Anyone into RC cars?

SEE ARE125
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SEE ARE125
Edited Date/Time 12/3/2013 9:55pm
Thinking about getting my 7 year old one for Christmas. He's had a few $59 Wal-Mart ones, but a few months ago on a camping trip, he saw another kid with a nitro T-Maxx. All he talked about was how awesome it was. Anyway, after watching those kids and seeing them at the SX races, they look pretty indestructible.

His use will be in grass and dirt, probably jumping dirt mounds or ramps I'm sure he'll make, climbing small sticks, rocks, and maybe a little mud. Possibly some snow if we get some. Might even take him to the track(it's a scaled down dirt SX track) to play, but nothing serious. Yet, anyway.

My question is, which way would you go? Nitro or electric? Pros/cons of each? I'm kinda looking at a Traxxas Nitro Stampede, but open to suggestions. It's a Level 2, and one of Traxxas' cheaper nitro models, so I'm not out a lot of coin if he's not really into it. Although I suspect if he doesn't play with it, I will. Smile The reason I'm leaning toward nitro is longer run time as opposed to a few minutes play then waiting for batteries to re-charge. Just re-fuel it and keep going. However if it's going to be a maintenance nightmare, I'd assume go electric and get a couple extra batteries. Just curious how the two compare, and any other suggestions you may have. This will be his first "real" RC car, so not wanting anything crazy fast or expensive. 30-40mph would be plenty. Thanks!
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lostboy819
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lostboy819 12/2/2013 12:25pm
12/2/2013 12:25pm Edited Date/Time 12/2/2013 12:29pm
I have 3 traxxas nitro slayer pro 4x4s that the boys and I drive and a Traxxas nitro rustler. I got the Traxxas because they have been pretty indestructible and I like to be able to just pull up and refuel and go again. The Traxxas EZ start makes it simple to fire them up. They are not made for racing so don't let anyone try to compare them to race RCs. Nitro is not as clean as electric but they sound super cool. The last time at the track we drove for about 2 hours non stop and never shut them off.

I have raced electric RCs in the past with everything from RC10s to losi and they all are great but now we just play and drive on a track and Traxxas fits the bill on that. Nitro is about $27 a gallon here and it lasts quite a while. The Slayer pro 4x4s are kind of pricey but they are worth the money in fun factor and are based off the REVO so they are built tough.



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newmann 12/2/2013 12:52pm
12/2/2013 12:52pm
The Traxxas Slash ruined us on RC cars. Like you, we thought they were pretty indestructible after seeing them at the SX races. How wrong we were. Shortly after all our initial parts breakage issues the brain in ours died. Sold about $600.00-700.00 worth of stuff for $175.00 and moved on. Probably less than 5 hours total time on the pile of shit.

http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Traxxas-RC-cars-junkity-j…
SEE ARE125
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SEE ARE125 12/2/2013 1:28pm
12/2/2013 1:28pm
Thanks for the input guys. I have 0 experience with them. All I know is the $59 cheapies won't make it off the concrete driveway. I'm open to other brands as well, but not really looking for a race machine. Just something that will actually go in grass and dirt, is fast but not too fast, decently reliable and has a good run time. Not looking to spend a lot since this is his first one, and that includes spending time fixing it. lol
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FGR01 12/2/2013 2:16pm
12/2/2013 2:16pm
If you plan to let your kid rip up and down the street in the neighborhood get electric. Nitro annoys the hell out of the neighbors unless they are a bunch of cool motorheads.

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lostboy819
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lostboy819 12/2/2013 3:19pm
12/2/2013 3:19pm
FGR01 wrote:
If you plan to let your kid rip up and down the street in the neighborhood get electric. Nitro annoys the hell out of the neighbors...
If you plan to let your kid rip up and down the street in the neighborhood get electric. Nitro annoys the hell out of the neighbors unless they are a bunch of cool motorheads.
X2...... I also have a Traxxas Ken Block brush less rally car. It has been taking a beating and keeps on running and because its electric I can drive it in the street without making any noise.
TX24
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TX24 12/2/2013 4:39pm
12/2/2013 4:39pm
Those Slayers with a brushless motor sounds like it would be pretty cool. Some are as fast as the nitros. The big trucks electric would not be as fast as the nitros. Stay away from the nitro starter boxes unless you are really into it.
Riding dirt bikes once a week seems effortless, compared to trying to get into RC off road racing for me.
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mx757 12/2/2013 10:47pm
12/2/2013 10:47pm
Check into an associated SC10 if you want to go into them, get a set of RPM arms, and some RPM ball ends and you should be good to go.
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dsmith 12/3/2013 5:05am
12/3/2013 5:05am
go with electric....less troubles and cleaner...get him a Tamiya grasshopper.
lostboy819
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lostboy819 12/3/2013 6:11am
12/3/2013 6:11am
dsmith wrote:
go with electric....less troubles and cleaner...get him a Tamiya grasshopper.
That was my first real RC car, but of course that was in 1985.
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FLmxer 12/3/2013 8:26am
12/3/2013 8:26am
Nitro is obsolete now with the lipo batteries. you can turn down the power for kids on the remote on most of these. The traxxas can not make it around a track with out flipping but the losi scte never flips and soaks up any bumps. I have put every upgrade possible on the traxxas and it is no where close to a stock losi scte. Its the difference between a factory bike and a z50. Both fun but one can handle everything. here is an old video it changes at the 2.45 mark. I have 2 traxxas and 2 losi and the traxxas is not even close.
SEE ARE125
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SEE ARE125 12/3/2013 8:40am
12/3/2013 8:40am
What's the run time on electric? 20 mins or so? I really like the ability to fuel up and just keep going, but the 2WD Electric Slash with the Rob MacCachren body looks sweet and only $249($100 less than nitro). Also has a "Training Mode" that I don't think the Nitros have.
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4stroke4DWIN 12/3/2013 8:40am
12/3/2013 8:40am
dsmith wrote:
go with electric....less troubles and cleaner...get him a Tamiya grasshopper.
Damn i'm old, you went way back in the vault for that one, they still make them?

