RC Car Buying Guide — What to Look for in Your First RC Car
Choosing your first RC car is more complicated than it looks. Walk into any hobby shop and you're faced with everything from £30 toy-grade cars to £500 professional racers, from 1:10 scale electric off-roaders to 1:5 scale petrol-powered monsters. This RC car buying guide will cut through the noise and help you pick the right car for your budget, your environment, and what you actually want to do with it. Get this decision right and you'll have years of fun; get it wrong and a dusty car will sit in your garage after three outings.
RTR vs Kit — The First Decision
The first question every beginner should answer: do you want a Ready-to-Run (RTR) car, or do you want to build a kit?
RTR (Ready-to-Run)
RTR cars come fully assembled and (usually) include everything you need to run: the car, a radio/transmitter, and sometimes a battery and charger. Open the box, charge the battery, and drive. This is the right choice for the vast majority of beginners. You'll learn the controls, discover what driving styles you enjoy, and understand what the car can do — all before you've spent hours at a workbench.
RTR is also better for younger drivers, or anyone who wants more driving time and less building time.
Kit Cars
Kit cars require you to build the car from scratch — every bearing, gear, and screw. The build can take anywhere from a few hours (simple buggies) to 15-20 hours (detailed touring cars). You'll also need to source and buy a motor, ESC (electronic speed controller), servo, radio system, battery, and charger separately.
Kits teach you exactly how RC cars work, make maintenance and repair much easier, and let you customise every component. They're fantastic for hobbyists who enjoy the build as much as the drive. Tamiya in particular makes exceptional kit cars — the Tamiya Grasshopper, Hornet, and Fox are all classic build experiences.
Browse our full RC car range at Access Models.
Scale Sizes — What Do They Mean?
RC cars are sold in scales that describe their size relative to the full-size vehicle. The most common are:
- 1:10 — the most popular scale. Typically 40-50cm long. Huge range of options across every brand. The sweet spot for performance, parts availability, and value.
- 1:12 — slightly smaller, more compact. Common in on-road touring cars. Good for indoor use.
- 1:16 — smaller again. Good for younger children or tighter spaces. Less power than 1:10.
- 1:8 — larger, more powerful, more expensive. Often reserved for serious off-road racing or bashing. Traxxas E-Revo and HPI Savage are examples.
- 1:5 — the big boys. Near-full-size appearance, often petrol-powered, and seriously fast. Not for beginners.
For a first RC car, 1:10 is almost always the right choice. Parts are abundant, the cars are robust enough for bashing, and the price point is reasonable.
Electric vs Nitro — Which Power Source?
This used to be a bigger debate than it is now. Modern brushless electric motors have closed the performance gap with nitro engines significantly, and electrics are simpler, cleaner, and quieter. Our recommendation for beginners:
Electric (Recommended for Beginners)
- Instant torque — faster off the line than comparable nitro cars
- Lower maintenance — no fuel mixture to tune, no glow plugs to replace
- Quieter — important if you live near neighbours or want to drive in parks
- Charge and go — no petrol station runs
- Brushless motors are now extremely fast — a modern brushless RTR will outrun most cars you'll actually encounter
Nitro
- Real engine sound and smell — many RC enthusiasts love the experience of a running nitro engine
- Longer run times (refuel in seconds vs 30-60 minute battery charges)
- More mechanical complexity — which is a pro if you enjoy engine tuning
- Not recommended for total beginners — tuning a nitro engine requires patience and experience
Our advice: start electric. If you later find you love the mechanical side and want that engine experience, nitro will still be there.
On-Road vs Off-Road
Where will you drive?
On-Road Cars (Touring Cars, Drift Cars)
Designed for smooth tarmac, car parks, and indoor tracks. Low ground clearance, slick or performance tyres, and optimised for high speed and precise handling. Great for car parks and quiet streets. Not suitable for grass, gravel, or rough terrain — they'll bottom out constantly.
Best for: Car park bashing, drift practice, track racing.
Off-Road Cars (Buggies, Trucks, Monster Trucks, Crawlers)
Higher ground clearance, knobby tyres, and robust suspension. Can handle grass, gravel, dirt, and rough terrain. The most versatile option for beginners who want to drive in parks, fields, or mixed surfaces.
