Enable me: R/C Car

When I was younger, I coveted one thing above all else: The Tamiya Audi Quattro R/C car that my friend had. 

Fast forward to the present and my local club invited everyone to bring an RC car to the Christmas party. My son was never into RC cars so I didn't have one to bring. Watching all of the other cars was fun, but I had some RC envy and decide that I might need one in my life. I took a quick look online and decided Hobby-grade RC cars were way too much for me, but a better toy-grade model might be fine. 

Anyone have insights into brands or things to look for or avoid in the sub-$150 market? There are some reviews that I am watching, and it seems like a waterproof control unit is important, and perhaps the ability to upgrade the motor and battery if you want to. 

I'd talk to Cody Johnson at Dixieland RC. He's a former SMF autocrosser who kind of got out of the hobby and opened an awesome brick and mortar and online RC shop and really knows his stuff. Carries a wide range of stuff from toy-store grade to cutting edge race cars.

If you ever make it out towards Greensburg, stop in and talk to Adam at Show Me Your Hobbies. On route 30, turn right at peaches n cream then a quick left, he's beside Alwine Curry. 

He'll be able to help, new or used.

Try to find a used Traxxas car/truck. They don't make radical changes to their vehicles or completely new models so parts are readily available. They are not top level RC, but for 99% that will never matter. A month or 2 after Christmas should have quite a few gifts that didn't work out for sale on the interballs.

I have a Team Associated SC10Pro2 with upgraded transmission (all metal gearing/ geared LSD), upgraded metal front arm block and steering links, chassis dust cover, spare wheels/tires, three Gensace 3S 5000mAh Lipos, and new unpainted Jconcepts Raptor body I'd let go for $200. Just need to put the stock reciever back in it (currently setup with Sanwa receiver to run with Sanwa MT-44 controller). It's a handful to control on 3S with the stock controller, but 2S would be docile to learn on (too docile for me...).

All you'd need is a charger for it. A better than stock steering servo would be a good future upgrade, stock is a bit slow and weak for high speed stability in rough terrain on 3S. A smooth track or regular yard would be better for it. Backyard track is too rough on for having fun with a 2WD race truck on 3S.

I had one years ago. But without any one else around to goof off with, it gets old just puttering around the yard or a parking lot. I got one when I was 18? A gas HPI, 4wd. Bought a half-gallon of fuel for it. I don't think I made it 1/3 through the bottle before I got bored with it and just gave it all to someone. 

In reply to z31maniac :

I have similar feelings. I had some R/C cars way back in the mid-80's.  It was fun for awhile as we would run cars around a parking lot on Sunday after the hobby store closed. I still had them up until a couple of years ago.  Then an R/C shop opened within walking distance of me house. He sells a lot of crawlers, which looks like fun and something you can do without needing a bunch of other guys to race with. I gave him all of my old stuff for a $50 credit, just to get them out of my basement. 

What REALLY makes me want to buy a new car is R/C Rally.  Tight, fairly slow courses in a grass area. Like something one could set up in a back yard. I still haven't gone through with it as I am already buried in too many projects and hobbies.  Still... looks like fun:

Rally TORINO - RC Rally 2013 - YouTube

I remember that Tamiya Audi Quattro.  I wanted one of those so much...  

Indoor carpet track is the bomb.

bentwrench said:

Indoor carpet track is the bomb.

 

It's crazy how fast the guys who spend time on carpet/turf are. I prefer loose/loam, and can sorta not embarass myself, but high grip tracks I get whooped. And that's in 2WD where you're not braking much. 4WD is a whole other beast.

I love cheap Chinese knockoff RC cars. Discussion thread here:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/grassroots-rcsports-chinese-knockoff-review-edition/131481/page3/

Just like real cars, if you are gonna be cheap then you better be prepared to fix it yourself. I like my WLToys cars. The 12428 has been fun but it eats gears until you upgrade to all metal. I picked up a 144001 two years ago which already has a full metal drivetrain, it is a freaking rocket. The key to making them last is to just drive them responsibly. My son hammers his 12428 so it breaks a lot, mine is still in great shape.

If you want hammer simple the answer is usually just buy a used Traxxas Slash, but keep in a mind a brand new on is only $200 so don't overpay.