Considering a TC3? Listen up!

[NEmx5]

I love my TC3, it's fast right out of the box, can be tuned to handle as if on rails, and it's simple (to build, adjust) what more could you ask for?

Oh, I know, how about durability?

I got my first RC car back in 1977, and have had many cars since. Started racing in the late 80's, and I'm still at it. In my opinion the TC3 may be the most fragile car ever made! End of story.

I'm sure others will challenge my view, maybe suggest that in all my time RCing I never learned to drive http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif, Whatever!
I know when something does not measure up, and for anyone thinking of getting a TC3, well just make sure you're prepared to replace parts, often. Way, way often!!!! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/frown.gif

p.s. anyone interested in a Team TC3 chassis, only used since Xmas??

[TCorzett]

I'd have to agree that the TC3 is a fragile car, more so that some, but you also have to consider what the purpose of the car is. The car is designed to go as fast as it can, and it does. The car being fragile is also a benefit if you think about it. I thought about replacing all the graphite/plastic parts with the stronger aluminum parts. Aluminum parts would be stronger – but the problem is that they bend. The really night thing about graphite parts is that they don’t bend. If a part bends and you don’t notice it, it can damage your car’s performance for a really long time. Graphite parts are light and also very true. Graphite doesn’t bend, it just breaks. It does **** when you have to buy parts, but it keeps the car itself from bending. As you learn to drive your car more parts don’t seem to break as much.

The TC3 is a great car, and breaking parts is no reason for someone to look down on it. It does cost, but all cars will break when you hit stuff. That’s where the majority of the cost for RC Cars comes from.

But if nothing broke then you’d not have to worry about fixing anything! That’s half the fun of the sport!

- Todd…

[NEmx5]

Hmmmmm, I don't know Todd. While I'd admit that I do like working on, and building RC cars, constant repairs tend to be a drag. I have nothing against Associated, I have owned/raced many of their cars from the original RC10, the 10L, to more recently the T3 and the TC3, and I'm sure I will own many more, but the TC3 has got to go!
Like I said before, I've been at this for many years and know when things should and should not break. My biggest concern is that newbies to our hobby will get a TC3, become discouraged by the way it constantly breaks, and abandon the hobby all together. That's no good for any of us.

[foo]

Odd...
Having raced my TC3 for 3/4 of a year now, the only things I've broken or needed to replace are:
- front bumper, it's starting to bend low from too many accidents.. (I haven't replaced it yet)
- front body posts (again because of too many accidents. After a while they got stripped out because the body would pull them up from their screws in a head on accident. I've since found if you leave some space between the body clip and the body, then the body has room to move and this doesn't become a problem).
- gear case (silly me stripped the screw hole threads)
- 1 of the rear hinge pin carriers. (one of
the pieces that did break in an accident.)

No arms, no carriers.. all of which are graphite. So, four pieces in 3/4 year racing seems reasonable to me.

Compare that to my TL01 and I'm waaay ahead. (Although I was learning to drive when I got my TL01).

I even had my TC3 run away from me last weekend when my ESC somehow toasted itself and left the motor running on full. Car bounced off a few boards before running off the track and running into a tree where the spinning wheels dug a hole in the ground. I was pleasantly surprised to find nothing broken (except for bending the front bumper a bit more.. I really should replace it soon).

[ssneon95]

I just purchased a TC3 Racer awile ago, I keep on hearing that the TC3 is a fragile car yet I havent had any problems. The car has been in some real hard head-on hits and nothing has broken or gotten bent. Before I ran the car I made a bumper out of kydex cut to the same size as the foam bumper that extends out to the edges of the wheels to protect the front arms since the stock bumper is so small. Just my 2 cents...

[JP]

Me and my friend have demolition derbies woth our TC3s'. It's REALYL FUN, he didnt do anything to his Racer, and he only broke the front plastic bumper (jumping curbs). I added front alum. arms and thats all. Heres a list of what we have broken of wanting to ruin eachothers cars:


Notice nothing is there? Yup, not ONE thing broken. While we raced, we broke servo gears because of those stupid walls, but nothing else...I have nothing against AE, either

[chizzler]

ive only broken the rear shock towers several times.

*mainly from going really fast and doing donut-power slides with the one-way into parked cars!!! http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/wink.gif ooops!

[Mani]

p.s. anyone interested in a Team TC3 chassis, only used since Xmas??

[/B]

How much do you want for it?

[NEmx5]

Sorry Mani, it's already sold!

[TC3~Racer]

I oviouly have a TC3 (hence the name) and i've been racing it for a little over a year. I have only broken one part and that was completely my fault. Many people belive that the front end is fragile but Assciated did re-desing the A-arms. Other than that I dont know. The car handles awsome is as fast or faster than all the other cars in my class....
'course my friend got a TC3 after see'n me have no problems and has already broken 3 or more parts in only 1 race day!!! So what you were saying about someone knew getting discouraged is valid. (ironically enough my friend that brakes so many parts has been racing longer than i have)