Getting Started

Just like buying a real car, deciding on an RC car takes research, price comparison and evaluation of your own needs. Though all RCs have the same componentstransmitter, receiver, motor, and power sourcethey vary widely in size, type, and degree of difficulty.

The first, most important decision to make is whether an electric or a nitro car is right for you. Nitro cars tend to be faster and more powerful, though their engines require a lot of maintenance and tuning. Electric cars, on the other hand, dont run quite as fast, but theyre easier for beginners and run much quieter.

Secondly, once youve decided whether an electric or a nitro car is best for you, you need to choose between a car that is ready to run right out of the box and a kit that you build from scratch. Ready to run cars are easier for beginners anxious to get to the race, though the build your own kits give you a better understanding of how RCs work since you build it from the insides out. If youre not sure, keep in mind that most ready to run kits still include full instructions should you ever want to take apart your RC or replace some of its parts.

Next, you need to decide just where youll be driving the car. Just like you wouldnt buy a gas guzzling SUV if you live downtown and have a long commute, youll want to make sure you buy the RC that suits the kind of driving youll be doing. On-road RCs are built for speed, so if its racing and road running you have in mind, youll want to stick to these lighter, faster vehicles. If you want to practice on rugged terrain and with jumps, the more rugged off-road RCs are probably best for you.
The last thing to choose is the size and type of RC vehicle youd like. The most popular class of vehicles are 1/10th scale, but there are also larger 1/8 scale and smaller mini and micro sized cars. Plus, the best part is you get to decide just what kind of RC vehicle youd like bestthere are cars, trucks, buggies, boats, planes and even helicopters to choose from.