Help on buying truggy for $350.00
#1
Help on buying truggy for $350.00
My brother in law has about $350.00 to spend on his first r/c car. He has decided that he wants a truggy. Is there a fairly decent truggy to be had for that price? Thanks for any help.
#4
Tech Master
iTrader: (27)
You can get a TeamVTX VTX-ST1 truggy for under $350 RTR. It's a great truggy to get started with and with a few minor upgrades, you can easily race it! Here is a link: http://www.rc-nation.com/display_part/859.php
#5
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ducts_id/17279
I bought the second one a few months ago. Previously I had the CEN Matrix TR Arena. The TTR handles better, is more durable and IMO just better all around in performance, value and durability.
#6
^^^What he said! those things are indestructable.
tell him to save his money so he can bolt one of these in and then he'll be ready to roll hardcore:
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ducts_id/16332
tell him to save his money so he can bolt one of these in and then he'll be ready to roll hardcore:
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...ducts_id/16332
#7
Tech Addict
iTrader: (8)
You can get a losi 8ight-t off ebay for a pretty good price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Losi-8ight-T-ART...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Losi-8ight-T-ART...QQcmdZViewItem
#8
You can get a TeamVTX VTX-ST1 truggy for under $350 RTR. It's a great truggy to get started with and with a few minor upgrades, you can easily race it! Here is a link: http://www.rc-nation.com/display_part/859.php
My buddy races the buggy and it is a very good RTR. We also have a buddy who just bought the Truggy and for the money it is a sick! truck...
#9
Tech Elite
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA, North America, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe
Posts: 4,034
Trader Rating: 1 (100%+)
Ok folks... let's be honest here. NO $350 RTR is going to approach the quality, durability, and performance of a decent kit. It just isn't going to happen.
The cheapest you will find a decent kit NEW is about $400. Then you need a radio (WIDE range of options there!) servos (plan on $50 each MINIMUM) motor (I think you can get a 3-port Go for like $100) pipe ($50 and up) etc. Figure $800 MINIMUM for all new stuff. Then you still need to be able to start it (ignitor and starter box) unless you go with a pull-start motor (you'll hate that, both from a durability AND effort perspective) or roto-start (cheaper than a starter box, but not as durable as using the "bump start," and more weight on the truggy.)
About $500 will get you a decent RTR buggy... not a GOOD one, but a decent one. Not sure if you can find a decent RTR truggy that cheap or not. I haven't looked. This is NOT a cheap hobby... the $350 RTRs are ok for bashing, but not competitive in racing. They aren't as durable, they aren't as fast, and they are harder to get parts for. The servos will die a quick death in most cases, the engines are not as powerful OR as durable, and many parts are not equal to the quality of the better truggies.
I made the mistake of buying one of those cheap RTRs to start in this hobby. It was like driving down the highway and tossing money out the window. Don't do it.
The cheapest you will find a decent kit NEW is about $400. Then you need a radio (WIDE range of options there!) servos (plan on $50 each MINIMUM) motor (I think you can get a 3-port Go for like $100) pipe ($50 and up) etc. Figure $800 MINIMUM for all new stuff. Then you still need to be able to start it (ignitor and starter box) unless you go with a pull-start motor (you'll hate that, both from a durability AND effort perspective) or roto-start (cheaper than a starter box, but not as durable as using the "bump start," and more weight on the truggy.)
About $500 will get you a decent RTR buggy... not a GOOD one, but a decent one. Not sure if you can find a decent RTR truggy that cheap or not. I haven't looked. This is NOT a cheap hobby... the $350 RTRs are ok for bashing, but not competitive in racing. They aren't as durable, they aren't as fast, and they are harder to get parts for. The servos will die a quick death in most cases, the engines are not as powerful OR as durable, and many parts are not equal to the quality of the better truggies.
I made the mistake of buying one of those cheap RTRs to start in this hobby. It was like driving down the highway and tossing money out the window. Don't do it.
#10
I agree with DOMIT's summarization here.
If you even think you might take it to your local track ONCE, you are fooling yourself with a $350 budget. If you saying that you have $350 now and plan on spending more in $200 increments over a period of several months, then that is probably more realistic, even when it comes to just purchasing a 'basher' RTR.
BUT, if you are going to take it to a race track once or twice, plan on spending at least $500~850 on race kit, tools, and accessories. Look to buyout someone who's leaving the hobby in a package deal (Bump box, tools, spares, motor, electronics, rolling chassis). Plan on such a package deal being a minimum of $600 and up - depending on the quality of components...
If you even think you might take it to your local track ONCE, you are fooling yourself with a $350 budget. If you saying that you have $350 now and plan on spending more in $200 increments over a period of several months, then that is probably more realistic, even when it comes to just purchasing a 'basher' RTR.
BUT, if you are going to take it to a race track once or twice, plan on spending at least $500~850 on race kit, tools, and accessories. Look to buyout someone who's leaving the hobby in a package deal (Bump box, tools, spares, motor, electronics, rolling chassis). Plan on such a package deal being a minimum of $600 and up - depending on the quality of components...
