Good RC car for 12 year old boy (his first)

[NutBucket]

Gas is kinda passe these days. A brushless electric is just as fast, if not faster. Plus, no reverse

 

[Red Squirrel]

For his first and for that age I'd just get a regular one you'd find in the store, and not spend more than $100. you will spend more going hobby grade and those things are FAST. He WILL break it by trying to see if he can jump the stairs, or jump the snow bank outside and land in traffic. It's inevitable. I know, because I was that age once, and I too had many remote controls that died at my mercy. That was before the "I wonder what's the max voltage this can handle" stage of my life.

 

[Kaido]

Told my son about the stampede and he loved the idea.

He said he wants gas powered though and i told him that they are too expensive. I might spring for 2wx electric though.

Not only expensive (ongoing price of fuel), but noisy for neighbors. Electric is much better for go-anywhere because you're not annoying anybody with the loud noise.

 

[NutBucket]

Gas isn't that loud....besides, that way they can hear you coming.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Bought the 4x4 Traxxas Stampede. Also bought one extra battery (the longest life one I could). my LHS prices were about the same as online which was nice.

It's all wrapped for x-mas but I did take it out of the box to make sure it worked. Holy Crap, this thing is insane. I have to tell my son that he can only use it outside. I might have to take him to a grass field to play with it to start. Thing is insane!

To bad the Slash isn't available in 4wd for the same price. Atleast as an option.

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, if you haven't tried "real" RC cars its pretty eye-opening how much faster they are than your standard toy store fare.

 

[rootaxs]

My main machine is a Traxxas Bandit that's slightly modified, while my special toy is a Tamiya Manta Ray that I've built, modified and rebuilt many times in the past couple of decades, since new. Don't play with it much though as parts are hard to come by.

That said, i enjoy playing with the Dromida SC, MT and DT "trucks". I have one of each so my kids and I can race and have fun together. They also have hop-up parts available if you want to go faster or crazier.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=dromida+rc

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Used to have a grasshopper as a kid too.....

Bought a Turnigy Trooper a few years ago and it has been a blast

WARNING: Be prepared to fix broken parts. These trucks are fairly sturdy but the speeds they travel at now create spectacular crashes. Things break. Fortunately there is great parts support from hobby king

 

[shortylickens]

https://www.amazon.com/Razor-McGrath-Rocket-Electric-Motocross/dp/B00IF13RPQ

Quit fuckin around.

 

[balloonshark]

Bought the 4x4 Traxxas Stampede. Also bought one extra battery (the longest life one I could). my LHS prices were about the same as online which was nice.

It's all wrapped for x-mas but I did take it out of the box to make sure it worked. Holy Crap, this thing is insane. I have to tell my son that he can only use it outside. I might have to take him to a grass field to play with it to start. Thing is insane!

To bad the Slash isn't available in 4wd for the same price. Atleast as an option.

Wow! You're a cool dad

The Traxxas ESCs have a learning mode you can turn on. Instructions should be in the manual which I suggest you read if you're new to RCs. Learning mode should cut the speed in half until he gets the hang of things.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Wow! You're a cool dad

The Traxxas ESCs have a learning mode you can turn on. Instructions should be in the manual which I suggest you read if you're new to RCs. Learning mode should cut the speed in half until he gets the hang of things.

I'm thinking about using that. We'll see.