A Beginner’s Guide To Remote Control Cars
Ready for some fun?
You have come to the right place for high speed spills and thrills which put the biggest ever smile on your face. Radio control cars are the best! You can have fun with them in your back garden, down at the park or racing on the beach. Some are made for difficult terrain and some are made for racing the streets (or race track). And if you have children, they are great for bonding. Seriously, which little girl or boy doesn’t want to have fun with Mum and Dad racing cars in the park? That’s why we have a section on the best remote control for kids.
It’s so easy these days, a Ready-to-Run (RTR) RC car or truck comes with everything you need, you open the box, charge the battery and you are ready to get out there. And if you buy a kit, you don’t have to be a genius or an electronic wizard any more, its much easier and you have control over the appearance of your remote control racing car, buggy or monster truck.
If you are interested in remote control cars and looking to get involved with RC cars, there are things to consider at entry level through to experienced level. If this is you, then this is the perfect guide. In this guide we will take a look at the different types of cars that you can buy, consider the top brands to choose from, and more – all of which will help you ensure you buy the right one – whether you are looking for very fast remote control cars or options the best cheap remote control car.
Why Would You Want To Buy A Remote Control Car
Anyone can have fun with a remote controlled car. That’s the starting level, but you can take it up to more sophisticated cars and Do-it-Yourself RC models which demand a bit more expertise. There are many reasons for getting interested in remote-control cars. For some, the fun of taking an off-road remote control car up to the park or beach is the best way to enjoy them. For others, being able to build their very own remote control car from a kit and fiddle around with the electronic parts is what gets them excited. What about having fun with remote control cars with the kids. Finally, racing is what offers a some people the thrills that come with owning very fast remote control cars and competing against others. Regardless, this is a hobby that offers great entertainment.
The Best Remote Control Car For You
Remote control cars are amazing pieces of engineering, often designed by fully qualified engineers. They are designed to all levels of ability and like all things it’s better not to start right at the top because you are wasting your time and money and getting frustrated. You don’t have to start at the bottom either. Find a level which suits you.
When you buy a car you generally get everything you need in the box, a controller, a battery, a charger and of course a car. If its nitro you get everything except the fuel. They come in all shapes and sizes and vary for the terrain they are aiming for too.
There are a bunch of different types of RC cars on the market to choose from. Each of these options offers a number of pros and cons. Below, we look at five of the types that you can choose from to help you understand which would be the recommended remote control car for you.
· Standard Remote Controlled Cars
–these are sometimes also referred to as the “streetcars”. This is the type of car you want to buy if you are going to be mainly driving your remote controlled car on flat surfaces and paved areas. If you are looking for very fast remote control cars, then this is the option for you as well.
· Drift Remote Controlled Cars
– Next up is drift cars. These are pretty much similar to streetcars or the standard options, but a drift car will usually be equipped with a set of slick tires. These tires are great for quickly getting your car around corners and for times when you need to make a lot of turns. These are fast electric RC cars but do not have a lot of power.
· Buggies
– a Buggy is an option that crosses the speed of on-road options, such as streetcars, with off-road options. These are very fast but also offer 
adequate power for some tougher terrains that you may want to drive the car on. It should be noted, however, compared to some off-road options, buggies are relatively slow when going off-road. Many people who are not sure what type of car to buy tend to start out with a buggy.
·
Truggies
– A truggy is s cross between a truck and a buggy, but focus more on providing power for off-road use than speed for road use on flat surfaces. Truggies have better tires compared to buggies, but other factors would be pretty much the same as a buggy.
· Monster Trucks
– Finally you could opt for a monster truck. This is the option that you would choose if you prefer off-road racing and driving. Monster trucks are not built for speed on the road, but rather power on tough terrains. These are also usually durable to ensure you do not have to worry about turning them over. Trucks can also be used on grassy terrains.
There is another important factor that should be taken into account when it comes to looking at the types of cars out there – this would be the way that the car is powered. A very popular option would be electric power, but there are also many people who opt for nitro.
Fast electric RC cars are cheaper than nitro, but a nitro option would provide you with the ability to run for longer. With nitro, however, you would find yourself constantly having to buy gas for your car to continue running.
Considerations in purchasing your Remote Control Car.
Electric or Nitro?
Having considered the above, you also need to think about whether you want and electric or nitro RC car. Nitro cars run on a special concoction of sweet smelling methanol and nitromethane. They are the best fun. Why? Well, they are noisy and powerful and you get much more of a sense of a real car from them for those reasons. Electric cars are better if you are a beginner and run much quieter.
Here are the basic differences between nitro and electric.
1; Electric remote control cars are better for beginners because they are cheaper and easier to drive.
2; Electric remote control cars come out of the box and you can use them straight away. Nitro cars take more preparation.
3; Electric remote control cars are quiet to run and so more friendly if you are using them on the street outside your house, or even down the park if its in a suburban area.
4; You can get an electric remote control car with a brushless motor which adds a lot in speed, even making your car faster than some nitro cars. But needless to say there is an added cost to this.
5; Electric remote control cars are easy to maintain and easy to clean
On the negative side:
1; Most Electric remote control cars don’t have a long battery life for each run. It varies but can be as low as 10 minutes, and if you are lucky might get up to 30 minutes.
2; Extra batteries can cost quite a bit and take up to 1 ½ hrs to charge, which means there can be lots of downtime or you spend a fortune on batteries so you always have a charged one ready to go.
3; If the car breaks down, it can be very expensive to repair and often isn’t worth it.
So how does that all compare with nitro cars?
1; Radio controlled nitro cars can be run all day and night if you want to, you just have to fill up the tank when it runs out, which should be a very quick job.
2; Radio controlled nitro cars are amazing fun to drive, have great power and make a fantastic noise.
3; Usually Radio controlled nitro cars are very fast.
4; You can fiddle with the engine to get the best out of it in a Radio controlled nitro car – but this is also a negative because it make the engine temperamental and sometimes very difficult to get running sweetly at its best.
Any other negatives?
1; They are not good for newcomers to the game, being harder to drive.
2; Radio controlled nitro cars need to be set up when you first get them, basically like running in a normal car, you have to let the engine run with no stress for some time before you can take it out and race the engine.
3; Nitro is sticky and gets everywhere and invariably get spilt or leaks on cars, making it essential to give them a good clean after which can be difficult and tedious.
A note on brushless motors.
You can buy a remote control car with a brushless motor for upwards of $250. Whats the difference to a brushed motor? There will be a lot more speed – up to 60mph as the motors are more energy efficient and longer lasting.
How Much To Spend On A Remote Controlled Car
For some people, buying a remote control car is just a simple thing that they would like to get their hands on without causing too much fuss. For other people, however, this turns into a hobby. There is no right or wrong amount to spend on these products in reality. The amount of money you would end up spending really depends on you-you will need to sit down and determine how much you can spend on a remote control car and which is the recommended remote control car that best suits you.
The budget you end up with will ultimately impact a number of factors. If you are low on budget, for example, then you will likely opt for an electric car instead of nitro. If you are more serious about your remote control car, you might opt for an electric brushless motor or a nitro car.
Conclusion.
Remote control cars are becoming very popular and they are the best fun for all the family. They give great driving and play experiences and gives you the opportunity to build your own car (when you have built up some experience). It also makes for a fun and exciting activity when it comes to racing. There are many options that you can choose from and ensuring you buy the right type of car is essential. Check out our reviews and look at our articles for useful tips on RC cars.
There are a range of RC cars from just over $100 like this one here.
Or you can pay more for a car like this one here
