Elec. vs Gas.

[athowells]

You proberly get this question alot. I have been doing electric for over an year. What is stoping from getting nitro is that the chassis is scratched to the **** house. If Ii was getting electric I would be getting the Losi XXX-T and if I was getting the nitro I would get the Associated RC10GT or HPI Nitro Rush. Which is better gas or electric?????????

[jmglenn]

This debate is as old as man...
...I love and mainly stick to nitro
Nitro takess more patence but it's all worth it
get the rush

[gubbs3]

As far as money goes electric is cheaper to start out with the basics but to seriously race, gas is much cheaper. You'll never have to buy those $70 packs and $50 motors. With just one battery and motor you have the price of an engine that will last a year. I'd like to see an electric motor last a year.

[Rustler]

I have a P2k that have run every weekend for the last 1 1/2 years!! Only changed the brushes twice!!!!!!

[Tiggs1]

I started out electric, but am a Nitro junkie now :D

[atm92484]

I started with nitro then got an electric car to mess around with. Electrics are A LOT less maintaince but nothing beats the power and sound of nitro. I did hate cleaning nitro goo off of the blue on my FT GT. :D With electric you can just brush all the dirt off since there is no oil or grime to worry about.

Like someone said electrics are cheaper to start with but to race nitro is cheaper. If you do want to race electric I'd suggest you enter a stock class since you won't need the more expensive stuff and it will keep the cost to compete down.

[ZenLosi]

My advice would be: if you have to ask this question, get an electric first. IMHO, Nitro's on the next level.

-Zen

[VenomRS4]

Why dont you just get a couple nitro vehicles and a couple electric vehicles. You can decide what kind you want to stay with after you get the experience of both nitro and electric.

[VenomRS4]

Get the RC10GT if you want a nitro and a RC10T3 for a electric.

[Railman]

Gassers are easier to operate now than they have ever been by a long shot. The engines trucks/cars, & equipment have improved dramatically. However it's just not for everyone. I see mostly older, experienced ex electric guys in the gas classes & more of an age mix in the electric classes. There is no substitute for the sound of a gasser in my opinion. It's like comparing a good firecracker lifting a 5 gallon bucket 70' ft in the air verses throwing it that high. Both get the job done, but it's just not the same! I think it's fair to say that it takes more mechanical skills & patience to run gassers though. I would recomend running electric untill you have it down pat. Just my $.02

[roadrage]

I started with nitro and than got an electric to mess with and loved it. Clean, quiet, and quick. My electric tamiya f103 beat my friends nitro rs4 in a drag race. I had more accel and top speed. Plus, my car cost half and much as his. With nitro, you can't street race on your street and night unless you want to get shot at.

You should get what you want. I just think electric is more fun, but my friends love their nitros. I just don't see how they are fun because they are always repairing them. Stripping gears, burning clutchs, so many things can go wronge. Get what you like. That's what I told my friend when he got his nitro. He loves it and I love electric, it realy depends on the person you are. Nitro also scares me because im always scared my tuning will be off and damage the engine. Replacement parts are expensive compared to electric motors. And nitro costs a lot to make it go fast as an electric.(tuned exhuast system can cost you $50 or more. 2 speed can cost you $50. A good header can cost you $20)It all adds up. But once you get them to that speed, it's cheap to keep them there. With electric, all you have to worry about is your motor. If you realy want to race, you can have a backup motor. It's expensive to have a backup engine. I never got to drag race my friends because their cars are always out of service, or maybe they are just scared to race my electric :D
Remember, get what YOU like. :D

[ 08-12-2001: Message edited by: roadrage ]

[R/C Homie]

I started with electric about a year ago had a tamiya TL-01 it was awsome. Then about 6 monthes ago after owning about 4 electric cars and truck i got into nitro. I love nitro and its very fun when its runnin good. I also love elctric, there both fun. No matter what anyone says, you can start in nitro first, but i would never suggest it to somone. I'll always tell a newbie to start with electric. So i hope this helped and I hope you like the hobby which i have not met somone who hasent. So have fun and choose what ur heart desires hehe

[DirtRacinFool]

Batteries are for Flashlights! I'll stick with, and take Nitro any day over electrics.

