4wd touring cars

[Kronic]

ive been thinking of buying a 4wd touring car and it would the first touring car that i own. im looking at used ones on ebay and i found a few i like.

so far i found a used:

- tc4
- tc3
- schumacher sst 99 pro
- hpi rs4

im really interested in the schumacher but wondering if it is a good choice for a beginner. i doubt that i will race but if i do it would be only once or twice a month. (thats one reason i want to buy used so i can just practice and play with) i plan on running the car mostly outside on pavement and maybe inside too.

Thanks for helping!

~ Kronic

p.s. if you know of any other good touring cars for beginners post them!

[JeffEmbracedDC]

I would probably suggest a TC4 or TC3.. NON factory team versions (either Team, or RTR versions).

You don't want a woven carbon fiber chassis (like the shumacher has) if you're going to be playing around. Woven carbon fiber chassis are meant for racing and they're not as durable as molded tubs. I would highly suggest a molded tub chassis (like the team, or RTR versions of the associated TC series have). Also, with the shumacher you won't be able to run stick, or even side-by-side configuration battery packs. You have to run saddle packs (which means two packs of 3 cells wired together). Also, most hobby shops don't carry many HPI parts, and most don't have ANY shumacher stuff. Typically you would have to do mail order for anything HPI or shumacher. Most hobby shops are well stocked with associated parts, especially if they have a track.

So once again, I would highly suggest a TC4 of TC3 with a molded tub chassis.

I hope that helps :)

-J

[JeffEmbracedDC]

Like, if you're looking to get something used/RTR - This would be a good choice for both playing and racing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Associated-TC4-touring-car-hop-ups-radio-esc-motors-NR_W0QQitemZ320066892039QQihZ011QQcategoryZ34063QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

-J

[BTE214]

I can personally vouch for the tc4's raceability and durability.

[hyperstang]

Man!!!!!!

TL-01...LOL!!!

Nah just joking...the TC series (Non FT) is a good starting point. See if you can get hooked up with an RTR for cheap...

[Kronic]

i found a rolling tc3 that has a titanium chassis, titanium turn buckles and a 19x1 motor. he said that it has never ran before. do you think its worth buying? (pic at bottom)


i also found this: http://tinyurl.com/yxnkeq is this worth buying? or should i try for the titanium one instead?

[JeffEmbracedDC]

well, I wouldn't buy that roller on eBay. It seems like highly possible that the guy selling it didn't take good care of it. And as for the titanium one, it seems a bit overkill. It's more durable than the woven graphite, but it's definitely overkill for bashing. I'm not sure. I guess that's up to you, but I would suggest against the tc3 on eBay. I would probably look for a TC4 with a tub.

-J

[Kronic]

i also found this tc4: http://tinyurl.com/y8mmdz

ive been betting on this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=007&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=170066158452&rd=1&rd=1) tc4 but i keep getting out bid and ive stopped cause thats about as much as i can spend...

im watching a couple other touring cars so ill see what happens...

[JeffEmbracedDC]

http://tinyurl.com/y8mmdz is a factory team (FT) kit.. it's not really good for playing with. It has a woven carbon fiber chassis. You want either a "Team" version of an "RTR" version with the tub.

-J

[Eli the rc guy]

I am selling my XXX-S for a fair price. It is rtr too and a spare body, and drift wheels/tires.. Pm me if your interested.

[Kronic]

im going to skip http://tinyurl.com/y8mmdz since its a FT

but i found this which isnt a FT version: http://tinyurl.com/u23d4
should i try getting this instead of the titanium tc3?

[JeffEmbracedDC]

Sure, yeah. That looks like a good set up for playing around and some light racing. If you have electronics already then that car should be decent.

-J

[Kronic]

thanks alot for your help jeff! ill try to get it and if i do get something ill post back here and show you what i got :)

[skylineTT]

lol do you have servos and radio equipment?

[Kronic]

yea all i would need is a esc and a motor

[fijisan]

I would recommend you pick yourself up a used FT TC3. Good bang for yor buck - You can get yourself a good one with hopups and extras.

[Ed237]

For the prices of a used TC3/TC4/RS4 You may want to also consider the Tamiya TA05. The kit comes new with the body, wheels & tires for under $160. You can even get them cheaper at some places. The car also works great on asphalt or carpet.

[JDT]

For the prices of a used TC3/TC4/RS4 You may want to also consider the Tamiya TA05. The kit comes new with the body, wheels & tires for under $160. You can even get them cheaper at some places. The car also works great on asphalt or carpet.


I agree great car for cheap price, with some mods it will run with the best cars on the market. all kinds of hop ups for bling bling or racing purposes.

[Ed237]

I had a TC4 and it was a good car but the TA05 is truly something special: Good, fast, and tough right out of the box.

[InspGadgt]

Woven graphite chassis are extremely durable especially when designed properly. However they get all scratched up and people seem to not mind a molded tub getting scratched up near as much even though it will take years of scratching before it starts to effect your performance. Metal chassis reguardless if they are titanium or aluminium will not be as durable and should be stayed away from in electric. The main reason for using them in nitro is for their heat distribution properties which isn't as much of a factor in electric. You have to make a metal chassis much thicker then it's graphite counter part in order to get the same rigidity and durability out of it.

