Best touring car for novice

haugbucs · #1 09-05-2006, 06:42 PM

My son (11) and I want to get TC's. We will be racing on a carpet road course most of the time. We plan to race either stock or spec class. I have been doing RC for 10 years but have no experience w/ TC's, my son has driven "basher" trucks for over a year. I want something durable, easy to get replacement parts for, and upgradable. The TC4 RTR seems like a great deal at about $250 but will I spend twice that upgrading it in 3 months to make it competitive? I've heard great things about Corally stuff and the X-ray T2, but they are pricey. Will buying a top of the line kit from the start save headaches in the long run, or is a RTR a good place to start? Any recommendations? Associated seems to have TONS of aftermarket stuff available, will finding stuff for the more exotic cars be difficult?

z-man280 · #2 09-05-2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haugbucs

My son (11) and I want to get TC's. We will be racing on a carpet road course most of the time. We plan to race either stock or spec class. I have been doing RC for 10 years but have no experience w/ TC's, my son has driven "basher" trucks for over a year. I want something durable, easy to get replacement parts for, and upgradable. The TC4 RTR seems like a great deal at about $250 but will I spend twice that upgrading it in 3 months to make it competitive? I've heard great things about Corally stuff and the X-ray T2, but they are pricey. Will buying a top of the line kit from the start save headaches in the long run, or is a RTR a good place to start? Any recommendations? Associated seems to have TONS of aftermarket stuff available, will finding stuff for the more exotic cars be difficult?

Yes, i have a few recommendations. The TC4 is a great car, and can win in its stock form. So can a 4-tec. Driver input means EVERYTHING. A first generation RS4 with a 19T can smoke a X-Ray with a 9T if the driver has no clue how to harness its power. Grab a TC4, you know you can upgrade if you need to, but run it as is, until you have tweeked EVERY last ounce of its stock potential out of it. If your LHS stocks AE, you know parts are on hand if you need them as well. I am one of the big "underdog" racers, give me a rusty to run stadium races with, and i will and have pushed it into victory lane. No one can say " well, its his truck"..nope, i drove my butt off. It sharpens my skills bigtime. When i can no longer be a threat, then its time to upgrade my vehicle.

I honestly think you will find the TC4 a very competitive car right out of the box. If you find yourself driving it to its full potential, then you can upgrade a few things. I am a firm beleiver of this: Driver skill makes up for inferior equipment. When your "bucket" can win, you know you can drive!

Best of luck to you and your son, great to see a father/son getting into racing together.

Ron

B4 Stealth · #3 09-05-2006, 07:32 PM

i would go with the tc4 factory team kit, very competitive, no need to upgrade. imo

readheat8 · #4 09-05-2006, 09:34 PM

Use or new TC3 or a TC4, I still run 2 TC3's with out a problem, RED

haugbucs · #5 09-09-2006, 08:37 PM

It's looking like associated is the way I'll be going. There are lots of TC3's available for really cheap. We can always upgrade after we get used to this style of driving. Anyone else have an opinion or suggestion? Thanks for your input.

bensb4 · #6 09-09-2006, 08:49 PM

since your racing stock or spec the trinity t spec isnt bad either and its only 100 bucks for a kit or you can buy it motor and spec batterey ready
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGVU5&P=7
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGVU6&P=7
its great from the box because its at its limits for upgrades due to spec class rules for some.you really dont need to upgrade anyway.i bought 1 b4 my tc4 and still love it.i mainly set this one up now for the outside parking lot races and the tc4 for indoor.if i had to chose both a stock box kit of either for spec class it would be close.the tc4 i only dig more is because of more available upgrades(threaded shock bodies,factory team blue stuff).

JoeMAXX · #7 09-10-2006, 07:11 PM

I have a TC-4 Team kit from when they first came out. It is a great car plenty of speed and there is not much difference between this and the RTR version other then I had to purchase my own electronics and motor to begin with.

When running carpets best tires I have found at my LHS are Trinity Plaids in the front and Purples in the rear Foams for carpet, I also run these on asphault tracks with great handling on my Mugen MTX-3.

The RTR stock motor is ok to learn to drive on and will wear out fairly quickly because of the way they are made. Electric motors in general do not last long and I do not know what your experience is with electrics. You get about a 10 to 15 runs on the brushes and should cut the COM every 20 to 30 runs depending on the brushes you use. I buy throw away motors that are not that expensive for practice motors use the Venom Fireballs and at less then $20.00 bucks a piece they do not have alot speed but great to learn to drive with.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...ll&FVPROFIL=++

I run inexpensive battery packs Epic 3000 NiMH Dreadnaughts and they seem to hold up well.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...ht&FVPROFIL=++

Robinsion Racing makes a 6 Pack of pinion gears that will be helpful and are not very expensive. You may want to make gearing changes depending on the size of the track.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...L=++&search=Go

cheerwhiner · #8 09-11-2006, 09:11 AM

if running on carpet also run the steel outdrives up front! that is about it, really just get the rtr and foams, decent batts, a good motor too. go ahead and get the steel outdrives, just one pair i never had problems in the rear just up front.

