1 for them , they are the best for parts support as well , 2 great places to explore a great hobby , good luck
     
  13. badbennyb
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    badbennyb Has no title

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    ^^^Those guys have seemed good the few times I've been there. I also had good luck with hobby warehouse I believe its in S. Mpls off of Portland.
     
  14. AWDimprezaL
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    AWDimprezaL has more posts than you

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    I always had good luck with hub hobbies off of 62.
     
  15. 054eatwagon
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    054eatwagon Well-Known Member

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    + 1 for electric , before i sold it all , my last 4 cars where brushless/lipo conv. on gas chassis's , 40+ mph and no noise,smell or clean-up
     
  16. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    thank you! He is psyched and headed for the hobby store tomorrow after school to go get a losi mini t desert truck!
     
  17. greg donovan
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    greg donovan Well-Known Member

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    from what i can tel that looks to be a great starter RC car.

    leaps and bounds better than the 60 dollar stuff at target but not at the 500 premium for high end stuff.
     
  18. Impreza 2.2 T AWD
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    Impreza 2.2 T AWD New Member

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    dude micro t... look into it... does 60+ real MPH om batteries and able to be modded....
     
  19. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    Got the mini t last night...he's lovin it.
     
  20. ej20
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    ej20 Well-Known Member

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  21. Gridlocked
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    Gridlocked Well-Known Member

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    Silver, Do you have any pics of what he got?
     
  22. Gridlocked
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    Gridlocked Well-Known Member

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    Here are some pics of my latest toy/build.

    My bone-stock E-bay E-Revo. The speed controller fried itself and Traxxas was generous enough to rebuild it for me. FedEx should deliver it next week.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The first thing that had to go was the wing.
    [​IMG]

    I spent a couple of bucks at the hobby store.
    [​IMG]

    I couldn't do the plain black or the fake carbon fiber so white it was.
    [​IMG]

    17mm's for the new wheels to widen the stance.
    [​IMG]

    And the new shoes.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The previous owner shipped the truck with loose pinion gears on both of the motors and within 4 minutes of having it out for the first time, and not knowing anything about anything, the pinion tears ate up the spur gear.
    [​IMG]

    Bye-bye Twin Titans and spur gear.
    [​IMG]

    Looks like I'll be ordering a new slipper clutch tomorrow. Notice the crack in the top. It was either cracked before I took it off or I over tightened the nut when I was re-installing it. I couldn't figure out why the new spur gear that I installed was walking all over the place until I saw that.
    [​IMG]

    I ended up going with the Mamba Monster 2200kv brushless combo. I was going to pull one off of E-bay and could have saved some cash but I figured if I have problems, I can bring it back to the guys at the hobby store. I was strongly considering the Tekin kit but this saved me 60 bucks, it was in stock, and the guy I was talking to said that the Tekins were just as likely to surge and cog as the Mamba's. He probably said that so he didn't have to order one but I figured ****-with-it. I won't be doing much crawling anyway. Bring on the high-speed bashing!
    [​IMG]

    The guys forgot to tell me to get wire connections for the batteries so I will need to order those too to complete the install, but all old parts came out and all of the new parts went in (some temporarily) in a beer-and-a-half. Thank you Red Hook for brewing such deliciousness. :p
    [​IMG]
     
  23. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    holy hannah...this is like working on a real vehicle.
     
  24. badbennyb
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    badbennyb Has no title

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    ^^^Yep, Its sick the amount of time and money these things can take. It it also amazing how much modding can be done. I may need something electric my hpi savage nitro monster truck is too much work for someone with my attention span.
     
  25. WillC
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    WillC Well-Known Member

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    look at the Kyosho Mini Z line. I have the Hummer overland alomng with the boat. thinking of selling the hummer and maybe even the boat if the price is right. i woul recomend the Losi Micro series. i have a few bodies for the mirco T.
     
  26. silver03
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    silver03 Well-Known Member

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    pic of the boat?
     
  27. Gridlocked
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    Gridlocked Well-Known Member

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    FYI Brushless motors = FTW.
    Holy-hannah.
     
  28. WillC
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    WillC Well-Known Member

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  29. Mr. Derek
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    Mr. Derek Well-Known Member

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    We made fully machined t-maxx chassis when I was in machine tool at Alex tech.
     
  30. WillC
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    WillC Well-Known Member

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    here is my actuall one.
     
  31. WillC
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    WillC Well-Known Member

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    here is my honest opinion...Kyosho tends to focus more on looks then performance. The Losi MicroT/ Dessert T is your best way to go I think. have both and the Micro T has been used more and performance is by far better.
     
  32. WillC
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    WillC Well-Known Member

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    my next toy when i can afford to break it....[​IMG]
     
  33. skylinerally09
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    skylinerally09 Member

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    YES!!! ^^^ i have a skyline one that is so fun, and they zip. Otherwise nitro for outdoor fun. I have an mt2 that i give mad props too. especially with the .18 added to it.