Best for: Garden bashing, park use, mixed terrain. This is where we recommend most beginners start.
Rock Crawlers are a special category — ultra-low gearing for extreme slow-speed terrain negotiation over rocks and obstacles. More of a technical driving challenge than a speed machine.
Budget Guide
Under £100
At this price point you're looking at basic RTR electrics — smaller scale cars or entry-level 1:10 buggies. FTX offers some decent value at this level with their Surge and Vantage ranges. Expect to replace brushed motors eventually, and batteries will be on the basic side. Good starting point for children or anyone genuinely uncertain if the hobby is for them.
£100-200
The sweet spot for serious beginners. This range opens up quality 1:10 RTR cars from Traxxas, Arrma, Tamiya, and FTX. You get brushless motors (in some), proper waterproofing, and much better quality components. Cars in this range will last years with proper care.
Recommendations: Traxxas Rustler (4WD, brilliant beginner truck), FTX Carnage (monster truck, great value), Tamiya Grasshopper kit (build experience, classic fun).
£200-400
Performance 1:10 brushless RTR cars. Arrma Granite, Traxxas Stampede 4x4, Kyosho Inferno. These are fast — we're talking 50mph+ in some cases — robust, and upgradeable. This is where the hobby really opens up.
£400+
Competition-grade cars, larger scale, or specialised platforms. Traxxas X-Maxx, Arrma Kraton 8S, 1:5 scale petrol. Not for beginners, but the ceiling of what's possible is extraordinary.
Brand Guide
Traxxas
The most popular RTR brand in the world. Excellent build quality, comprehensive spare parts availability, and great customer support. The Traxxas Rustler, Slash, and Stampede are all time-tested beginner-friendly platforms. Parts are available everywhere. Premium priced but worth it.
Arrma
Arrma has built a brilliant reputation for fast, durable, and aggressively priced cars. The Arrma Granite, Raider, and Typhon are all excellent. Arrma cars are particularly popular for bashing (aggressive driving, jumps, crashes) thanks to their robust construction.
Tamiya
The classic kit car brand. Tamiya doesn't really do RTR — their strength is buildable kits that teach you exactly how RC cars work. The Grasshopper, Hornet, Wild Willy, and countless others are iconic. Slower top speeds than Traxxas or Arrma, but the building experience and driving character are unique. Also make excellent on-road touring car kits.
FTX
British brand offering excellent value at the entry-to-mid level. FTX cars give you more car per pound than the big American brands. Build quality is good, parts are available, and they're particularly popular as first RC cars. The FTX Carnage, Tracer, and Surge are all solid.
Batteries and Charging — Don't Overlook This
Most RTR electric cars come with a battery, but it's worth understanding what you're getting:
- NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) — standard in budget RTRs. Safe, simple, but lower performance than LiPo. Fine for beginners.
- LiPo (Lithium Polymer) — significantly more power and longer run times. Standard in performance cars. Requires a proper LiPo charger and a little knowledge about safe charging and storage. Most cars over £150 use LiPo.
Always charge LiPo batteries in a LiPo-safe bag and never leave charging unattended. Follow the instructions and you'll have no issues — it's routine care, not rocket science.
Shop our RC cars, RC car parts, and batteries and chargers at Access Models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best RC car for beginners?
For most beginners, a 1:10 scale RTR electric off-road car is the best choice. The Traxxas Rustler, Arrma Granite, and FTX Carnage are all excellent starter options.
Should I buy a RTR or kit RC car as a beginner?
RTR is recommended for most beginners — open the box and drive. Kits are great if you enjoy building, but require additional time and components.
Is electric or nitro better for beginners?
Electric, without question. Modern brushless electrics are fast, low-maintenance, quiet, and simpler to operate than nitro.
How much should I spend on a first RC car?
The £100-200 range is the sweet spot. Below £100 you may be frustrated; £150-200 opens up quality 1:10 brushless RTRs from Traxxas, Arrma, and FTX.
Ready to get rolling? Browse our full RC car range at Access Models — the UK's hobby specialists, with fast delivery and expert advice.