Traxxas Slashes are just fine, all the SC10 ball sucking is gross lol. Before you get all bitchy I own both and have raced both and prefer the slash. They are all breakable period.

If you want to annoy the neighbors buy and 1/8th scale buggyWink
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FLmxer 12/3/2013 8:58am
12/3/2013 8:58am
Nitro can also be finicky with jetting. ok one minute and wont start the next. Loud as hell and smoke out the place. Most tracks do not allow nitro anymore. We used to all run nitro and what a pain they usually are. We had 7 of same ofna's and no 2 ran alike and we never could keep them all running. Sometimes they ran fine. Electric is always ready to go and just better in every way. Losi scte blows the rest away, trainer mode on most lipo vehicles.
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FLmxer 12/3/2013 9:08am
12/3/2013 9:08am
A traxxas can not make it around my little track with the best suspension they make with out rolling every other lap. we still try every combination but it is hopeless. Cant even roll the scte bone stock. It soaks up everything. traxxas seems to be the most known brand but the worst handling one of the class by far. Great on road but horrible offroad compared to the others. It is ok for a beginner but if your buddy has one of the others you will be hating yours. Argue this all you want but it is a well known fact. Don't get me wrong traxxas started it all with the lipo stadium trucks but were soon passed up by all the competitors. I wish they would get it right because they support moto.
SEE ARE125
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SEE ARE125 12/3/2013 9:12am
12/3/2013 9:12am
Yeah I'm leaning toward electric now. I think just the standard Slash would be fine for him as his first one, and it allows him to upgrade to a brushless motor and LiPo batteries later on. I just don't want to have a large initial investment just to find out he's not really into it. I think for $249 what the heck. Still curious on run time and charge time?
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FLmxer 12/3/2013 10:20am
12/3/2013 10:20am
The slower you charge the longer it will run. But if you are geared right it keeps temp down and just pop another battery in and keep on running. You can charge a bat in 20 minute's and run as long. The Traxxas $249 will be great for him. Just so you know a 4x4 is ten times easier to control. The front end of 2wd 's pops up on the gas or on bumps and no steering and takes some finess but a 4x4 is always clawing to the ground and so much easier to control. Just a thought.
SEE ARE125
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SEE ARE125 12/3/2013 10:46am
12/3/2013 10:46am
So 2 batteries and he can run all day? When one dies the other should be charged? Sounds awesome. I didn't know they charged that fast. Good point about the 4x4, don't want him to get frustrated because he can't control it, but going to a 4x4 the price jumps to $429(has a different motor and some other goodies best I can tell) and I can't justify it unless I KNOW he'll be into it. If I knew if he'd like it I wouldn't hesitate to spring for a more expensive car. Just testing the waters right now.
lostboy819
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lostboy819 12/3/2013 11:03am
12/3/2013 11:03am
SEE ARE125 wrote:
So 2 batteries and he can run all day? When one dies the other should be charged? Sounds awesome. I didn't know they charged that fast...
So 2 batteries and he can run all day? When one dies the other should be charged? Sounds awesome. I didn't know they charged that fast. Good point about the 4x4, don't want him to get frustrated because he can't control it, but going to a 4x4 the price jumps to $429(has a different motor and some other goodies best I can tell) and I can't justify it unless I KNOW he'll be into it. If I knew if he'd like it I wouldn't hesitate to spring for a more expensive car. Just testing the waters right now.
Get a 4x4 a 2 wheel drive is tough to drive on dirt and a 4x4 pulls the front end straight. Only time we drive the 2 wheel drive is on pavement or perfect traction dirt. I have had several brands of nitro and Traxxas is the only one that was consistent for running. I have 3 nitro slayers with the 3.3 engines and its been set it and forget it. Again they are not race trucks so the guys comparing them to race set ups are comparing apples and oranges and they do make noise but not any worse than a weed whacker but they are messy compared to electric. Batteries are the big expense with electric but once you have 3 or 4 you will be set.

