If you or a friend ever had remote control (RC) cars during childhood, you remember how much pure fun they were. Sure, you weren't on real roads with a real car, but the simple feeling of steering and accelerating a scale model around was just as satisfying. It was all the reality you needed - no matter how crude the RC car was.
Then you grew up, got a real license, and put remote control cars out of your mind. Maybe you got into other things, or lost interest as you began to notice those old ones were actually pretty crude. However well they resembled a full-sized car or truck, their overall lack of reality and sophistication changed them from prized possessions into old outgrown toys.
We've got good news. Remote control cars have grown up too! If you're not sure what we mean, just take a look at some of the modern ones for sale on our website. Once you do, we're confident your old excitement will be renewed. And if you like cars but never had an RC before, you definitely owe it to yourself to read on.
Why? More specifically, the increased level of reality inherent on today's RC cars will impress you. Sophisticated multi-link suspensions, coilover springs with oil-filled shocks, fully functional differentials & gear boxes, flexible axles & driveshafts, and 4-wheel-drive setups that match production ones will make them very interesting to own. Easy-to-use control boxes with actual steering wheels will make them fun. And outer body shells that actually look like production designs down to the last detail will make them items to covet and display.
As you might imagine, not all modern RC vehicles are the same. So in this article, we'll discuss characteristics of each of the 6 types we offer, and highlight a few examples that can be found on our website. And if you think the cost would be prohibitive, don't worry. Despite all the modern RC car sophistication we mentioned, there's a style, model, and scale size for every budget.
For each RC car, we note its scale - an important fractional number reflecting the model's overall size relative to the size of the actual vehicle it's modeled after. For example, a 1:10 scale RC car is one-tenth the size of a real Ford F-150. It would also be larger than a 1:18 (one-eighteenth) scale RC of the same Ford F-150.
Features Found In Remote Control Cars
When it comes to features of modern RC cars, things have come a long way from older, simpler ones that simply steered, had big tires, and offered little (if any) up-down wheel travel.
Turns out there are a number of worthwhile features to consider these days. However, it's important to note that not all RC cars are equipped with all of these features. Nevertheless, it helps to be aware of them as you go through your own personal selection process. Predictably, higher-end RC vehicles that cost more are going to have more features. Don't let that be an automatic deterrent, because you may decide they're worth the extra cost.
For starters, you'll find a great number of RC cars and trucks we offer are equipped with full-time 4-wheel-drive - regardless of price level. Engines are usually in the back with differentials to distribute power to rear and front wheels. As you get into more sophisticated setups, advanced bearings and transfer cases provide better control over slippage so wheels don't bind up or spin too freely.
Vehicles noted as "2-wheel-drive" are usually always rear-wheel-drive, unless noted otherwise. While there actually are a few front-wheel-drive RCs such as the 1:28 Kyosho Honda Civic Type R electric and 1:10 Tamiya Mazda MX-5 Miata electric, the layout is not common.
Most RC vehicles are equipped with independent suspensions that allow wheels on each side of the vehicle to travel up and down independently of one another. Sometimes, RCs are fitted with solid (non-independent) axle setups - often on the rear, or to mirror those found on actual production vehicles. Coilover springs which combine springs and shock absorbers into one assembly are used across the board because of their space efficiency.
More advanced RCs will use a greater number of suspension control arms and linkages to match designs found on full-size automobiles. RCs with "double wishbone" setups do a much better job of keeping tires planted flat against the ground - especially as the ground changes underneath. Often, it makes the difference between a vehicle tipping over or not.
Some RC cars offer higher levels of adjustability when it comes to ride height, damper rate, and even wheel alignment. For example, you may be able to adjust the angles of toe, wheel camber, and even caster by changing shock absorber angles.
Advanced RC vehicles may feature chassis frame and suspension components made of light yet strong materials such as aluminum or even carbon fiber instead of plastic or steel. Naturally, this weight reduction improves acceleration, off-roading ability, and top speed. Contributing to all of those worthy goals, multi-speed gearboxes may contain up to 3 small planetary gears as well.