[outsider]

Hmmm, I'd like to see your nitro run with out ANY batteries... heh

[DirtRacinFool]

Touche' LOL :p :rolleyes:

[nitrodriver]

I've had both electric and nitro, and i like electric better. Electrics are much easier to clean. You dont have to yank on a pull starter to get it running, you just connect the batteries, flip a switch and your off.
Everybody is saying that electrics cost more to start off with. Well, it cost $400 to get my RTR GT running, and it cost $400 to get my RC10L3 running...

[StephenB]

Too funny...the question comes up at least once a month.

While some people say all they have to do is plug up the batteries & go, don't forget that you get all of 5 minutes on a pack and there's lots of down time...then it's time to recharge, peak & rest the cells, switch packs, change brushes, cut the comm, let the engine cool, clean out the motor with motor spray, AND still live with 4 minute mains.

Once you've run a 15, 30, or 60 minute main with pit stops, refueling, tons of power and smoke, and non-stop action that you can't get with batteries, you'll never go back to electric. Just my opinion of course :p

[Jace2000]

Nicely put StephenB..
I have cerial with nitro in the morning :D

[ 08-12-2001: Message edited by: Jace2000 ]

[TRXboy]

Ok just to tell you guys, to start racing nitro competivly and electric competivly, electric is hella more, lets see...3 2400 packs, 2 $60 chargers...adds up pretty damn quick.

[jeepinator]

Also don't forget that electric powered RC vehicles dominate every extreme, such as:
1) Scale 1/4 mile is utterly OWNED by electric
2) Top speed (as reported by RCCA and others)
3) Insane speed run

And the not-so-extreme:
I have reviewed the qualifying lap times in many publications and at a local track. In any class where you can do either (1/10 scale truck), the lap times and qualifying times are usually faster for electric.

I have a decked out GT. I like running it. Mine runs quite well cause I know what I am doing. If you don't, god be with you, because you will go through hell keeping it running. I know, I was there (was in the 1/10 scale nitro scene 10 years ago).
I just can't help but wear a sinister smirk when watching half the people at the pit tables spending hours and hours tugging away at their little toy pull starters. They all seem to be missing teeth for some reason. Must be more than a coincidence :p

Buy the fastest, go electric ! http://www.theshreves.com/pics/smiley/uhoh3.gif

[athowells]

Everyone keeps saying if you are a newbie go electric. I have been using electrics for about 2 years. What is stoping from nitros is a few things (eg; air filters, noise, chassis when it comes to jumping alot, etc.). Electrics a like because you can run it anywhere, anytime. ;)

[roadrage]

Electric is much more quicker than nitro. I don't know where these people come up with nitro is faster because it isn't. And whats this electric costs more when you get professional? They sell nitro CHASSIS for 600 bucks. A CHASSIS!! Nitro cars for over 1000 dollars. If you know what your doing, electric will be cheaper. Sure there are batterys for 100 bucks a pack. But do you NEED them? They will only make your car perform %.01 better. And most of the time your just paying for the name "trinity" I've seen packs that work just as go as the 100 dollar trinity for 50 bucks! And nitro, constantly breaks down. You say you like to see a motor last a year, my friends spend more than I bought my car for on repairing their nitros. (clutch, headers, gears, 2speed) A lot can break on a nitro. couple weeks ago plastic got cought and melted in his 2 speed. Nitros got the smoke, sound, and wasted power and if you want to pay the price of all the problems, go for it.
(Nitros are for airplanes)

[kkd]

You people are funny... :rolleyes:

I've got a .21 T maxx (LOVE IT)....

A 4-tec that comes close to 60 mph (hopped up)...

An rc10GT with an OS CVX hyper .15 that FLIES compared to my buddies XXX Losi... (He was down more than he ran... Gotta charge them batts.. LOL, while I got bored after an HOUR of running around waiting for him yesterday)...

Just picked up an OFNA MBX with .21 P4 and it FLIES!!!!! 1/8ths RULE!!!!..