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FLmxer 12/3/2013 11:23am
12/3/2013 11:23am Edited Date/Time 12/3/2013 11:35am
SEE ARE125 wrote:
So 2 batteries and he can run all day? When one dies the other should be charged? Sounds awesome. I didn't know they charged that fast...
So 2 batteries and he can run all day? When one dies the other should be charged? Sounds awesome. I didn't know they charged that fast. Good point about the 4x4, don't want him to get frustrated because he can't control it, but going to a 4x4 the price jumps to $429(has a different motor and some other goodies best I can tell) and I can't justify it unless I KNOW he'll be into it. If I knew if he'd like it I wouldn't hesitate to spring for a more expensive car. Just testing the waters right now.
Once you start driving his you will want one too. Its fun dicing it up with others. It will also teach him how to work on cars and learn vehicle basics. They look complicated but they are so easy to work on and they are very durable for sure these days. You can get 4 batts for 100 online. The transmitters allow you to turn the power down on most as well to help with beginners.
SEE ARE125
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SEE ARE125 12/3/2013 11:43am
12/3/2013 11:43am
Yeah I'm thinking of going with a 4WD now. Damn you guys are good at spending my money. Laughing
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peelout 12/3/2013 1:06pm
12/3/2013 1:06pm Edited Date/Time 12/3/2013 1:19pm
FGR01 wrote:
If you plan to let your kid rip up and down the street in the neighborhood get electric. Nitro annoys the hell out of the neighbors...
If you plan to let your kid rip up and down the street in the neighborhood get electric. Nitro annoys the hell out of the neighbors unless they are a bunch of cool motorheads.
yep.

i'm a moto-head but my neighbor 4 houses down runs his on the weekends and it drives me fuckin' nuts.

it actually reminds me of the little guys going up and down the pits on their Cobra 50's, "WAHNT WAHNT WAAAHNT WAHNT"


ps... i have a Nitro Ofna Buggy that i will sell the first person with $50 (plus shipping). yes i am serious. no controller, no body. just the chassis motor tranny everything works (worked the last time i messed with it 3 years ago). i thought about getting back into it but if i do i'll be going electric.

ppss.... the slash is very fun, my dad bough his grandson one (4wd) for his 7th birthday and he loves driving it
lostboy819
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lostboy819 12/3/2013 3:01pm
12/3/2013 3:01pm
SEE ARE125 wrote:
Yeah I'm thinking of going with a 4WD now. Damn you guys are good at spending my money. Laughing
If you think its a cheap sport you will have a rude awaking Wink . I have about $1500.00 tied up in just my 3 play trucks and when I was racing I had 3 times that in cars battery's chargers parts etc etc. Now that I just drive for fun with my two boys I dont spend much other than nitro and a part here and there when we hit something too hard but the fun factor is well worth it. If you can keep a 2 stroke MX running you can do nitro but electric is much less work and clean and quite.
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crashomatic 12/3/2013 3:25pm
12/3/2013 3:25pm
For a 7 year old I"d go electric. He'll be able to play with it on his own rather than need constant supervision with it. Work into the Nitro once he shows he can take care of the electric.
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mx757 12/3/2013 3:27pm
12/3/2013 3:27pm
Im a pretty casual RC racer at this point, but I still have way way too much $ consumed in the stuff. My current car list includes:
1) Associated RC10 B4.1 Buggy
2) Associated SC10 2wd Short Course truck
3) Team Durango DEX210 Buggy
4) Team Durango DESC210 2wd Short Course
5) Kyosho Inferno VE Electric 1/8 buggy
6) Kyosho Inferno Neo 1/8 nitro buggy

The good news is that a lot of the cars from the same brand will accept the same parts. Id guess in cars and parts I probably have enough $ spent to go buy another full size race car haha
GoldenState54 12/3/2013 6:30pm
12/3/2013 6:30pm
I bought a Traxxas Stampede 4X4 VXL about a month and a half ago and been beating the shit out of it ever since$$$
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dsmith 12/3/2013 9:55pm
12/3/2013 9:55pm
dsmith wrote:
go with electric....less troubles and cleaner...get him a Tamiya grasshopper.
4stroke4DWIN wrote:
Damn i'm old, you went way back in the vault for that one, they still make them? Traxxas Slashes are just fine, all the SC10 ball...
Damn i'm old, you went way back in the vault for that one, they still make them?

Traxxas Slashes are just fine, all the SC10 ball sucking is gross lol. Before you get all bitchy I own both and have raced both and prefer the slash. They are all breakable period.

If you want to annoy the neighbors buy and 1/8th scale buggyWink
F ya man.... hornet, sand scorcher,etc...
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