Before you start looking at nitro RCs to buy, you need to ask yourself what you want from your nitro RC. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Where do you plan on driving your nitro RC? Take into consideration the properties you have access to, the size of the properties, and the neighbors. Common places to drive nitro RCs are your own back yard, the street near your home, nearby parking lots (paved or dirt), and nearby RC tracks. Put a heavy bias on the properties that are closest to you, as that is where you will likely do the majority of your driving.
- Do you want the simplest experience as far as operation and maintenance? If so, buying a new nitro RC is likely the best bet as you can assume the vehicle is complete and in good working order upon arrival.
- Will it bother you when parts break and you have to stop driving? If so, you’ll want to consider less powerful or more durable vehicles as well as restricting your driving to on-road where parts are less likely to break.
- Do you want to restore an older model back to its glory? If so, you’ll obviously be looking at used nitro RCs and will need to do your research to determine how difficult it will be to obtain parts and knowledge that will help you complete the project.
- Do you want to bash now, but possibly get into racing later? Visit your local RC track on race night to see what nitro classes are being run. One option is to buy the RTR or basher version of one of the racing classes. This way you can learn the dynamics of the class for much cheaper (RTR will cost you ~$500 while a full racing setup is $1,000+). If you ever decide to start racing later, you can sell your RTR and buy a race-grade vehicle that will actually compete.
Ponder these questions so you can know exactly what you want before purchasing your first nitro RC.