Guide to RC Cars

"From the cheapest to the fastest, gas vs electric, Tamiya r/c guide, hundreds of tips and more."

For over 30 years I've been having fun playing and racing radio controlled cars. Here are articles and tips to help you choose, buy and race r/c cars. Have fun! ~ Joel

Photo of various radio control rc cars.

Photo: Many types of radio controlled cars such as F1, Mini, Touring and Buggy.

Gas or Electric?

Beginners are usually attracted to the loud and fast gas powered rc cars. However, electric models might be best for a first timer and especially for younger kids.

RC Cars - Gas vs Electric

Above is a side by side photo of a nitro powered versus electric powered radio control car. To help you decide, please read the gas vs electric rc cars guide.

Most commonly asked question is "How fast do they go" and "How much do they cost?" And my answer is "fast enough" and "cheap or as expensive as you want the hobby to be." Here is a cheap rc car racing against the latest racing machines.

R/C Cars

Photo: Tamiya Radio Controlled RC Cars. Rock Crawler and Sand Scorcher.

This is a really fun hobby, I started in 1978 and still continue to enjoy the hobby more than ever. Whether it is simply bashing around the house or racing in other countries, I simply love rc cars! Here are some large wallpaper photos of rc cars.

Models of R/C Cars

The most popular models are Touring Cars, Formula 1 (F1), Mini's, Drift and Buggies. All have entry level kits all the way up to high quality competition racing machines. These can either be powered by electric, nitro or gas/petrol. Common scale sizes are 1/36, 1/28, 1/24, 1/16, 1/12, 1/10, 1/8 and 1/5. Popular are 1/12, 1/10, and 1/8.

If you're just getting started, the cheapest rc cars can be bought for less than $100 USD. These are typically rc car toys such as Jada and Nikko.

Below is my price comparison database to help you make a buying decision.

Cheapest RC Cars (Below $100)

Beginner RC Cars ($100 - $200)

Fast RC Cars ($200 - $300)

Ultra Fast RC Models (Over $300)

Here you will find the fastest 1/10 and 1/8 scale gas rc cars capable of speeds in excess of 50+ miles per hour. These are some of the biggest and fastest rc cars in the rc hobby!

Tamiya R/C Cars Guide by Moko Chan

Here is an easy to understand guide from Tamiya. These are old but the tips and ideas are still mostly applicable today. If you are a beginner, please read these guides. The cartoon character and illustration makes learning fun.

Part 1: Electric Powered R/C Model Cars

Part 2: Off-Road R/C Cars

Part 3: R/C Car Preparation and Maintenance

Part 4: Electric R/C Car Races

Part 5: Tamiya R/C Guide Book

Part 6: Tamiya Ni-Cad Battery

Part 7: Radio Control Car Safety

Part 8: Assembling a Radio Control Model Vehicle

Part 9: R/C Cars Spare Parts

Part 10: Painting R/C Cars

Part 11: Radio Control Equipment

Part 12: R/C Car Bodies