R/C 101
I added this page to my website to assist and encourage people who are new to the Radio Control hobby to choose the right vehicle for their particular needs. I want to help you find the right car or truck to meet your needs and wants. The first thing to do would be to ask yourself some simple questions that I have broken up into the following categories with reasons for each question.
To Race Or Not To Race
This is probably the best place to start. Check around in your area to see if there are any tracks and attend a race to see what they are racing. Ask questions of some of the drivers this will probably be your best source of information. You can also find help at your local hobby shop. If you are interested in racing but your budget does not allow for a new car or truck then I would suggest checking out such online auction sites as Ebay.com or RCbay.com. Remember, when dealing online find out as much about what you are buying and who you are buying from as possible. Generally, if the person knows alot about what he or she is selling they are probably legitimate. As always though BUYER BEWARE!!!
Car Or Truck
The next question should be whether you want to purchase a car or truck. If you are not interested in racing and are just interested in backyard bashing then I would recommend a truck. Some of the best trucks I have found for backyard bashing have alot of ground clearance, a large assortment of aftermarket parts and hop-ups. Ground clearance is important for driving in grass and will help the truck go over many obstacles. The easiest way to get started in this hobby would be to purchase a vehicle that is Ready To Run (RTR). This means that the car or truck has been preassembled at the manufacturer and may only require minor adjustments when recieved. Many of these vehicles are available through mail order hobby shops such as Tower Hobbies. I would like to add at this point to support your local hobby shop too because they can give you the hands on help you may need unlike a large mail order house and they are what keep this hobby going.
2WD Or 4WD
The next question would be to consider whether you want a 2wd or 4wd car or truck. I would recommend for a first time driver and builder a 2wd vehicle because of their ease of assembly and maintenance. Once you have mastered driving and feel comfortable with your building skills then by all means upgrade to a 4wd vehicle.
Gas Or Electric
I would recommend for a beginner and electric vehicle. I have been around this hobby for about 10 years and have yet to purchase a gas or nitro powered vehicle. In most cases electric vehicles are less expensive than both gas and nitro.
