any suggestions for the "best" beginner?1st 5th scale

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fatbob360

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hpi baja vs km (i know thats a "touchy" topic)

hpi baja vs redcat rampage xb/xt (2wd vs4wd and totally different overall)

or any other suggestion of if at all possible cheaper?most bang-4-buck...i have been reading and reading and youtube and forums and i just cant decide what i want...im not a racer (no local tracks within hows distance) so mostly will be running at parks and few sand pit ares...i would really prefer not to spend my life savings on one but im open to suggestions! like the losi 5ive for instance...higher price tag like the hpi, but is it work the initial cost? i hope im not jumping around too much, just really need some good advice or opinions.

redcat xb/xt vs king motor baja i would say are my top 2 choices, as far as king motor goes i don't know if the base 5b 23cc or 30.5 or t1000 is better worse whatever....all preference i guess? no clue what to do...thank you all for the advice! im trying my very best to learn and expand my knowledge of the hobby, i been wanting to go 1/5 scale forever, its finally time! thanks again
 
fill in your location in the user cp then we know where you are and you will receive better help and advice based on availability in your area ;)
 
The redcat 4X4 will give you better control and better driving but that will include more maintenance also. The XB and the XT is the same format just a different bumpers and tires. The king motors will allow much more aftermarket parts to hopup your car redcat will not have near as many hopups. I feel they are all good cars in there own right and they all have there different problems 1 way or another. My best advice is to get what you can afford and like and have big fun and upgrade parts when you want or when something breaks because they all have in common that they break.
 
best for a beginner hmm..

tbh if i was just starting off, id go for a second hand FG (such as Marder) ...take 1 heck of a battering, been around for years so tried & tested, parts readily available & cheap.

You could prob pick up a decent used one with some alloy hop ups & tuned pipe if you feel lucky for around the £350-400 mark, which is about the same price a new clone!

for a rough guide on used prices:

FG Marder:
Well used poor condition: around £200
Good condition: £3-400
Good condition + hop ups & tuned pipe: £400+ depending on hop ups etc

like i say thats just a ROUGH guide dude :)

as for 2WD & 4WD... this is a whole new subject! ..both have there pros & cons... but a general factor, will you be bashing/fun or racing?

for fun i think 2WD is the way to go, for racing then 4WD which gives it a more of a point & go attitude :)
 
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fg all day long best in the uk for spares ebays the place to look thre was a tidy looking bug that went for under 300 the other day rtr with a few upgrades plus if your not clued up there easy to learn on and fix,maybe not as good in the handleing department as the mcd's losi,s and hpi/clone bajas
 
It depends on your location IMO. FG's and Marder's, while great 1/5's, don't have a ton of parts support here in the states.

For a beginner I'd suggest an HPI, for 2 reasons. The first being the huge parts support here on a local level, and online. The second reason is when a beginner is looking for help or advice, owning a true HPI will get more people focusing on helping, and less bickering about how you shouldn't have bought a clone. I have an HPI and a clone, and they're pretty much the same thing (as a "clone" should be). But a beginner IMO, doesn't need the grief that comes from HPI owners by purchasing a clone. Even though I feel the clones are a better option.

If not the HPI (or a clone), then I'd suggest a Redcat of some sort. Good parts support, and great online support, and in general a great 1/5.
 
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19cobra93 said:
It depends on your location IMO. FG's and Marder's, while great 1/5's, don't have a ton of parts support here in the states.

For a beginner I'd suggest an HPI, for 2 reasons. The first being the huge parts support here on a local level, and online. The second reason is when a beginner is looking for help or advice, owning a true HPI will get more people focusing on helping, and less bickering about how you shouldn't have bought a clone. I have an HPI and a clone, and they're pretty much the same thing (as a "clone" should be). But a beginner IMO, doesn't need the grief that comes from HPI owners by purchasing a clone. Even though I feel the clones are a better option.

If not the HPI (or a clone), then I'd suggest a Redcat of some sort. Good parts support, and great online support, and in general a great 1/5.
Click to expand...

LOL don't say you have a clone just tell them you have a baja and need help LMAO
 
I was in the same boat, not knowing what to get... I decided to get this:King Motor 5B, simply because of the entry level price tag, I can get two (my first 5th and my son's Nitro is being replaced) ...

Waiting on February to pull the trigger.
 
rcspeedmart said:
LOL don't say you have a clone just tell them you have a baja and need help LMAO
Click to expand...

True. That's what most of the HBF peeps do.

On a side note, I recently purchased a bunch of takeoff/new parts from a guy on HBF from his "HPI 5B". About half of them were actually HPI parts and the other half were clone parts. Kinda funny.
 
From what I have read as I do not own a KM but most KM owners replace with HPI parts when something breaks. I have heard many problems with the carbs. I hear it is a hit and miss with them.
 
im not a beginner to rc but i chose a king motors baja for my first 5th scale and it has been a learning curve. i have had motor issues with the km motor and the hpi motor i replaced it with . the electrics have all failed now so i have replaced them but all in all i have a good buggy for under the price of a new hpi
 
Avoid the troubles of buying a clone unless its upgraded with a good engine ,carb, electric's. There's also many hpi's out there at a decent price
 
I have run 3 CY motors that is who makes them for HPI and never had a problem with any of them. Two of them I built out of new pieces and up graded to a ported 28.5 and one ported 32.5. Break in and proper tune has a lot to do with the life of these engines.

This is not directed towards any buddy but some can miss up a anvil with a rubber hammer. LOL
 
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