Buying rtr and strip?
 

If it's been answered before sorry new to the forum and rc. I want to buy rc truck or buggy to convert to electric but not sure which way to go, buy rtr and sell off not needed parts to help fund new parts or buy a roller. I just don't want to get some used up vehicle that will need a bunch of $ when I could just start new. I don't have unlimited funds but don't mind paying for quality do not want to end up paying twice. Sorry if it's a dumb question I will try to keep them to a minimum till I get a little more experience. I'm not real concerned at this time about speed as much as a truck or buggy I can upgrade for speed as my skill level increases. I will start with less powerful motor and or gearing. Thanks for the site and all the valuable information on it. I'm learning every day.

If this is posted in wrong thread please delete.

Depending on the model you want and the versions that are available to you, you have several options:

1 - Buy a used roller - you can get a good buy, but like you said you can also just end up putting more money into it in the long run for replacement parts just to get it going. I personnaly wouldn't go this way unless it's from a reputable person because I've been burnt on this end and had to basically strip everything and replace bearings, diff with missing gear teeth, drivetrains - cost a fortune in the long rung.

2 - Buy a new Race Roller - generally it will be a kit to put together (unless something like the CRT.5 which is almost RTR but still need electronics including servos, receiver, ESC and motor). This will get you the best quality IMO as you are paying for a model with higher quality parts.

3 - Buy a RTR and sell off the parts - I will only do this if this is the only way to purchase a particular model. Generally you don't the all the hop-up parts in the kit and there is some skimping on the good parts to allow for the cost of a very basic nitro or electric system, basic radio/receiver (which IMO won't work well with a BL setup and will be very suseptible to glitching). You can expect to maybe get back $100 of the cost selling of the nitro parts and the radio stuff.

RCTech is a good place to look at buying used, but avoid e-bay at all costs for a used roller. e-bay may be good to get different used parts though (motors and receivers and radios and such). I would also hesitate on buying used batteries as you don't know how well they've been treated.

rtr or strip.
 

Thanks, I will go with your option 2 race roller.

Thanks again, Apollo

When I'm buying a car to race competitively I prefer to buy new. If I do buy it used it has to be one of those "only drove it twice" type cars. However, if buying something for fun or just to try it I look for good deals on used. I just recently bought a used CRT.5 ($300 shipped) that was already converted to electric, had many many upgrades, and included a good motor, esc, and lipo. I bought it for my wife to use and its working great. My own personal E-CRT.5 that started as a race roller has at least a $1000 into it with batteries, conversion kit, electronics, and extra tires.

I know you pm'ed me and I threw some info your way, but in order for the forum to assist in the purchase some general information would be a good start:

1 - Are you looking for something to race or just enjoy bashing around?

2 - If racing, what classes does your track run? If bashing, what types of surfaces do you think you'll be running on (ie: driveway, parking lot, dirt, gravel, grass, construction sites, etc......)?

3 - What is your budget?

4 - Besides the model, what else do you need (ie: radio, receiver, esc, motor, servos)?

5 - What sort of speeds are you looking for? Speed comes with a price... better motors, better batteries, more broken parts. Something reliable around ~30-35mph could be obtainable for much less $$ than something reliable running at 45-50mph.

rtr or strip?
 

1) I would like to start racing but was trying to do it on a learning curve. Don't want to build out of control screaming fast. I like to just be some what competitive and grow and gain the skill to be a good driver instead of just a repair man. The reason not to go nitro for me.

2) We have some local outdoor tracks here in Florida (Tampa area) so I can get practice time in. I don't want to be the guy that cost someone the race. As I get a comfort level with the truck or buggy. We also have plenty grass or dirt areas to play in.

3) No budget-- more of the correct mid or upper level rc. I can increase the motor and batteries as skill increases.

4) I will need it all radio, receiver, esc, motor, servos. That's why I was thinking RTR.

5) I would think 30-35? to start out.

Thanks and any advice would be great.