Advice on radio controlled car

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E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#230530 28-Feb-2018 10:21

So I am sick of all the super crap frustrating nasty radio controlled toys that people keep buying our little boy...yes he is only 4 (going on 5), but if given something that is slow and functionally poor (not to mention eats batteries continually) then everyone gets annoyed.

With that in mind, I am considering getting him something a little more substantial and would appreciate any thoughts people might have around best places to look/buy these things?

I would love it to be robust (ie can take the knocks), rechargeable (in a reasonable period of time) and have a reasonable run time. Doesn't need to be mind blowing fast, as he is just a little boy after all. Oh and ready to roll (RTR) as I am not in the state of mind to build it from scratch :)

Anyone have any ideas/input etc?

Cheers

tchart

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#1965598 28-Feb-2018 10:31

Get Maisto Rock Crawler (not the Jr version). Wait for 30-50% off at the Warehouse. (Oh snap I see they dont have them online anymore, so keeop a look out in store as they may be on clearance).

Its not fast but it goes anywhere and takes the knocks. Comes with rechargable battery and charger too.

I've used mine at the beach, on roicks, grass, in the snow. Its great!

Altrernatively if your family is indoorsy look at the Maisto drift cars. They cheap (<$50) and the batteries last. They are all wheel drive so they actually drift on smooth surfaces good fun if you are confimed to inside the house.

Maybe when your kid is bigger look at the Nikko evolution range but they are quite fast.

Then later Tamiya, builr your own etc...

BLazeD

239 posts

Master Geek

#1965602 28-Feb-2018 10:34

tchart:

Get Maisto Rock Crawler (not the Jr version). Wait for 30-50% off at the Warehouse. (Oh snap I see they dont have them online anymore, so keeop a look out in store as they may be on clearance).

Its not fast but it goes anywhere and takes the knocks. Comes with rechargable battery and charger too.

I've used mine at the beach, on roicks, grass, in the snow. Its great!

Altrernatively if your family is indoorsy look at the Maisto drift cars. They cheap (<$50) and the batteries last. They are all wheel drive so they actually drift on smooth surfaces good fun if you are confimed to inside the house.

Maybe when your kid is bigger look at the Nikko evolution range but they are quite fast.

Then later Tamiya, builr your own etc...

Great advice! Bookmarking for when my kid is older :D

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1965635 28-Feb-2018 11:00

Nice - thanks for the input.

haha the indoor drift car sounds like it would be great fun on wooden floors, but horrendous on skirting boards until the necessary dexterity is obtained!! :P But yeah this will be going indoors and outdoors, so versatility is a solid attribute....

Any thoughts about getting these sorts of things from overseas places (dare I say it aliexpress etc?)

tchart

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#1965644 28-Feb-2018 11:15

E3xtc:

Any thoughts about getting these sorts of things from overseas places (dare I say it aliexpress etc?)

Cant see why not. I would however warn that aliexpress probably doesnt have a middle ground. They would have slow/cheap/no spares or fast/expensive/spares. I have a fast/expensive one off aliexpress, its good value.

Had a quick look on aliexpress and the S.X. Toys Rock Crawler looks like a knock off of the Maisto series. So probably a safe bet - but for ~US$50 you may want to just keep an eye out at your local warehouse.

PS sorry to keep banging on about rock crawlers but they are good fun, with normal street RC cars you get a bit bored of driving in circles, while with crawlers you can go anywhere and my kids loved making challenging tracks to see what it could do - think blankets, books, rocks, dad etc

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1965645 28-Feb-2018 11:18

Sounds good - I will start trolling The Warehouse :D

Thanks again!

davidcole

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#1965655 28-Feb-2018 11:20

I got a warehouse rock crawler, price was ok, it had big wheels

Soz rotation, it's fine on google photos...and I couldn't link directly to it.

But omg very slow.....ok yes it's a rock crawler...but trying to drive + turn it almost stops. Very disappointing.

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Mistenfuru

198 posts

Master Geek

#1965733 28-Feb-2018 12:01

I've bought numerous Rock-Crawler type RCs from Aliexpress, they have outperformed their cost equivalent NZ brands many times over.

example: you can buy a $50 rock-crawler with Li-On battery on Aliexpress, for $50 here you'd struggle to buy something remotely decent (possibly a Triko car, but the life expectancy would be nowhere near as high.)

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fearandloathing

503 posts

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#1965740 28-Feb-2018 12:14

Check out what’s available here http://www.topshelf-rc.co.nz/catalog/