#11
Tech Elite
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA, North America, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe
Posts: 4,034
Trader Rating: 1 (100%+)
Good "roller" (needs engine, pipe, radio, etc)
http://cgi.ebay.com/MUGEN-MBX5T_W0QQ...QQcmdZViewItem
Everything BUT the radio... even has servos.
http://cgi.ebay.com/KYOSHO-STR-ST-R-...QQcmdZViewItem
This one even has a radio...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kyosho-Inferno-S...QQcmdZViewItem
Losi Roller:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nitro-Losi-8T-Tr...QQcmdZViewItem
another one
http://cgi.ebay.com/new-losi-8-8ight...QQcmdZViewItem
If you absolutely MUST get an RTR, this is an acceptable start- but keep in mind that it isn't as good as a "pro kit," not even close.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HOBAO-HB-M7-ST-1...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/MUGEN-MBX5T_W0QQ...QQcmdZViewItem
Everything BUT the radio... even has servos.
http://cgi.ebay.com/KYOSHO-STR-ST-R-...QQcmdZViewItem
This one even has a radio...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kyosho-Inferno-S...QQcmdZViewItem
Losi Roller:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nitro-Losi-8T-Tr...QQcmdZViewItem
another one
http://cgi.ebay.com/new-losi-8-8ight...QQcmdZViewItem
If you absolutely MUST get an RTR, this is an acceptable start- but keep in mind that it isn't as good as a "pro kit," not even close.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HOBAO-HB-M7-ST-1...QQcmdZViewItem
#12
Tech Elite
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Fort Worth, Texas, USA, North America, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe
Posts: 4,034
Trader Rating: 1 (100%+)
This is actually decent for an RTR: (The Jammin is a GREAT, pro-quality truck)
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-in-box-Jammi...QQcmdZViewItem
Maybe the Caster... they're the new kids in town, but look ok
http://cgi.ebay.com/CASTER-RACING-1-...QQcmdZViewItem
Another Jammin
http://cgi.ebay.com/jammin-x1crt-tru...QQcmdZViewItem
Kyosho... again, if you MUST have an RTR, get a quality one like a Kyosho:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Must-Go-Kyosho-I...QQcmdZViewItem
Another Jammin.
http://cgi.ebay.com/OFNA-Jammin-X-1-...QQcmdZViewItem
Note that I've only put decent ones on here. The Hyper is the lowest end of them, that would be my last choice. The Caster I don't know enough about to say much. I've looked them over in person, and have driven a Caster buggy, but not an RTR. The quality LOOKS good, but only time will tell.
Hope that helps.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-in-box-Jammi...QQcmdZViewItem
Maybe the Caster... they're the new kids in town, but look ok
http://cgi.ebay.com/CASTER-RACING-1-...QQcmdZViewItem
Another Jammin
http://cgi.ebay.com/jammin-x1crt-tru...QQcmdZViewItem
Kyosho... again, if you MUST have an RTR, get a quality one like a Kyosho:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Must-Go-Kyosho-I...QQcmdZViewItem
Another Jammin.
http://cgi.ebay.com/OFNA-Jammin-X-1-...QQcmdZViewItem
Note that I've only put decent ones on here. The Hyper is the lowest end of them, that would be my last choice. The Caster I don't know enough about to say much. I've looked them over in person, and have driven a Caster buggy, but not an RTR. The quality LOOKS good, but only time will tell.
Hope that helps.
#13
Tech Master
iTrader: (11)
OCM RTR Truggy....Futaba sport radio....Futaba servos...Go Tech engine....less than $ 400.00.
E-mail Alan Burton at.... [email protected]
He will give any additional info you may need.
E-mail Alan Burton at.... [email protected]
He will give any additional info you may need.
#14
Does your brother in law have his heart set on a truggy? He might be better off going with a RTR 1/10 scale nitro truck. If he intends to race it he'd have to throw a lot less money at it to race ok with it. Plus if he can figure out how to drive a 2wd 1/10 scale nitro he'd be able to transition to other RC's pretty easy considering 2wd nitro is a handful.
#15
Uh... Here's where I disagree with DOMIT, if I'm interpreting his statement correctly (We may be saying the essentially the same thing, just differently)
The Hyper ST is a great truck. It is very competitive. The components coming with it to form the RTR Hyper ST package are probably mediocre at best. I'm not sure about the MacStar engines, they may be OK, but it is still an RTR engine. Same for the electronics. Servos may be OK, but I've not heard anything about them.
The truck itself is a competitive and capable platform. Just not a lot of Factory Ho Bao drivers running them in the US right now, so you don't hear about them so much. For bashing and an occasional race, it may still be overkill. This would be a better than average bashing package, IMO... Parts are durable and cheap...
I think those Kyosho packages on Ebay are pretty good deals if the prices don't escalate too much. Didn't look at all of them, though. Jammin' truggies are good rigs too! In fact, there aren't too many 'bad' truggies out there these days, as all of them have their positives.
The Hyper ST is a great truck. It is very competitive. The components coming with it to form the RTR Hyper ST package are probably mediocre at best. I'm not sure about the MacStar engines, they may be OK, but it is still an RTR engine. Same for the electronics. Servos may be OK, but I've not heard anything about them.
The truck itself is a competitive and capable platform. Just not a lot of Factory Ho Bao drivers running them in the US right now, so you don't hear about them so much. For bashing and an occasional race, it may still be overkill. This would be a better than average bashing package, IMO... Parts are durable and cheap...
I think those Kyosho packages on Ebay are pretty good deals if the prices don't escalate too much. Didn't look at all of them, though. Jammin' truggies are good rigs too! In fact, there aren't too many 'bad' truggies out there these days, as all of them have their positives.