Switch Blade

I was thinking about this today....Say u race modified, and replace your brushes every two runs for maximum performance...and you run 4 times during practice, maybe even more...plus 3 qualifiers and one main, 6 runs....if brushes are about $4 a pair, that is 24 dollars per race day, say u race 2 times per month, 48 per month....a gallon of gas is about 20 dollars Ive heard that on a 75 cc tank, a gallon of gas can fill up the tank 55 times(about).....say an average race at a club is 30 min...plus 4 practice runs and 3(at 5 min)qualifiers plus main...at about 5 minutes on a tank of gas, that is about 13 fill ups...a gallon of gas could last you about 4 races....i might have messed up some where, back to elec. 4 races worth of brushes would be about 96 dollars(including 4 practice rounds, 3 qualifiers, and main) Thats 76 dollars saved...i think i screwed up somewhere up there....well if you catch something i didn't please tell me

Evoracer

iTrader: (24)

Just wondering...Where's the cost of regular Piston and Sleeve replacement and glow plugs?? . Good Luck

Switch Blade

lol....i new i missed something(or thingshehehehehe im not a nitro driver so that never ran through my mind.......well ive seen piston and sleves go for 70 for a .12 more or less(like i said i don't do nitro so don't know) glow plugs 6-7 or more for turbo......ya but a piston and sleve you don't need to replace after every race or races.....don't know average life on glow plug....dang u got me

o well....just a thought

Evoracer

iTrader: (24)

Ehh....somebody had to do it...might as well be one of us po' little electric guy's !! I honestly believe electric is cheaper if you take EVERYTHING into consideration but.....bottom line is we'll all pay the price to do what we love whether it's Nitro or Electric. Have to go now...some Nitro guy got exhaust goo all over my shoes and I can't breath because of those nasty fumes!!

Cyclonus

I think it comes out about the same, with if anything electric being the more expensive. If you go to replacing a piston and sleve, why not talk about replacing the comm on a mod motor. Thats $40 right there, and a comm doesnt take half as long to wear out as a piston and sleve. And electric to get to the top levels of competition the entry cost is much greater. A charger, power suply, soldering iron, and atleast 3 $80+ packs just to name a few things. If you take a good ESC and mod motor, that comes to about the same as a nice engine. Both need a TX and RX so no diference there, a nitro needs an extra servo, so maybe cancel one of the batt packs off the list if you go all out on your throtle servo. Then you have a starter box, and glow ignitor, so maybe cancel out the other two packs for that junk, and electrics are still ahead by the power suply, a good charger, and a soldering iron which puts electrics around $200-300 ahead atleast.

utieh

iTrader: (3)

I noticed by experience that everything were cheaper when u make good choices of equipement in the beginning, it just needs time to think what stuff that u will get, it s like a strategy or a planning, in both case nitro or electric u will not just buy 1 esc or one engine in your R/C life, so just think before buying how long u can keep the stuff .

ausracer

nitro tourer is way more expensive for tires then mod tourer. nitro use a set foams in one race day. in electric a set of foams last me about 4 race meets. also in nitro your far more likely to traction roll and chunk a tire.

Cole Trickle

From what I've heard, electric are more expensive initially, but in the long run, electric shold be cheaper.

Not that I care, because I dont like nitros, so I'll just stick with my electric, and dont even think about comparing prices !

popsracer

I would say it depends on what level you are at. For the basher, electric is least expensive. For an experienced driver just getting into electric, it is definitely MORE expensive to buy the top notch equipment you need to be competitive. I usually get 18-24 months out of my Nitro engines (using 30% nitro), and about 8-10 runs on my Electric Stock motors before cutting the Com.
Nitro cars are definitely harder on Tires, but if you pick compounds and inserts correctly (for rubber), they will last for several months of racing. And nothing beats the sound and power of a Nitro powered Car and if you keep your Car well maintained, the mess is minimal.

Dan

iTrader: (75)

I agree with pops. I first got into rc's with an electric because it was cheap at first but to be very competitive and for the best equipment, its actually more expensive than nitro but not too much more. Thats why I left electric and moved onto nitro racing (more fun too but thats my opinion.)

I am however going back to electric to run in a Tamiya spec class at my local track. Its fun and a lot easier on the wallet. I don't want to spend another grand on a full race electric setup. Don't get me wrong, both are fun but like they say, different strokes for different folks.

Boomer

Just another topic repeat.

So a repeat post. . .

This has actually been hashed around and I haven't found anything significant to add to any of the three lists yet. . .

Aurra Sing

You need to add a power supply to that list

Herminator

How about adding the approximate cost of a years racing for all three?
Don't forget anything you might need to clean the cars etc. If I had a clue about nitro racing I'd do it myself but I don't. Too messy for me.

weaponx

iTrader: (49)

the bottom line is they are both costly so race what you want and enjoy it.

Evoracer

iTrader: (24)

AMEN !! God knows if we had to justify our expenditures we'd all been in straight jackets !!