RC Cars, Any Good Value for Money Ones?

elcheapoinoz on 13/01/2020 - 12:51

a few years back I used to be into electric RC cars, and spent thousands.
The technology has advanced, so you can get theoretically a lot of top end tech for less coin but. my problem is parts.. you'll eventually break a thing or two.

Buying them locally is a ripoff.

Anyone knows any decent enough Rc car brands, where you can easily get parts from china or something for cheap?

Most value for money I found was traxxas, but still, parts needed to be ordered from US websites, costing a bit of coin.

thanks

Sports & Outdoors Remote Control Car

Comments

  • Nereosis on 13/01/2020 - 13:12

    I have a HSP Storm BL from Hobbies Direct (Melbourne based online shop) and they have basically every part imaginable for it.

    It was about $250 when I bought it and unless you want to race or get really into it then it's a great little car for smashing around the bush.
    I drive mine hard and have broken things but my girlfriend's dad also has one and has never broken anything while still having fun.

    • Nugs on 13/01/2020 - 13:15

      Yep agree with HSP
      .

    • elcheapoinoz on 13/01/2020 - 13:21

      wow, that's excellent value for money.
      $250 for RTR with a Lipo included!

      I'm guessing you can parts from overseas as well? or is this their own brand or something?

      • Nereosis on 13/01/2020 - 14:46

        Honestly, I haven't looked that hard because Hobbies Direct have had everything I needed and I wanted to support them but I would be really surprised if you couldn't get parts else where.

  • Dream-cast on 13/01/2020 - 13:44

    I'm new to the hobby but I've seen the HSP brand quite often. If you're looking for a grade below then check out wltoys and in particular their newest model 144001. I got mine for 110 delivered and it goes great. There's a following online and spare parts are abundant.

    • elcheapoinoz on 13/01/2020 - 14:49

      yup, thats what I'm looking for a brand that you can get spare parts from china, rather than specialised hobby online shops from the US where you have a minimum of $10USD in shipping for the tiniest of parts..

      I'm not even sure the wltoys 144001 is a level below!
      It's got a 2.4Ghz radio
      brushless, Lipo. aluminium body…

      • Dream-cast on 13/01/2020 - 19:40

        Yeah, when I said a level below I guess mean in terms of size. HSP have a ton of cars that range from cheap to $600+. They also make cars rebranded under other names. While WLtoys arent as big, in terms of quality the 144001 and their other cars are very nice for the price.

  • brendanm on 13/01/2020 - 14:23
    +1

    I run a Losi 1/8 and a HobbyKing homebrand (Turnigy?) 1/10 for my son. Both very easy to get parts for. If you buy used you obviously get a lot of bang for your buck, and can get better brands for less money than you'd pay new for cheap stuff.

  • mini2 on 13/01/2020 - 14:40

    What's a good ESC brand these days? Used to run Tamiya all in one's and Novaks (they've gone under - bummer). As for controls, are Futaba still good?

    Trying to revive a couple of vintage Tamiya's at the moment and all of my 30 year old electronics are shot.

    • elcheapoinoz on 13/01/2020 - 14:54
      +1

      about 5to10 years back, for controllers sprektrumrc was the bees knees.
      ESCs, I can't remember.. but your motors are probably bad by now.. and even if they're good. you can buy a cheap chinese brushless motor+esc+lipo for bugger all.. and have a lot of fun.. the difference in power/speed of brushless is incredible..
      I had a traxxas truck that could go up to 100kph!!! not that you can see or control it..

      • mini2 on 13/01/2020 - 15:41

        Yeh thought about the whole lipo+brushless thing, don't know if the gearbox will turn into a bag of plastic with the added powahhhh so I'm inclined to stick with brushed/nimh hence the headache.

      • pegaxs on 13/01/2020 - 15:41

        I did the "brushless/LiPo/ESC" upgrade to an old Tamiya "Stadium Blitzer" I had here. Tested fine at home. Took it to the park and first full acceleration I gave it, it lunched the gearbox. Waaaaaay too much horsepower going from old RS540 brushed motors/NiCad and up to DC brushless/LiPo combinations.

        Also had a direct drive indoor/tarmac Tamiya race car. Took the motor and battery set up out of the Stadium Blitzer and put it in my old tarmac race car. Could never get it to maintain traction, even with new tyres, and the one time that it did, it took off at about the speed of sound, hit a netball goal post pole and promptly turned itself into fragments. But HOLY (fropanity) it was the fastest car I had ever owned.

  • MadKaw on 13/01/2020 - 15:20

    We have a few RC cars atm, started on HSP buggies then got a couple of Quanum Vandals from Hobby King that kids use to race. https://hobbyking.com/en_us/quanum-vandal-1-10-4wd-electric-… Plenty of local places have parts for these but its cheaper to get stuff from Hobby King - just have to plan ahead for bits not stocked in their Aus store. The wife has a Turnigy Trooper SCT too, these things are great..

    • elcheapoinoz on 13/01/2020 - 15:29

      Quanum vandal looks good, and it's 1/10.. I had lots of fun with down to 1/16!

      we should make a list of affordable RCs and specs.. and where to buy them from…

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