JoeMAXX · #9 09-12-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerwhiner

if running on carpet also run the steel outdrives up front! that is about it, really just get the rtr and foams, decent batts, a good motor too. go ahead and get the steel outdrives, just one pair i never had problems in the rear just up front.

I broke the front plastic outdrives on my TC-4 twice before I replaced them with Steel out drives running on asphault this is a good upgrade I have to agree. I also still run the plastics in the rear.

Seems steering hard tend to break them and hitting a wall will bust them also when coming out of a turn to fast. Of course we never come out of a turn to hot do we

tylerbac · #10 09-12-2006, 07:48 PM

First, go with what your track hobby shop supports. Then pick from one of those brands (always will have the part you need). TC 4 from associated or XXX-S from Losi (jrx is not for beginners). Both RTR are excellent. The Losi comes with a radio that you will not have to replace as quick. You can't go wrong with either one. Also, you don't need to upgrade to be competitive (especially if your track has a novice class), practice practice practice beats upgrades any day.

haugbucs · #11 09-12-2006, 09:30 PM

awesome, thanks guys for your help.

cheerwhiner · #12 09-13-2006, 10:22 AM

i learned a lot of stuff with the tc4 and now i'm looking to move up. i can't imagine not being able to get parts for it over the next say 5 years though!

highroller · #13 09-13-2006, 12:24 PM

Sometimes buying the cheaper version then hoping to upgrade isn't always the less expensive route. In the case of Associated's vehicles the price of parts to upgrade can well exceed the initial price of the Team and Full Team price.
Plus getting the race version will allow you to get used to vehicle, get to know what tuning options gets vehicle to feel more comfortable to your style of driving.

Go to Associated site and download either the parts list and Manuals for the TC3 (Race, Team and Full Team kits) as well as the TC4 versions. Compare the price locally with online sites, then the cost of parts to upgrade a racer version to either a Team or Full team version.

z-man280 · #14 09-13-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highroller

Sometimes buying the cheaper version then hoping to upgrade isn't always the less expensive route. In the case of Associated's vehicles the price of parts to upgrade can well exceed the initial price of the Team and Full Team price.
Plus getting the race version will allow you to get used to vehicle, get to know what tuning options gets vehicle to feel more comfortable to your style of driving.

Go to Associated site and download either the parts list and Manuals for the TC3 (Race, Team and Full Team kits) as well as the TC4 versions. Compare the price locally with online sites, then the cost of parts to upgrade a racer version to either a Team or Full team version.

good point.

haugbucs · #15 09-13-2006, 11:17 PM

I have built 4 electric models myself. (old RC10, MF XXXT, wild willy and emaxx from parts) I really like the idea of my son getting the satisfaction of building his own model (with my help) it gives you such a sence of accomplishment, and I feel he will respect it more if he puts the "sweat equity" into it. I'm leaning towards a FT TC4 kit, is this a difficult build? Thanks for all the help.

z-man280 · #16 09-13-2006, 11:25 PM

no more so than what you have already done....i commend you on the character you want to enstill into your son...more people should do that. all too often, parents shove them into their room with pc's game consoles, or outside..

i know you will have a great time building both cars with your son...go for it!

Ron

JoeMAXX · #17 09-13-2006, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haugbucs

I have built 4 electric models myself. (old RC10, MF XXXT, wild willy and emaxx from parts) I really like the idea of my son getting the satisfaction of building his own model (with my help) it gives you such a sence of accomplishment, and I feel he will respect it more if he puts the "sweat equity" into it. I'm leaning towards a FT TC4 kit, is this a difficult build? Thanks for all the help.

I built the Factory Team TC4 kit when they first came out and they are fairly easy to build with some experience and if you have a great patience level you and the kid can build it together. It took an experience builder such as myself about 10 hours to build. I broke it up over three evenings before I finished the kit.

When building kits I found that I get a better fit on the parts if I run the screws into the part before I assemble the parts. I also ream the end of the screw hole with a Phillips head screw driver " I use a Body reamer since I have one for putting holes in R/C bodies" and this makes it easier to put the screw in for the first time. I do not go deep but just enough to give a bevel for the screw to start easier and it helps alot.

Since you have built kits before you already know that the cheesy tools with the kit wear out before the kit is built. If you do not have them buy a good set of tools. I have Dynamite Hex tools and there are others.

As you know teaching the kid it will take much longer and you will have to keep his attention on the kit. As you may already know his attention span my last for 1 or 2 hours at 11 years old before he wants to do something else.

I have the same problem with a 14 year old can get him to do stuff for 1 or 2 hours at a time then let him move on to wherever his brain takes him.

These are just thoughts

Nitrospeeddd · #18 09-14-2006, 02:06 PM

A car that is often overlooked is the RTR Sprint 2 from HPI. Cool looking cars, and very durable. Also easy to work on, and affordable. I've personally tortured those cars over the years, played demo-derby with them, and jumped them down flights of stairs. Rock solid cars, with a good handling package. I have not tried the RTR power system, but if it's way too slow, that's easy enough to fix. Parts are still easily available, so it's no biggie if you do happen to break something.

Lastly, if this car is going to be given as a gift, the RTR's packaging is second to none, it will look awesome after the wrapping paper is torn off.