No questions here, (especially if its an OS engine, they purr like kittens...LOL)...

If you're new, get an RTR nitro kit and play and have fun, thats what its about..

As for the 'electrics' that will smoke anyone, sure for the first 'little' bit, but its funny watching after the first few minutes when they start to 'slow' down because of drain...LOL....

I just love going to NASCAR races and hearing those electrics, same with my dirtbike, snowmobile, jetski...LOL

My .02

[roadrage]

Nascar races you hear a ROAR. With your gas car you hear it whine. I would rather have a quiet electric car than listen to something whine all day. You might as well talk to a girl with pms.

[ 08-13-2001: Message edited by: roadrage ]

[Railman]

I've naever heard a NITRO car whine..thats for electrics & electric drivers! :p
It's a Jeckle & Hyde thing for me though as I also run electric. :D

[ronb]

I'd like to make one point that I haven't seen why newbies shouldn't start with gas - it frustrates the hell out of experience gas racers when they get creamed by a newbie that can't handle the power. Someone says electric maybe quicker, but they don't have near the top speed (in normal racing) as gas. I've seen newbies running gas at our parking lot track and they tear the hell out of the inner barriers. I can imagine the frustration with the experienced drivers that DO know how to handle them, but get shotput at the end of the straight from a newbie that don't know when to slow down.

[jeepinator]

Just to clear things up a bit ... the teeth stuff was a joke. I was just trying for some (very) dry humor :p

[TCorzett]

I've been into eletric cars for almost 13 years now. I'd have to say, from experience, that it's more suited for the beginners. There are fewer things that can go wrong, and tends to be less expensive to get into. I built the origonal RC10 back in the day, and never had problems with the motors and batteries and such (nitro can be a bit trickey here). Now I race 1/10th eletric TCs, and I can say it is WAY MORE EXPENSIVE than nitro. When you have to keep your car at peak performance, there are many more things needed for eletrics. It's not only the cost of the motors and batteries, but the things to care for them (chargers, dischargers, cyclers, lathes, dynos, etc...)

I was hesitant to get a nitro car for quite a while, just the tuning of a nitro engine scared me a little. I purchased a 1/8th buggie (Kyosho MP6 w/0.21) and I have to say that Nitro isn't as scary as I though. It is, however, a little more work than electrics to get started (breakin, tuning, etc.). Once the car is up and running though, it works great!

I went to practice this weekend, and made a weird observation too... Where Nitro might be faster (under "stock" setups) on straights, eletric can be faster through the turns. I was driving with a bunch of nitro cars, and kept passing them in the infield, just to have them pass on the straights. So "speed" is very close between stock nitro and eletric.

Personally, I prefer eletric. Nitro is great for raw power, but I like the sound of eletric cars more. It was great, once all the nitro guys cleared off the track, to listen to the wirl of the engine and the squeel of the tires... something you miss with nitro... however I must say... the smell of nitro rocks! (expecially when mixed with Paragon/oil of wintergreen --- all that's missing is gun powder!!).

I think the debate over gas vs. eletric will go on forever -- and for anyone who wants to know the answer -- buy both, and see for yourself!

-Todd...

[primuswoostinkinhoo]

my first hobby grade rc was a max st(Gas of course) and i had alot of fun with it broke alot tho and after a few months was broke and was out of the hobby for awhile alog comes febuary and i got some money again i get a tc3 then a b3 then i start racing see the gas trucks race and i go out the next day and get a xxxnt. i know race twice aweek gas and electric. id say i spend not so much on either one anymore ive got 4 or 5 electric motors so im set there i got 3 good race packs, good there. on the nitro side i just buy gallons of fule pretty much, new balls cups now and then. the only real exspense is tires for both vehicles(i lost the tc3 i only race offroad now) cause i run on the street sometiems and wear them out. from my expierence they cost around the same as long as u have them set up good and dont hit alot of things

[roadrage]

you must be running a 4 stroke man becuase 2 strokes whine like babys!! babys with pms!! haha i dont know whats gotten into me today :D

[ofna_Kdog]

If you're asking this question...then you should start out with electric. I feel that all racers should start out racing electric to learn the RC basics. I've known some people who jump right to nitro...and they fail horribly. Get electric first, learn to respect RC and to drive...then when you feel you're bored go nitro!