Types Of Motors
We've made every effort to note which type of motor each RC car is equipped with on our individual product pages. Below, we give a quick description of the electric and fuel motor choices you'll come across.
Electric Motors - Brushless or Brushed
When it comes to electric motors, you'll see two main styles - "brushed", and "brushless". Brushed motors are simpler and cheaper, but major components wear out quickly because metal brush pieces actually make physical contact with commutator pieces on the shaft to produce rotational force. Made of carbon, those brush pieces literally wear down to the point where they no longer function and must be replaced.
Brushless motors, however, can last indefinitely because they rely on magnetism to achieve the same result - not physical contact. Brushless motors are also more efficient, so they produce more power with the same amount of juice. Visually, brushless motors are sealed completely and have three wires running into them, while brushed motors have ventilation slots and only two wires.
Nitro Fuel Motors
Found in top drag "funny cars", these engines use nitro fuel, a methanol-based mixture boosted with 10% - 40% nitromethane as a performance additive along with small amounts of oil for cooling and lubrication. These are often described as "glow" motors, because they have no spark plug. Instead, they use a heated platinum-Iridium wire coil to create initial combustion when the engine is first started. Once the engine warms, power to the wire is shut off. At this point, ignition continues indefinitely thanks to a natural chemical reaction between the platinum wire and methanol fuel.
Gasoline Fuel Motors
As their name indicates, these engines use gasoline for fuel along with a traditional spark plug for combustion.
Pros and Cons
Since electric motor RC cars don't pollute or make loud noise, they are really the only choice for indoor use. RC cars with electric brushless motors generally cost more than brushed motors, but offer the advantage of better performance and maintenance-free operation. Note that "refueling" an electric battery requires hours of down time for charging instead of a quick fuel tank refill.
When it comes to fuel RCs, gasoline is cheaper and easier to obtain than nitro fuel - although both will be more expensive to run than electric-powered motors. Nitro motors usually deliver more power and speed than gasoline and electric ones. Both liquid fuels also typically offer longer running times than electric batteries do - although we recommend checking product pages for any listing of such specifications.
Road Cars
In our Road Cars subsection, we've got a number of realistic-looking vehicles that reflect OE production details and proportions accurately. Road cars are best suited to fast speeds on smooth, flat surfaces - not backyard or off-road use. Tires on road cars vary from grippy (but not aggressive) tread patterns to smooth slick tires with no tread. Such slick tires purposely allow the car to slide and spin out when you're in the mood to have a bit of fun.
With the exception of the gasoline-powered Kyosho 1:8 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, 1:8 Inferno GT2 Audi R8 and nitro-powered Redcat 1:10 Lightning STR Nitro On Road Car, all road cars we sell are electric.
Browsing by brand, you'll find our Carisma brand selection focuses on accurate representations of factory racecars. Kyosho, Tamiya, and World Tech Toys road cars offer highly accurate representations of mostly stock vehicles, while Red Cat and Team Associated road cars are mostly modified racers.
Trucks (4x4s and SEMIs)
In our Trucks section, you'll find mostly accurate representations of various pickup, SUV, semi trucks, and even construction vehicles. Wheel-to-body proportions and ride heights typically match factory settings of the vehicles they're modeled after. If you're interested in accurate stock replicas of factory 4x4s, take a look through our Tamiya and Team Associated offerings first.
Want a cool-looking RC semi truck? We've got them in the form of the Tamiya 1:14 Grand Hauler 2wd Electric Semi Truck (Peterbilt), Tamiya 1:14 Han Racing MAN 4wd Electric Truck (MAN), Tamiya 1:14 King Hauler 2wd Electric Semi Truck (Peterbilt), Tamiya 1:14 Knight Hauler 2wd Electric Semi Truck (Freightliner Coronado), and Tamiya 1:14 Globe Liner 2wd Electric Semi Truck (International cabover).
