thinking of buying a radio controlled car just to have a thrash around the local super market car parks and the workhop at work so not after something to break world records. there's so many different ones to look at it's given me a headache!

don't really wanna spend more than £200 and i'd like to build it myself but most of the nitro cars i've seen are ready to run and to me that just takes the fun out of it!

so in short

£200 to spend (less would be nice!)

needs to be a full kit (radio gear etc)

needs to be a proper car and not a off road monster thingy!

am i wanting a bit much for my money in nitro? would i be better off going for battery powered?

only reason i'm thinking nitro is i had battery powered a few years back and they lasted all of 10 minutes before the battery needed charging for 14 hours again!

thanks in advance

used to be in to them a couple of years back but gave up racing when i started my avon. if you want a good ic car then you would'nt go far wrong with a mugen msx3.

my first race truck below
Rescued attachment PIC10185small.jpg

it will cost £200 each time you hit something and break it

i bought a full kit for £250 inc radio gear but it must of cost me another £250 in upgrade bits every time i break it

[Edited on 27/12/06 by graememk]

I use to do these, tremendous fun. I know you just want to run it in a car park but have a look around they may be a race track nearby for them. Aberdeen’s lucky in having two, one for i/c & one for electric.

There really is nothing better than racing other cars round a track

If you get one make sure it has at least 10mm ground clearance (a change of wheels might do the trick) other wise you will have to clean the whole car park of small stones...!!

One way to spot a good machine is the type of links as they should be adjustable rose joints, and make sure the dampers ARE hydraulic and not friction rubbish. Best to go for a belt drive with 4x4 and an alloy two level chassis. Buy some magazines to get a feel.

Do not I repeat do not buy a car just cos you like the body! They are cheap plastic mouldings and car shape be changed to what ever you want for about £10 total. You can even make your own; I made the movie batmoble which looked awesome!!

Concentrate on the chassis and running gear and try to get a 40 MHz radio rather than 27 MHz as they only have a very limited number of different frequencies.

A fast charger can have you up and running again in ten minutes, you also won't be popular if you run a smokey i/c car in a work shop plus i/c is to fast for indoors, you will just slam into the wall. Sounds like and electric car would be best, buy 2 battery packs at 2500mhrs and charge one while running the other then you only have to wait a few minutes before going again.

Oh another huge reply, do I get a prize??

[Edited on 27/12/06 by macnab]

I know you say you don't want a Truck.. but I think thats what i'd go for if I chose again..

As said before the Ground clearances on the Touring cars are just too small, even the slightest stone or imperfection in the surface has you darting off in the opposite direction!

Infact even some the white lines are a bit too thick in out local Ikea car park!

I've got a HPI Nitro RS4 ..2 but they now come all built up with those stupid gun type controlers!

If your limited to such a budget i'd buy things in stages when you've saved up the money.. because things like good radio gear are worth investing in mabe even go for more channels incase you ever get a plane or a helicopter!.

As for running times the Nitro's probably run for longer but should you run out of fuel they can be a bugger to re-start when there hot!... and they still need lots of batteries if not more!

8 for the controler... and 4 for the servo's in the car

If you don't want a monster truck or stadium truck, then make sure you actualy have somewhere to use the car, bearing in mind they are noisy and smelly. Electrics are more versatile in this repsect.

ok so from what i've read so far i'm getting more tempted to go for battery powered.

any recomendations? tamiya seems to be the only company with any real range of kits and everywhere online seems to have spare parts!

there's a track not so far from here up in ashby so when i figure out how to make them go in the right direction and stop embarrasing myself i'll have somewhere to go

i got an electric monster truck for crimbo, but i feel it lacks power. Obviously you can get different motors and batteries, but im thinking nitro would be a good way to get more power and avoid recharges. I wouldnt want a normal type of car, nowhere to use it. Ive had mine up and down stairs, doing double forward rolls down the garden. Great fun!

I bought 2 Tamiya Baja buggys from ebay for xmas for bro-in-law and sisters little boy.

Came with all the gubbins, 2 batteries and a 1 hour charger. Each battery lasts about 15 mins.

The buggies are 4wd, tough and fast and great fun and need a good few hours to build.

£105 a go for everything.

Pat.

quote - 'good radio gear are worth investing in maybe even go for more channels in case you ever get a plane or a helicopter!'

please remember people that aircraft the cars are NOT to be on the same frequency i.e. 40 for land 35 for air. Only exception is the 27mhz band which does both. You can get them modified later but at a cost. Very expensive gear either comes which interchangeable frequency modules or can produce any frequency (very expensive).

Would not be the first time this has caused a plane to crash.