OT - Recommendations on entry-level RC car or drone?

GrateEggspectations

The little man is probably a little young for a remote controlled car or a drone, but I was nonetheless thinking that maybe Santa could pad his haul with another gift. Can anyone recommend a good remote controlled car or drone in the $50-200 range? Thanks!

lousubcap

No recommendations here but I would start with the car as it should have a longer life span than a three dimensional drone (unless this is a back way to get one yourself... ).  

kl8ton

Traxxas rc cars. See if there is a dealer near you. Many affordable options. Our dealer is awesome. Replacement parts are readily available and many times they will fix the car for us same day.  Some of the entry level RC cars from Traxxas will do 35 mph out of the box.  

GrateEggspectations

@lousubcap

I thought a car would be easier for him to operate. Also couldn’t end up in a neighbour’s yard the way a drone could. Hadn’t thought about using it myself (though maybe I should?). 

@kl8ton

Thanks for the recommendation. Am looking into them now. 

kl8ton

GrateEggspectations said:

@lousubcap

I thought a car would be easier for him to operate. Also couldn’t end up in a neighbour’s yard the way a drone could. Hadn’t thought about using it myself (though maybe I should?). 

@kl8ton

Thanks for the recommendation. Am looking into them now. 

I think we have 3 stampedes, a hoss, and a rustler maybe?  

waynej

Traxxas car is the way to go. Can purchase online if you don't have a local hobby shop. Never purchase a entry level drone without GPS, it will be a broken mess within two days.

littlerascal56

Traxxas electric car or truck.  Easy to repair and keep running. In a couple years, upgrade to nitro. It’s a blast.

CPFC1905

I suspect the good people of the Chinese intelligence services would prefer you went for a drone with cell-phone telemetry, saves them millions on satellite surveillance. 

Ozzie_Isaac

A benefit of starting with a car/truck is the driver learns to deal with changing orientation.  Pre-video games this was not a skill kids had naturally.  Easier to learn when only dealing with 2 dimensions.

Langner91

As a kid, I struggled with the directional difference of an RC car, boat, or aircraft relative to the direction of travel.

For instance, when the RC device is headed the same direction I am looking, left on the controller is left on the vehicle.  When bringing it back toward me, left on the controller is still left on the vehicle, but right to me.

As a kid, my most horrific crashes involved the vehicle coming toward me.

As an adult, we process that difference pretty quickly, but as a kid, it caused a lot of frustration.

lkapigian

Tinyhawk has some good whoop drones in that range, pretty bulletproof and indoor friendly ( and waterproof I know LOL ) Love my DJI FPV and highly recommend but out of that price point 

I know nothing about RC Cars 

Legume

I was going to say go to Radio Shack for entry level RC, but I think they’re dead now.

HeavyG

Legume said:

I was going to say go to Radio Shack for entry level RC, but I think they’re dead now.

Just go to Toy's r Us then...

Canugghead

Legume said:

I was going to say go to Radio Shack for entry level RC, but I think they’re dead now.

Actually in the GWN 'The Source' is the incarnation of former Radio Shack.

alaskanassasin

Canugghead said:

Legume said:

I was going to say go to Radio Shack for entry level RC, but I think they’re dead now.

Actually in the GWN 'The Source' is the incarnation of former Radio Shack.

What are you guys calling Blockbuster?

Legume

alaskanassasin said:

Canugghead said:

Legume said:

I was going to say go to Radio Shack for entry level RC, but I think they’re dead now.

Actually in the GWN 'The Source' is the incarnation of former Radio Shack.

What are you guys calling Blockbuster?

🤣

Canugghead

alaskanassasin said:

Canugghead said:

Legume said:

I was going to say go to Radio Shack for entry level RC, but I think they’re dead now.

Actually in the GWN 'The Source' is the incarnation of former Radio Shack.

What are you guys calling Blockbuster?