Monster Trucks
In our Monster Trucks section, you'll find pickups, SUVs, vans, and cars with accurate body shell representations of vehicle size and proportion. Body shells may or may be lifted high up, while tires are all of the grippy, oversized variety for traction in mud or snow. We've even got school busses, semi trucks, and snow plows!
Monster truck sizes are typically larger overall, with 1:12 and 1:10 scales making up the majority of the smaller end. If big is what you crave, we've also got a good selection of 1:8 and 1:5 scale RC monster trucks! Most are electric, but we do have a few nitro- and gasoline-powered choices.
Short Course Trucks
Short Course Trucks are mostly generic-looking pickup truck bodies that have been modified for the purposes of going fast over dirt or sand, in the same vibe as BAJA racing trucks. If accurate likenesses to specific makes and models are what you crave in 4x4s, you're more likely to find them in our Trucks or Monster Trucks subcategories.
Short course trucks we offer are mostly 1:10 scale electrics, with the exception being the nitro-powered Redcat Nitro Vortex SS 1:10 Scale Truck.
Buggies
Buggies feature very knobby, grippy tires that aren't oversized. Bodies are minimal and sit low for the purpose of creating a low center of gravity that's beneficial for racing on or off the pavement. Body designs tend toward generic-looking racecars or dune buggies, but we do offer several accurate vehicle representations in this section. Unlike rock crawlers, buggies are not created for extended wheel/suspension travel.
For nitro-powered buggies, we've got the Team Associated 1:8 Scale 4WD Nitro Buggy, Inferno MP10 1:8 Scale Buggy Kit (4wd), the Redcat Nitro Tornado S30 1:10 Scale Buggy (4wd), and even the build-your-own Kyosho MP9 1:8 Scale Spec A Off-Road Nitro Buggy Semi Assembled Kit which comes with everything except the body shell for those who want to fit their own.
If you prefer the easier accessibility of gasoline, we offer the gas-powered Redcat Gas Rampage RTR Dune Runner 1:10 Scale Buggy (4wd) and Gas Rampage Chimera 1:5 Scale Sand Rail.
Rock Crawlers
Rock Crawlers also have small, generic-looking bodies that tend to resemble 4x4s. However, the body shells are lifted to maximum suspension height to ensure the most ground clearance possible when climbing up onto rocks. Rock crawlers are least likely to get hung up on jagged edges, and they feature a relatively low center of gravity because most of their running gear weight is down low. Suspensions are specifically designed for huge amounts of wheel travel. All of the rock crawlers we offer feature electric motors.
For best value, check out Redcat's Electric Toy Rock (1:12, 4wd), Electric Brushed Everest-16 Crawler (1:16, 4wd), and Electric Brushed Sumo Crawler (1:24, 4wd).
Moving up to larger scales, you'll find the Redcat Electric Everest-10 Rock Crawler (1:10, 4wd), Redcat Brushed Rockslide RS10 XT Crawler, (1:10, 4wd), and the Clawback 1:5 Scale Rock Crawler (1:5, 4wd) with 4-wheel-steering among others.
So now you're ready. Go ahead and order that special RC car for someone you know who will really appreciate it - even if that someone is yourself! They make unforgettable birthday and Holiday presents - especially if the recipient has been a good boy or girl this year.
Note that in our Remote Control Toys main section, we also offer more than what you've just read about. To help you maintain your remote control car, we've got a great selection of repair parts, tools, and carrying bags to choose from. And for other remote-controlled fun, check out our selection of drones, helicopters, and boats!
We also encourage you to check through other sections of RECREATIONiD where you'll find great products for climbing, water sports equipment, camping & hiking, fishing, optical equipment, winter sports, helpful equipment for pets, and much more. If you have questions about anything on our website, we'll be happy to help on the phone seven days a week!