Same boat as you.

Ordered mine last weekend and it arrived Tuesday.



Bit daunting at first!



Built it gradually over 3 evenings during the week.



rather than rush it and do it all in one sitting.



Had to do some other stuff Saturday so only managed to spray the body that evening before going out. Cannot stand black cars (even little ones!). Stickered it up (badly) this morning while watching bike racing on TV.



Finally stuck the radio gear and wheels on it late this afternoon.



Post shakedown run in car park area. Haven't driven one in 25 years so its more than fast enough for me at the moment. Screw fell out of steering servo as it transpires I hadn't used the right one. Steering arm length had to be altered fairly substantially to that suggested as its not Tamiya radio gear.



Built a course in my garden and hacked round that for a bit. After 20 mins or so it was making a clacking noise under power and turns out a front driveshaft was popping out due to excessive float. Took the wheel and the tie bar off and put some more packing in at diff end to take up the slack.



And that's it, she's run in and I'm 14 again! Took close on an hour to drain a 4000mAh battery and I bought 3 of the things! Its going to get hacked round a Cornish quarry next weekend. If it survives 3 batteries without something drastic happening I'll be amazed!

I was in my local model shop this morning and got chatting as you do.

I have been pondering for some time a return to RC cars. I used to have a Tamyia Grasshopper (in body only as I got a bit interested in upgrading it).

I’d always wanted a Nitro kit, purely for the brum-brumness, smell etc. However, it seems, certainly near me, there are no clubs that cater for it.

I would like to join a club (I’m off to see my local indoor Astroturf one this weekend – he couldn’t speak highly enough of it) as I feel a bit of social interaction / competition will hold my interest longer than a slalom on my own in an empty car park. Therefore it looks like electric is the best way forward for me.

I asked him, bearing in mind I’m a beginner, what would be best based on:

Robust – I am going to crash it badly on regular occasions so don’t want to have it too broken for too long
Easy to Control
Easy on the wallet, for the meantime.
Ability to upgrade and adjust if the mood takes me.

The 2wd buggies look good for me, a bit versatile and tough. The big monster trucks look good as well. The proper scale cars, I think I would struggle to find somewhere to run it properly.

Anyway, he came back with 2 recommendations.

A “Losi 22” which he also had . A bottom line figure for the full beginners kit was quoted at £550 which I thought may be a bit heavy for my level. Did look good though.

Or a Ready to Run one, forget the name but I was quoted £350 by the time I had batteries, charger and swapped the US spec tyres so something more suitable.

The Kit was just that, needed to be built, that’s part of the fun, everything is changeable etc. The out the box one just needed batteries.

Are there any others that I should be looking at? I’m will need the “full hit” of radio, batteries etc so I’m interested in package deals as well. Second Hand / Ebay are not a problem.

Have a look at the Schumacher Cougar, it comes without radio/ESC/motor/tyres etc. but it is in kit form.

http://www.racing-cars.com/pp/Car_Showroom/Cougar_...

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/schumacher-cougar-sv2-...

Ok, before buying anything go to the local club and get an idea of the classes and kinds of cars being raced, buy a car that some of the regular drivers run that way if you break your car (and you will) you have a chance of borrowing some spares so your day isn't over.
Get on oople.com you will get lots of advice on there and the club section will show your local clubs, also there is plenty of decent second hand gear in the classified section.
Put simply do some research before buying anything

Thanks for the oople.com link. Didn't know it existed.

I'm off to the local club atthe weekend. Was just after some feedback regarding advice I was offered at my local shop.