That being said if you are just going to be playing around in parking lots and streets and not actually road racing then you don't need to get into the woven graphite cars as these are designed more specifically for competitive racing.

[NORTEX-T1FK]

That being said if you are just going to be playing around in parking lots and streets and not actually road racing then you don't need to get into the woven graphite cars as these are designed more specifically for competitive racing.
Yeah but they look F-ing cool! :p

I picked up my used Xray T1FK in excellent shape for $140 from a local guy. At first I was bashing it and now I'm babying it. I do agree, they are a waste just to bash them...they look so dam sexy though :D

[Rear Admiral]

I'm halfway through buildong my first 4wd tourer, a Tamiya TA05, so it's a relief to hear you guys give it some praise.

[Demon-TC3]

i personally think the tc3 team is better for bashing than the FT tc3 as its plastic is more durable...granted that its heavier.

BUT if money permits go for a tc4 team kit, you WONT be dissapointed. although the TC3 is still competative (and id like to see anyone prove otherwise) and is still a damn good car, the TC4 is better, durability, performance and weight wise so it would be worth the extra 30 or so bucks...

enclosing, if you want to go on cheap, TC3 team kit., if you have the few extra bucks, TC4 team kit.

[gerok]

oops posted in wrong thread...mods please delete.

[Grizzbob]

For the prices of a used TC3/TC4/RS4 You may want to also consider the Tamiya TA05. The kit comes new with the body, wheels & tires for under $160. You can even get them cheaper at some places. The car also works great on asphalt or carpet.
Absolutely right, I have one that's actually my primary car right now(just ran it in the Brushless class at the Novak US Touring Car Championships), & I can tell you, it is one of THE toughest cars you'll ever come across, so it's IDEAL for beginners, & even better, it handles beautifully out of the box, & just gets better with the proper upgrades. And NOTHING I've seen in awhile comes at the price you can get a new TA05 for(check out the prices at Speedtech R/C, they can sell the kits for as low as $130). And by the way, this is coming from someone who has raced high end Yokomos & the TC3 & TC4(just never got comfortable with my FT TC4, couldn't get it to handle consistently)..... :cool:

[Demon-TC3]

thats fair comment, i have raced the tc3 (heavily upgraded tc3 team kit) at an indoor track locally for the past 1.5 seasons and after i started doing regular maintenance and setting up i was always in tune with the car and really enjoyed racing...in terms of durability the TC3 is stunning!

Once i had some bad radio glitching (carpet debris built up inside the receiver box an started messing it up) so i lost control at full speed down the main streight and directly into the barrier....
Most people thought the car was done for but after marshal turned it round i just drove off to win the heat. :wave:

AS for the TC4...raced it twice and can tell the car has some seriouse potential...still getting to setting everything up (for all those who have bought new cars will know its a long process)
but do enjoy it and it looks like a very strong kit.

one last note, maintenance wise the associated cars (appart from FT TC4) are all very easy to maintain because of the shaft drive...the FT TC4 has the top brace which makes it a little harder but still fairly easy.

[Ed237]

I liked my TC4 and I really wanted it to work. I tried it for 4 months with limited success. I felt like you - getting it right just takes time and I'm just a club racer so not having great results was not the end of the world. I tried 10-20 different setups.

After one lap with the TA05 ($155 out of the box set up) I was amazed at how much more balanced and predictable it was compared vs my $350 FT TC4. My fast lap did not improve, but lap times became instantly dead on consistant with dog bones and plastic shocks! Even my foams stay true longer.

There is a quiet buzz amonst guys who have switched to the TA05 but I'm getting frustrated that the RC Mags havent picked up on it yet. I believe that Tamiya has produced the car that can ressisitate the touring car class but no ones talking about it except guys who run them.

It's the perfect starter car for newbs, bashers, and intermediate drivers at the club level.

[Demon-TC3]

i agree that the TC4 especially is a hard car to tune, simple because there are so many different things to tune and some make small differences and some really do make a difference...for example 1/4 turn of a diff screw caused the rear end to be PLANTED...i ended up backing off a little to retain a little steering...

i think since n my club there are allot of people who know exactly what each tweak does i can tune it a little easier just by saying, car is doing this, what is best move...

Still since the tamiya doesnt have as many tuning options out of the box it is probably better for beginers.

Good luck with whatever you chose.

[Kronic]

YAY!!!! i finally won something on ebay!!!

I got myself a used tc3 for $83!!! Im so happy :D

what i all got was:

-a tc3 rolling chassis
-2 bodies (1 just painted not cut yet)
-3 how-to books
-3 sets of rims (1 w/o tires on them which are brand new)
-and some extra little parts

Thanks alot guys for helping me! your advice and opinions helped out alot.

Now im just waiting happily for Mr. UPS to come to my door :)

heres some pics of the stuff (sellers pics):

[Jayboy]

Well done!
Good luck with that!

[Demon-TC3]

nice car, i think you paid a little too much for a TC3 roller race kit but its still a good car IF YOU MAINTAIN IT...

read the manual and become familiar with it, it wont let you down.