RTR or build your own?

[Bishop]

Am I the only one that thinks that RTR cars spoil half the fun???

If I buy an RC car, I want to build it myself, I had a hobby store guy tell me that the last TS4N they had was the display one, and that they would have to charge me more for it because it was built!!!
I was like you have to be kidding, some person of unknown skills has wacked this thing together and your gona charge me for that? I'd have to strip and rebuild the thing anyway to make sure it was done right.

But then I don't consider putting a car together a chore, to me it's just what you do.

[matt stepanian]

Building your own will remain the single best way to know your R/C. Sure, someone could buy an RTR, fix it from time to time, and learn about it. But there's simply no substitute for assenbling every single screw, nut, and brace. You will know everything about your R/C if you assemble it yourself. When something needs replacing, getting parts will be much easier, simply because you will know what you need, and hopping it up will become easier when you know what should receive attention. Just my opinion. :D

[Big Wig]

I'm all for building kits and I agree that building is half the fun!

When I first got back into this hobby after 14 or so years off I was shocked at all these RTR kits. When my freind bought a T-Maxx my first question was: "cool! How long did it take to build?" I immediately assumed it was a piece of junk because it came RTR,... obviously I was wrong (not that I'm a big fan of T-maxx's but I do own one).

When I got out of this hobby in the late 80's it was absolutely booming and a few years later when I stopped into a LHS that I used to frequent, it was depressing to see NO RC cars in there at all! The joint was filled with model rockets and trains :mad:

Well, things are changing and the hobby is making a major comeback,... I think RTR's have a lot to do with this so I hope they stay around (and it seems like they will). It would be very sad to see the kit as a thing of the past though,.. I hope that never happens!

just my .02

[ttweedle]

I think that RTR's are good for people that aren't sure wether they want to stay in it or just bash iT for a while then put it in a garage sale...But for anyone that is serious about the sport(Hobby), you have to build it yourself. I wouldn't be caught dead at a race with a rtr. First you look like a newbie, most of em use 27 mhz radios so if there are 2 of you chances are you might not get to race each other etc etc...

I do think it will help the sport, so go for it. I will stick to building mine though.

All the Way! Airborne!

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: travis tweedle ]

[SwedishPhish]

Kits all the way!!!! I used to feel uncomfortable bilding my cars, but now im looking forward to building my FT TC3 (almost) more than racing it. I dont think rtrs "spoil" the sport. For example, i might love kits, but the car im gettng my younger cousin will be a rtr since its his first real rc car and I know he couldnt build it himself.

[superpitstain]

yes, i had come across that decison of rtr or kit, i went with a kit, cause i like to build stuff, and knowing your car is very important for maintence etc

[Bishop]

I think that what's even more important is knowing your car is put together right, no loose screws or missaligned parts, I just don't trust any RTR of even partly built car to be spot on.

[Hairball]

I'm all for kits as well, but if you think about it, most of the *kits* nowadays arent really simple to put together compared to what they were back in the day.

They're by no means RTR, but more of a "Some assembly required" type of thing. :)

I still remember putting together my AE RC10 like 12+ years ago (the original gold tub chassis, which I still have). Now THAT was a kit.

[Bishop]

You still have your?

Drat, I wish I'd kept mine, best off road car I ever had, it was better than any of the 4wd ones I ever had.

[MtnKodiak]

Hairball said:
I'm all for kits as well, but if you think about it, most of the *kits* nowadays arent really simple to put together compared to what they were back in the day.
They're by no means RTR, but more of a "Some assembly required" type of thing.


I'm not sure what you meant by this... but my RC10GT kit was truly a KIT-- there was NOTHING assembled, and everything had to be put together from the ground up. Just a bag of screws, bolts and various parts.

