RC Cars Should You Buy an RTR or a Kit?


Defined Tag: RC Car Kits.

There are a few terms that every person who is new to the world of radio controlled vehicles will have to learn, and the terms kit and RTR are perhaps the most important to understand. In order to make a sound comparison between various models of RC car you will need to understand the difference between RTR and kit vehicles.

In the world of the radio controlled car, the term RTR means “ready to run”, and it means just that. A vehicle sold as RTR should be ready to run straight out of the box. This means you should be able to open the box, read the instructions and get ready to roll. In most cases it will make sense to spend a couple of minutes preparing the engine for its first use, but soon enough you should be racing around your favorite RC racetrack or other smooth surface.

The other choice is to purchase a kit and build your own radio controlled car or truck. While kits are generally less expensive than RTR models, they will require some work and some skill to put together. It is important to take your level of expertise and mechanical skill into account before purchasing a kit, and in most cases kits will be most appropriate for those who already have some experience in the world of RC cars and trucks.

For that reason, most newcomers to the RC hobby will begin with a ready to run model radio controlled car or truck. In many cases it is possible to purchase a basic model RTR car or truck for less than $100. More elaborate and powerful RTR models will sell for more, but most electric powered RC cars and trucks will be priced under $500. Some exotic and highly desirable models of radio controlled car and truck, of course, may cost more.

It is important for the new radio controlled vehicle enthusiast to decide what type of vehicle to buy. Virtually every type of vehicle is available in the RC world, from sports cars and touring cars to monster trucks and dune buggies. In addition there are cars and trucks designed for both on and off road use, so it is important to take those needs into account when shopping for your first RC car or truck.