NEW to RC car hobby - Please help

[jhunt]

I want to start building RC cars. How should I begin doing this? I went to a hobby shop today and talked to a salesperson about their cars. It seemed like the salesperson was strongly encouraging me to buy an already built RC car. I want to build my own car so I can learn. But he said you will learn how to build it anyway because they will break easily and you will be fixing them all the time. Any suggestions on what I should do, or where I should go, like online or another local hobby shop?

Please help!

[pedeman]

if you think your good with a wrench, i would build it, but you have to remember, you will also have to buy the servo, ESC, motor, receiver (usually included with radio), and radio. if you want do to a kit, i would probably get the B4 Team Kit (team associated, i think). my friend has one, and its pretty durable... but i DONT agree on the "breaking all the time" part. i STILL havent broken anything on my E stampede, after 3 years of house jumping, motocross tracks, crazy stuff. if you decide not to build a car, then i would suggest a Traxxas Rustler. very, very durable in my opinion, and thats what most people start out with.

my opinion... but whatever you do, dont get discouraged. if you get frustrated, you can just set the car off to the side and let it sit till you are not poed, because when your mad is when you lose stuff...

^all above info is mostly offroad stadium trucks. if you into that asphalt stuff, i have no clue, but good luck, have fun. bash on

[jamescam]

I'm just getting back into the hobby as well and RTR (pre-built) kits weren't around when I left, at first I considered them but after some research I didn't feel they were right for me as I am mainly interested in racing. I got the RC10B4 Factory Team Kit because it had a lot of the upgrades I felt I would eventually want. Also I had built my RC10T2 about 7 years ago, and it was a really good exercise in understanding the purpose of each piece. It also gave me an unusual feeling of pride, knowing that I put the entire thing together. Understand putting a kit together is a time investment, and will take at least a few hours (I'm slow and spent 5 hours total). One thing that became clear right away is that just starting out in this hobby isn't exactly cheap which is why RTR isn't a bad way to go if you are on a budget or competitive racing isn't a priority. So far here is what I invested:

RC10B4 Factory Team Kit - $230
Used M8 Radio - $150
Used Pulsar Competition Charger - $75
Decent Servo - $40
3 Packs of Race Quality 3300 Batteries - $150
Spectrum Receiver System - $150
Misc (Car Stand, Tools, Paint, Body Scissors, etc.) - $50

I still have to purchase a motor, speed control, and DC power supply for my charger. An RTR will have the radio, servo, receiver, motor, and speed controller included for the price I paid for the factory team kit, although you still have to provide batteries and a charger. The problem is the electronics & motor aren't very good so they would need to be upgraded if you wanted to race competitively. It comes down to what you want to do and how much you want to spend.

[Losi Stealth]

I would advise anyone who has sufficient time to build their first car to do so. I built my rustler, and it was very helpfull in diagnosing and repairing problems. If you know whats in your car, its easier to fix. I see a bunch of people with their RTRs at the lhs desk pretty often, and while its nice my local guys are nice enough to help, building helps keep you off the desk...or makes desk time shorter.

The bit about RTR electronics being inferior is relevant. Its rarely race gear, but if you only plan to run for fun, bashing, that doesn't really matter. You can always upgrade later anyway.

I have a whole theory that building a car adds more value to the hobby for a person...

My advise: Build it if you can. If you can find a rustler kit, its a low cost way to start. He probably told you to get an rtr because most kits are more expensive race models. If money is an issue, an rtr may be slightly cheaper.

Some people will advise Tamiyas, but none of the shops around me carry them, so I have no idea what those are like.

[Fluke]

since you're the 'wrenchy' kind of guy,rtr or kit won't make a difference for you cause sooner or later you'll wrench on the car and start disassemble it.its just a matter of time till you get to know it like you built it.oh and i still have the stock rtr radio gear and for me,its enough.will be upgrading only when i'm finished with the car(bought it rtr).the only factor that would determine between rtr and kit is money.well that's how i feel it

[suckfish]

well even if you go with a RTR vs Kit , every single car or truck I've owned I've always disassemble and re-build before ever running them.. You never know if the guy at the factory was having a bad day and forgot something... Just consider it as a standard maintenace and peace of mind knowing it's built right.. omo

[quicklimegirl]

Yeah- if only to locktite all metal fasteners.

[Skippy]

i agree with whoever said you should build it yourself - firsthand intimate knowledge of how it went together will certainly pay off in maintenance, not to mention the satisfaction factor in a job well done.

[2ndGeneration]

on kit vs rtr,
I have wrenched on several at this point, and there seems to be a certain amount of hand fitting involved usually with suspension components. If you build or go with pre-built you will want to be very meticulous about your suspension. The A-arms should swing freely of their own weight but not be sloppy loose. The ones I have worked on ( 1/10 offroad ) have been tight, requiring sanding of the parts involved.
Suspension, IMO is the most critical part of an RC vehicle.

Side note,
Started last night at about 7pm, tore an RC10t completly down and cleaned and installed new parts, hit the sack @ 4am and had the left rear suspension left to finish as well as the radio gear. The tranny was still fresh so was only wiped down.
Maybe the newer ones are easier ( less parts )

[Noob33]

i made mistake getting rtr kit is better since you get to know the car and if your planning on racing you can buy the oparts rigth away :D