Help a newbie pick a car....

[Ciam2lowko]

Im in the market for a new cr car. I will mainly use it for drag racing friends, jumping speed bumps, riding in dirt. In a NITRO magazine I have I found a sweet looking truck, the Nitro 21 XT-R desert storm. It says it can go 50mph stock, 2.1 bhp at 30,000 rpm. I want a car that I can put a lot hop-ups in the engine. Im a total newbie to rc's except for some time with cheap Toys-R-Us electric cars. Also, what are the diff between diff size engine ? Do the larger numbers mean higher displacement ? Thanks

[guggi101]

Ok lets start simple. Do you know how to tune a engine at all? If your going to go nitro where will you be driving. If you drive on grass on road and generally everything in the radio range get a stadium truck. Also your going to want to get a engine that is easy to tune ( 1 needle). Ummm, I personally like the Hpi Nitro MT. You do know that if you get a nitro you need other stuff right? You need the glow igniter gas charger. If I was you I would look a little more toward 4wd. If you aren't going to race for a while but don't feel like having to pick up your car because it get caught in the grass you should get 4wd. Ofna makes the pirate 10-st I have heard some good about that. Also Kyosho makes a couple of 4wd off-road nitro's. Email me with some more info or post so I can get a little more specific.

[guggi101]

Oh ya the higher a engine number goes the higher the size. But believe me a .12 in a first car is more then enough you can always go bigger.

[roadrage]

The higher the number also doesn't nessesarly mean faster. I think .12 have more rpm than a .21 but less TORQUE. In a drag race, you may want this depending on the lenght of the track. Remember not to hold the trottle open for more than 2-3 seconds or you'll blow a motor or damage a part. (overheating) (my friend burnt his clutch)

Since you came from toys r us toys, I would recommend electric. But your a newbie so I'm sure your going to get nitro because you think its faster and better which I totaly disagree with. This is what I did when I got in the rc hobby. I didn't listen to my friend and got nitro because there was nothing that could change my mind. But now im strictly electric because its quick, clean, easy, fast, and did I say fast? Your used to toys r us electrics and thats probly giving you the wrong idea about electric.

Your not going to listen to me so your better off with the MRC that was posted before. I have only messed with HPI, Kyosho, and Ofna nitros but I hear lots good from MRC. Get two sets of tires. The stock (included) offroad for dirt racing. And slicks for onroad drag racing you were talking about. There realy is a difference. You should get a tuned exhuast system ($50) 2 speed tranny ($50) and a bigger heat sink($20) to keep heat down. Break in your engine before running it and it will take care of you. Have fun!
Tip: No street racing at 3am with nitro cars or you may get shot... j/p :D

[Ciam2lowko]

I know how to tune engine but not well enough I belive. I've just wet my feet with repairing engine and stuff of that nature. I really like the idea of having a 4WD car. Don't forget I want a car with lots of hop-up potential. I probably won't be racing unless it with friends. I will mainly drive on asphalt and sometimes on dirt, grass too. I've seen that Nitro MT racer and it looks real sweet. The only prblem is that it has a 3 screw carb and I really haven't had much experience with those particular carbs. Isn't the MT 2WD ? Thanks again.

[Ciam2lowko]

Never mind the magazine says it 4wd, didn't see it clearly.

[nitrodriver]

Since you want nitro you should think about the T-Maxx. It comes rtr with almost everything you need. Personally, i think you should start out with electric. My first car was a nitro and i was always having problems becuase i didnt know anything about the engines. I've got all electric cars now, and im about to add an E-Maxx to the list.
If you do decide to get electric, consider the e maxx :D

[RallyGuy]

I have the racer and its sweet but youll spend a lot of time on the bench cause of the cvd's also the racer dosnt come with an engine i would recomend the regular mt cause it comes with a an engine thats easy to tune

[Jwelch]

I would get the GT RTR. Unlimited hop-up potential, and a great bargain. he AE. 15 engine is awesome, too. The GT is arguably the best racer of all time (w/ the XXNT).

[roadrage]

If your going to race your friends, we should know what cars they have. Once reason I don't like gas is becasuse there are slow cars and real expensive fast cars. A T-Maxx is slow but its a monster truck so what do you expect. Monster trucks are supose to handle ruff terran not drag race. Unless you spend lots of money on it. I read that the duratrax monster truck hit 43MPH I think. Somewhere in the 40s. NOW THATS A FAST MONESTER TRUCK! Consider getting the duratrax Pro MT. It's 2WD but I think if you have that clearance, It shouldn't be a problem. Plus 2WD is slightly faster because there is less weight and resistance. :D

[guggi101]

No the mt is 4wd. The only problem with a Tmaxx is its a very expensive first car. Thats almost 500 when your done. Umm I definatly think your better off electric. They always run quicker. I have been to many race and only 4 times have i ever seen a nitro turn a faster lap time. Also if your a firt time r/c'er you don't need a tuned pipe and 2 speed and heat sink. Thats great once you get going. You don't want to over power your car because then you start stripping gears and stuff. Work up to the added power because then you can buy in steps. Then you can get stongers gears and stuff. Also if you do get a nitro be prepared to tinker. They brake alot and need alot of up keep. After every run, espacially with offroad, you have to clean the car. I would recommend the Ofna Pirate st-10. I have tons of hop ups for mine and I can get parts fairly easy.

[Ciam2lowko]

Well most of them have touring cars. I want a car that I can go off road with but still looks like it's for street. After I do the engine hop-ups I would like to do some cosmetic mods, ie. rims, new body, neon lights etc. If it's not possible to have a car to have an on road, off road car then I would like to stay with an on road car just because most of them look realistic. When I mean race, I don't mean track races, more like drag racing. So I want a car with some real top end potential. I still really like the Nitro 21 XT-R. Thanks again guys.

[Ciam2lowko]

Are the RS4's any good ? Any probs with them ? Sorry about all the questions but I don't want to waste hundreds of dollars on a car that will only spend time in the shop.

[Ciam2lowko]

I need a RTR car, This will be my first nitro car and I don't know how to build a car yet.

[timberwolf211]

I would highly recomend any of the Duratrax cars or trucks.Their motors are very easy to tune(great for newbie) and the customer support is kickin!!! I have been in and out of the hobby for 12 years and more back into it for the last 3 years and even with experience these cars and trucks are great I would reccomend them to anyone(espicially a newbie).

[Ciam2lowko]

Thanks, I'll look into it...

[Ciam2lowko]

Any more suggestions ? thanks a lot guys

[roadrage]

My friend has the RS4 nitro RTR. It's an easy engine to maintain, but it isn't fast. I would get a Statium Truck. Put On-Road tires on it (I think they are called roadrage.. hehe) and it will look street. Put offroad tires on it and you can ride it offroad. Not only that, ST are great jumpers.

(ST = Statium Truck)

[guggi101]

Rs4 are really good. I think its best to build your first car then you know how it works. Its not that hard either. I think you should get a onroad. I really like the Duratrax onroad 4wd. Its real fast easy to hop up and good top end out of the box(hows 50mph for ya) Its not a overly expensive car and has stress tech garrenty so if the plastic parts break they replace them.

[draggerman11]

Try the rs4 rally. You can race it on-road, and still drive it off-road.