1st Electric RC Car - Things to Consider?

[ARF8885]

Always wanted an RC to mess about with, something all terrain that can be used on tarmac but will happily go on grass, gravel, etc and started looking into RTR models, only to raise more questions than answer them!

Scale
Is this just down to preference or is there a rule of thumb as to how to determine what scale is best for the type of use etc?

Brushless or Brushed?

LiPO or Li-Ion?

Battery Type (1s/2s/3s/4s etc)? Or is this not something to worry about and are all models capable of receiving different batteries?

Budget is £200 Max

Doing a little reading in here the likes of the FTX Tracer / FTX Carnage / Arrma Vorteks seems to come up as popular recommendations.

Any pointers welcomed! Thanks

[cml24]

I bought my six year old a brushless ftx tracer for Christmas.

She loves it and has pretty much got the hang of it. Speed is dialled down to about half way at the moment, but she still gets annoyed if she applies the throttle too hard and it spins.

I really want a carnage now! Brings back memories of my hair savage, without the hassle of nitro.

At the skate park we've popped bits out etc on heavy landings, but all seems flexible enough not to snap things really. Goes back together again with a single screwdriver.

Personally, if its just a bit of fun, I'd get a truck so you can jump and head off road. On road I think I'd find a bit dull by myself. The ftx carnage is just within your £200 budget, and I'd be tempted by that.

[cml24]

In regards the specific questions, generally, brushless is better/faster (like power tools), and the bigger a vehicle, the larger a battery will be needed.

Ftx tracer uses a 2S, and is pretty small at 1/16th scale.

By the time you get to 1/10 or 1/8 you'll get models that can or need to use 3S.

The bigger it is the better it'll clear obsticals etc, but it'll cost more.

[MBBlat]

Battery type, the s rating is the voltage supplied, every s being about 3.7V. The bigger the number, the faster the car but it increases the likelihood of releasing the smoke from the electronics.
For a beginner in 1/10 scale I would recommend starting with 2s, upgrading to 3s later is as simple as buying a new battery as long as the ESC can cope.

Scale wise 1/10 is the most popular and for an off roader will be able to cope with shortish grass and skate parks etc. Smaller scale are mostly for indoor use, but can be used outside on hard surfaces ie not grass unless it is very short. I would avoid the larger scales as a beginner.

[Terry Tibbs]

Just bought my lad a brushless carnage for Xmas and he loves it.
It comes with a 2s Lipo battery and charger, so all you only need to 4 aa’s for the transmitter and you’re set.
In my opinion it’s a bargain for what it cost. Pretty rapid too.

[ARF8885]

Thanks all for the replies and advice.

I've opted to go for a brushless either a 1:8 or 1:10.

I've also upped my budget, therefore looking for something around the £300 mark. Ideally RTR, but appreciate not all kits come with batteries and chargers.

Any experience of the following:

Team Associated MT8
Team Associated MT10
Arrma Big Rock
Maverick Quantum+ XT Flux

[Terry Tibbs]

You can’t go wrong with Arma stuff. That’s where my money would go.

[matrignano]

Yep I’m considering a Arrma Notorious myself.
Traxxas stuff worth a look too for bashing around?

[Stewss4]

Mt10 is a great basher. Or a tekno sct 410 with a proline basher body. Bulletproof

[ARF8885]

matrignano said:

Yep I’m considering a Arrma Notorious myself.
Traxxas stuff worth a look too for bashing around?

Yeah looked at the Traxxas stuff, but seem a little higher end or hold their value for used examples.

[ARF8885]

I settled with this in the end!

Came up local (ish) for a good price and included two 4s batteries and spare parts.



Team Associated Rival MT8 Brushless 1:8 Scale.

[Louis Balfour]

cml24 said:

I bought my six year old a brushless ftx tracer for Christmas.

She loves it and has pretty much got the hang of it. Speed is dialled down to about half way at the moment, but she still gets annoyed if she applies the throttle too hard and it spins.

I really want a carnage now! Brings back memories of my hair savage, without the hassle of nitro.

At the skate park we've popped bits out etc on heavy landings, but all seems flexible enough not to snap things really. Goes back together again with a single screwdriver.

Personally, if its just a bit of fun, I'd get a truck so you can jump and head off road. On road I think I'd find a bit dull by myself. The ftx carnage is just within your £200 budget, and I'd be tempted by that.

Careful with that malarkey. Our children completely trashed two RC cars at a skatepark, when landings were nose down from a height.