FACT:Nitro has more maintenance and requires much more knowledge..so if you're stupid and can't see yourself understanding what a piston and sleeve is, dont' bother! haha that's all.

[ofna_Kdog]

OUTSIDER:"Hmmm, I'd like to see your nitro run with out ANY batteries... heh "

I put an alternator on my car.

[caw18]

I have run eletric for quite a few year now, and at my local race track, I have seen quite a few new guys come in with nitro trucks. To me it is almost amusing to see a race start with 8 trucks, and end with 2. You don't want to be standing too close to their pits either, or you will be run down as a nitro driver comes dashing down off the driverstand to try to restart their truck. I see far too many nitro driver spend WAY too much time just trying to get their trucks to run correctly, and not devoting enought time to driving and setup. I will stick with eletric until the technology progresses a little farther.
--C. Alan

[jeepinator]

C. Allen, nicely said. I agree.
You can spot a nitro driver 10 miles away. Red faced, neck veins bulging, out of breath, frantically trying to get the dang thing to run. Then suddenly breaeaeaeahh goes the engine and they throw it on the track and go 1/2 lap before it dies. Then they do it all over again, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, until they go home. Sounds like fun to me :rolleyes:

[chucksolo]

Well Jeep, I ran my Nitro 4-Tec tonight through at least 8 tanks of fuel and stopped just twice. Nitro just takes a bit more finesse is all. Oh, and by the way, the EZ Start on my car works flawlessly. No red face or veins popping out on my neck. One push of the button and the car comes to life!!!One thing though, I got spanked in a race on a tri-oval track tonight by my own hopped up electric 4-Tec!! Anyone who thinks that electrics take a back seat to nitro is seriously mistaken. Don't get me wrong, I love nitro, but it is always fun to take and electric and make it perform. I have taken my electric 4-Tec installed a full bearing set, Big Bore Shocks, a Novak ESC, and a Trinity Green Machine Pro motor geared with a 30 tooth pinion. This thing is fast and handles like a dream. The car corners like there's no tomorrow. Can't wait until Thursday so I can get revenge!!!!!HEHEHE!!!! :mad:

[jeepinator]

chuck and others, I sounded a little harsh. I am mostly joking, but trying to make a few points as well.
There are people who can run their nitros consistently and have fun. I am one of them. There are also tons of folks who can't. Most of these folks started on nitro and never had the time to learn RC basics becasue they were too tied up just trying to get the engine running.
In most cases the succesful nitro drivers are, or were, electric drivers too.
So, I boil my opinion down to this:
Nitro is rarely a good choice for beginners and is usually a good choice for experienced RC'ers.
Fair ?

[wjj]

i started on nitro and have no problem with it, my friends can't beleive how easy it is to start and i use a pull start. i have a electric car that i bought used and i realised that my friends and I spend more time running the nitro, i can't even get these guys to go near the electric car! and also the women seem to notice nitro cars more than the electric. ;)

[nitroracer911]

wjj...lol

wow.. picking up chicks using nitro cars.

you MUST be a youngster :D

At my age the only thing that works is BMW's and a nice house. ;)

[ftgt]

I like nitro better because it is more realistic. However, I will never give up my electric buggy.

[roadrage]

haha nitroracer!! :D
Nicely said jeep. I see way to many people spending more time working on their nitro cars than racing. And these guys aren't new.
If your lucky like me, you may never be one of these people. I have a kyosho nitro car that never gave me problems.. and its a cheap car! But it's simple. engine, wheels and thats preaty much its special features. All the other nitros I see running are either new, or a month old and being repaired, tuned or just cooling.
P.S. I only ran a liter trough my nitro which is probly why it never game me problems. I'll wait for the nitro technology to improve too. I'd like to see the day when you have to take your nitro cars to the emisions test.. hehe
Nitro = :mad:
Electric = :cool: