As with first getting into any hobby, when you first start reading about remote control (RC) you’ll find that’s there is an overwhelming amount of information. From the type of racing you want to start to the motor and the style, there are lots to think about, and buying your first RC can be expensive. In this article, we have condensed things down to help you pick your first RC car, and hopefully cut down some of the experimentings you need to do to get the car you want.

Type of RC cars racing: On-road vs. Off-road

Most people wanting to get into RC car racing are first interested in on-road. These cars can be raced almost anywhere, from parking lots to entirely designed courses. On-road RC cars are generally based on real life, full-sized touring cars, and look closely like the cars you’ll see on TV. The vehicles are downsized but contain many of the similar components including full working suspension for going over rough surfaces, four-wheel drive, a variety of tires for different types of terrain. Slick tires for smooth surfaces vs. tires with more tread and the bit inside are generally made out of a high-performance material like carbon fiber or aluminum. These cars are specifically designed to perform on smooth, tarmac surfaces. They can be extremely fast, and with the correct setup handle tight corners and accelerate quickly. These cars are not built for more difficult terrain though, and dirt tracks, jumps, and mud will quickly slow down or even break your car, so be careful! The tires and suspension are not built to handle this type of terrain, and the low ground clearance that is useful for on-road cars makes off-road driving very difficult. If you have a right-sized road, pavement or car park through an on-road car can be extremely rewarding and very fun. Off-road cars are built differently, with more ground clearance, bigger tires and a more robust suspension. They are generally four-wheel drive to deal with the more difficult environment. These cars are built to handle almost anything, from grass to mud, speed bumps and jumps. They can be used on the road too, making these generally more versatile cars if you are planning on going to a variety of environments, but the performance won’t be nearly as good.

Engine: Electric vs. Nitro

For those that don’t know, Nitro RC cars are powered by gas, similar to a traditional full-sized vehicle. This means that you get an excellent, realistic experience including the sounds and smell of a real engine. These can be tweaked to run very quickly (up to 60 miles per hour for some) and can run all day once set up properly. Electric motors should not be disregarded though. Modern electric motors can be high-speed and are often more reliable and take less maintenance than the Nitro RC cars alternatives. An excellent example of this is the rc goliath. They only take a plug and wire to charge and can be charged in less than half an hour. Perhaps it’s time to check out a new hobby in the world of RC racing!