[ericshoward1973]

I bet you hate guys like me on here…oh well.
Through a friend, I started hanging out with some guys who are somewhat hardcore about RC’s. Well, I would like to get one so I can race around with them.
I don’t want anything too fancy, but I would like something that could kind of keep of with them…LOL. They build all of their cars and I would like one to build.
So, basically I am asking for some advice on what to get, where to get it.
Again, nothing too complicated, but something that would be kind of ‘cool’ to guys who do this kind of thing…
Thanks in advance.

Eric
San Diego

[wyattburp]

What kind of RC do they race with? Buggy, monster truck or stadium truck? Should I assume electric?

For stadium trucks or buggies, I personally like the Associated RC10 line of vehicles (b4 = buggy, t4=truck). Make sure to get the Factory Team editions for either model. Team Losi also makes excellent buggies and stadium trucks, though I've haven't personally owned one, just played with them.

For Monster trucks, the E-maxx seems to be the popular choice. (E-maxx comes pre-assembled). There are others, but I'm not big (yet) on the whole monster truck scene..

I run an rc10t4 and love it. I'm thinking about getting en E-maxx to bash around though..I seem to find them pretty cheap, used...

[gizmoguy303]

If they race (as in racing on a prepared RC track), just buy a car that can be raced in the same class that they race in. Better yet, buy the same car they have. That way you'll have support and setup tips from your friends.

[Innovator]

What gizmoguy said...Buy the same car they have. My friend and I have recently gotten into RC cars (Stadium trucks actually) and we now have several T4s we are running. I have two and he has three. The great thing about this is that we are comparing setups all the time and learning from each other a lot more than we would be learning on our own in the same time.

[one]

A Revo with a .21 on it doesn't care what they race

[TBone77]

We do need more information from you before we can really help. Like the others said, we specifically need to know what your friends are running.

- Electric or nitro?
- On-road or off-road?
- Race, bash, or both?

That said, I don't agree with wyattburp in that you need the Factory Team line if you go with an RC10 platform (RC10B4 = buggy, RC10T4 = truck). The Factory Team versions run considerably more than their "Team" counterparts, and most of the upgrades are either for appearances only or to shave fractions of a gram of weight off the vehicle. Unless you're a super-skilled competitive racer, this really isn't going to make any kind of difference to you and that money is better saved or spent on quality tools, charger, etc. I personally have a Factory Team B4, and while I really like the buggy itself, I wish I had just purchased the Team kit and spent the saved $$$ on other items. Once the bling novelty wears off, the FT is for champions only. Since you're a newcomer to the hobby, I'm sure you're not going to notice the difference between plastic servo mounts and blue anodized aluminum servo mounts.

Now, since you're new to the hobby - and I'm assuming here that we're talking 1/10th electric - you might want to consider a stadium truck. The RC10T4 or XXX-T are both fine trucks and will suit you well. I have the XXX-T and it's my favorite car. It's a breeze to drive, it was fun to build, and working on it is a cinch.

In your specific situation though, you'd probably be best to buy whatever your buddies are running... that way they can help you out with building, maintenance, setups, etc.

Have fun and let us know what you decide!

[wyattburp]

This always seems to come up...the argument of which is bettern Team edition or Factory Team.... With the cost analysis I did before making my T4 purchase, it made more sense for me to go with the FT. I guess it just depends on what you want, regardless of whether you are a champion (racer is more like it, not everyone who owns a FT is a champion) or a newcomer to the sport.

I say, if you have the money, why not go with the FT. If you get the Team edition, and decide to upgrade later, you will spend more money in the long run getting all those carbon parts, etc...the FT is only $40 or so more than the Team edition..not really a lot of money when you consider you could drop more than that on a battery pack!

Anyways...back on topic...

[TBone77]

Originally Posted by wyattburp

This always seems to come up...the argument of which is bettern Team edition or Factory Team....

Well, strictly speaking, there's no debate... the FT is "better". The question is whether or not it's necessary given an individual's situation. For someone who just wants to run around with his buddies and has never owned an R/C, I think it's safe to say it's not necessary.

Originally Posted by wyattburp

not everyone who owns a FT is a champion

Exactly Factory Team options, regardless of how good of a deal they are, will not make you a champion. Unless you're racing at a very high level, there not going to make or break your lap times, either. JMHO

Originally Posted by wyattburp

If you get the Team edition, and decide to upgrade later, you will spend more money in the long run getting all those carbon parts, etc...the FT is only $40 or so more than the Team edition..

True... the FT is a great deal when you consider the cost of buying the parts individually. But, the Team version is more forgiving to a beginner than the FT, and buying replacement parts will be cheaper, too. Again, the cost issue must be taken into account. If you're slamming into walls and such, not only are you not skilled enough to take advantage of the FT options, you're going to be spending more money on more expensive parts as you break them.

I'm going to go out on a limb and make a blanket statement: No beginner should EVER buy the FT kit unless they have reason to believe that there's an R/C prodigy deep inside them just waiting to burst out. $40 is a good deal for the FT options, but only if they'll benefit you. Otherwise it's a waste of $40.

Originally Posted by wyattburp

not really a lot of money when you consider you could drop more than that on a battery pack!

... and with the money you save by buying the Team kit, you can buy an extra pack!

This is all tongue-in-cheek, of course

I'm not knocking the FT - I have one - I just don't think it's a wise investment for a beginner.

[Kronic]

is it on or off road?

for on road are they running touring, oval, or pan?
for a beginner i would say for touring go with a associated tc3, for oval go with the assoc. rc10l3 oval, and for pan go with the assoc. rc10l3 touring.

for off road are they running stadium truck, buggie, or monster truck?
for a beginner i would say for stadium go with the electric xtm x-cellerator, for buggie go with the assoc. rc10b4, and for monster truck go with the e-maxx.

these are all electric cars and trucks because for a beginner you shouldnt really jump right into nitro (unless you've done your homework well ) because electric is alot easier than nitro and less expensive.