P***hub, HQ in GWN 🤣

littlerascal56

Go big or go home.  This truck is huge! It’s a blast to run on the golf course fairways!
Watch some of the videos on you-tube to get a feeling of how big, and how fast it is.

saluki2007

I bought 2 of these for my girls this summer (5 & 7) and they are still going strong. Powerful enough to drive through the yard and rolled them off the deck plenty of times to call them tough. I would say they are great for a starter car. Obviously you might not be looking at the pink one. Lol. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B089Y9DMVV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

GrateEggspectations

Thanks to all for some great leads, though I can’t say I’ll be biting on the X-Maxx 8S just yet. 😂

JohnInCarolina

GrateEggspectations said:

Thanks to all for some great leads, though I can’t say I’ll be biting on the X-Maxx 8S just yet. 😂

C’mon Joel - go BIG or GO HOME!  lol

TEXASBGE2018

We bought this for our son. It is great, you can adjust the shocks and it can go up to 30mph. Still going strong after 3 years. I think it's around $130 on Amazon.

alaskanassasin

@TEXASBGE2018 no?

Canugghead

GrateEggspectations said:

The little man is probably a little young for a remote controlled car or a drone, but I was nonetheless thinking that maybe Santa could pad his haul with another gift. Can anyone recommend a good remote controlled car or drone in the $50-200 range? Thanks!

'nuff said

TEXASBGE2018

alaskanassasin said:

@TEXASBGE2018 no?

As long as he doesn't park it in the front yard of his sisters Barbie dream house I think we are good.

alaskanassasin

@TEXASBGE2018 I can’t find a white one but a red one would be just as fun.

Lowcountrygamecock

Traxxas all the way. Buy once, cry once. My boys loved theirs and parts are easy to find and easy to replace. Yes they will break but all of them will and it’s better to be able to replace broken parts than toss a cheap RC car and start over. 

GrateEggspectations

Just revising this thread. Little man has a ton of sub-$125 RC cars, but nothing fancy yet. Going to get him a nice one with week. 

(Don’t lambaste me for saying this, but….)

I’ve read that Traxxas feature plastic gears and that Arrma features all metal gears and widely available parts. Saw some opinions saying Arrma anf Tekno were now at the top of the heap. 

Is Traxxas still the way to go, or are there other brands I should be considering?

Would like something electric, something he can grow with, and I’m willing to spend up to $1000 CAD for the right car. 

kl8ton

GrateEggspectations said:

Just revising this thread. Little man has a ton of sub-$125 RC cars, but nothing fancy yet. Going to get him a nice one with week. 

(Don’t lambaste me for saying this, but….)

I’ve read that Traxxas feature plastic gears and that Arrma features all metal gears and widely available parts. Saw some opinions saying Arrma anf Tekno were now at the top of the heap. 

Is Traxxas still the way to go, or are there other brands I should be considering?

Would like something electric, something he can grow with, and I’m willing to spend up to $1000 CAD for the right car. 

We have a couple Traxxas dealers around here. Parts, in my opinion, are cheap and plentiful. With how fast these cars/trucks go, things break. It's nice to walk in and grab a part and walk out. Do you have dealers of any brand near you?  I don't have experience with the other brands you mentioned. It would be hard for me to move away from Traxxas. Now that more of my kids drive, the rc cars are not used as much. Dirt bikes and fishing are the hobbies currently at the forefront. 

GrateEggspectations

kl8ton said:

GrateEggspectations said:

Just revising this thread. Little man has a ton of sub-$125 RC cars, but nothing fancy yet. Going to get him a nice one with week. 

(Don’t lambaste me for saying this, but….)

I’ve read that Traxxas feature plastic gears and that Arrma features all metal gears and widely available parts. Saw some opinions saying Arrma anf Tekno were now at the top of the heap. 

Is Traxxas still the way to go, or are there other brands I should be considering?

Would like something electric, something he can grow with, and I’m willing to spend up to $1000 CAD for the right car. 

We have a couple Traxxas dealers around here. Parts, in my opinion, are cheap and plentiful. With how fast these cars/trucks go, things break. It's nice to walk in and grab a part and walk out. Do you have dealers of any brand near you?  I don't have experience with the other brands you mentioned. It would be hard for me to move away from Traxxas. Now that more of my kids drive, the rc cars are not used as much. Dirt bikes and fishing are the hobbies currently at the forefront. 

Thanks for the response. Yes, a dealer about 30 mins from me has a wide variety of brands, including Traxxas. 

https://www.greathobbies.com/rccars-trucks/

GrateEggspectations

Another few questions:

Is street or off road generally favoured?

RWD or AWD?

Thanks!