--mK

[BigCatDaddy-Outlaw]

I'm glad I got a kit now. I was gonna buy a RTR, because I didn't think I would have time to put one together. I'm so happy that my LHS didn't have any on the shelf. I built it, and I've been able to take it apart and fix it when it needed to be fixed. Maybe when my wife gets hers (hoping) I'll buy her a RTR just because I now know how to fix the car when it breaks. RTRs and ARR are gonna make this hobby stay buoant for a long time. :) :D :)

[Randy]

Bishop dude i totaly agree with u. building is half maby even more than half the fun. it also alows u to build it to your own likeing. rtrs are for everybody but kits are your own personal car/truck.

besides if i build my car/truck i know it is of the highest quality. if i were to get a rtr (whick will never happen ever if hell freezes over twice) i have no clue what kind of quality is in it. i dont know if they missed tightning a screw that can cause some serious damage if i run the car/truck.

as long as i can hold tools i will be building and working my cars and trucks. and the day i cant hold the tools... well it wont matter because if i cant hold the tools i wont be able to hold the controler

[LasagnaCat]

You can go either way with this one.. The nice thing about the RTR's is that they come assembly (supposedly) *correctly*, so that when something breaks at least the owner had a chance to see it built properly.. The kit does offer them a more intimate knowledge of the construction off the bat, but it's the flip of that coin.. if they build it wrong there can be a steep (and expensive) learning curve just getting it up and running..

[oodlesonoodles2001]

OK once again, everyone is branding the RTR owner, as not having aclue what is going on inside of their car. I will tell my story again, and that s, when i was buying a new truck i went down to the LHS, and was eager to purchasea T3 Sport kit, one problem, the cheapest ESC they had was a Super Rooster! I was not going to settle with another crappy MSC, so i had no choice but to buy the RTR. I took it completely apart as soon as possible, not a screw left on the truck. I think a lot of RTR owners do this, mabey not all of them, but please dont brand the rest of us, because we dont have deep pockets.

[Pat]

as i got into the hobby about a year ago i went to the lhs and bougt a max st RTR. It was crap but thats not my point. My point is is it was a blast to take apart and clean i took everything off. But the car was problem after problem. So i sold it well a summer later i got a tmaxx and ive had it for a week and soon its gonna get REALLY dirty aand that means taking it apart to the chassi. And i think RTR's are great for the bigginner because it comes built they can see what it looks like then when they take it apart they know where every screw goes. Someday ill get a kit but i cant afford to have two cars at once. But i just hope you can see it from a newpersons point of view who has never even sen a car before. I hop i said all this how i wanted to say it :confused: :confused:

[chucksolo]

Personally, I want to build a kit about as much as I want a root canal. To me running and hopping up the cars/trucks is the fun part. Screwing in turnbuckles onto steering rods isn't exactly my idea of fun. Long live the RTR, down with kits!!!!!

[jackhammer74]

Building all the way!!
While RTRs are a more affordable way to getting into the hobby, I'm yet to see RTR kits that come with decent stuff in them,there might be one or two, I don't know,
but for the most part, the radios and chargers are usually crap, so if you get serious about the hobby, you have a ton of stuff to replace, in the end you'll be buying stuff twice.
Some folks say that RTRs are good cause they give the option to see if you like the hobby
If you want to do that, go to Toys r' Us and get a Tyco or Nikko R/C vehicle for a lot less money, try it out, see if it's your thing, if it is than go ahead and get a serious kit.
But you don't want to be "bashing" around in a $200 TC3 rtr kit. Or I don't know maybe you do, and you got the money to waste.
What I'm saying is find out if you like the hobby first, and then shell out $200 plus
It might take you longer to get started but in the end you'll save yourself money, if you get decent stuff to race with, from the get go.
That's just my opinion.

[jetfan]

Building is the bast part.The only reason LHS's love thr rtr's is because when something breaks and the person comes in scratching their head they will fix it for a price.Then they make money on parts and labor.I wont buy it if its built.NEVER!!! :D

[Pat]

lol

[jeepinator]

That is pretty funny. I agree on the trunbuckle part, but the rest is fun.