If you could only keep one...

[Kowalski86]

Aa I've trimmed down my collection over the last few months, I've been asking myself a question when I look at my RC collection, "If I could only keep one, which would it be?".

For example, I'd prefer an RC with cheap replacement parts and reasonably priced hop-ups, this rules out cars like the Team Associated Apex 2 and its $40 turnbuckle kit, or the Kyosho Fazers $90 "rally kit" (I'll just buy a DT-03 for that price thank you).

My one and only RC should also be versatile, something that I can run right outside of my house or over dirt/gravel. This rules out crawlers and most on-roaders, save for perhaps rally cars.

Ideally it should be worth upgrading, so disposable off-brands are not an option (sorry Rrlarrrooo or whatever the youtube crowd is hyping up this week). Knock the TT-02 all you want but it'll still be around while the off-brand cash grabs fade away.

It should also be cheap to keep on the road, so no giant battery-draining "bashers" with super expensive tires.

Finally, it should just look nice, something that looks good on my shelf or in pictures. Again, a cookie-cutter basher wont work here.

So if you had to have one RC, what qualities would you look for? And which model would you choose?

I haven't found that answer yet myself.

[egalsim]

My Kyosho 1/8 TKI4.  Basically can run anywhere, 1/8 buggy durability, and parts are cheap when you find them.  

 

[Rijkvv]

I'd also want to have a looker. It should be fun to drive, and while the TT-02 may be easy and cheap to maintain I was kinda bored with mine. The XV-01 looks great also as a naked chassis I think, feels great quality-wise and IIRC is a great experience to drive. Time to order some parts and build my second one I guess (screwed up the first one a bit).

An option that I would also consider is a Kyosho legendary re-re that I don't own yet. Something like a Scorpion maybe? Looks great, looking at the reviews quality is top-notch, maintenance is easy. Only parts availability might be an issue.

[skom25]

TT-02 or XV-01 if we talk about TC/Rally Cars and DT-02 or 03 if Buggies interest you more.

Maybe if there is place only for one car, instead of DT-02/03 it is worth to get TD2/4.

I know it is only theory, but personally I try to have only 2 or 3 cars in total. I have high spec XV-01 and now building DB-01. TT-02 and DT-02 are for sale, so if someone with good offer will contact me, I will sell both of them.

It is fun to have many cars, but at the end, it does not make too much sense.

[BuggyDad]

Interesting question. Of mine:

My TD4 is my best driver. And it's pretty (Revive RC with Avante 2011 stickers). I've enjoyed modifying it so mine is quite unique and my mods have worked well. But soon parts supply could become an issue, and I don't fancy running it in the dirt because sand gets into the gearbox (maybe we can solve that). 

My Optima Mid drives well, and would probably drive better with a LWB mod. It's versatile, it goes well enough on a track or in the dirt. It seems very tough. Tougher than pretty much anything else I have. And it too is quite good looking IMO. It was a joy to build but it's a bit of a pain to work on, it doesn't drive with quite the zip of the TD4, and it isn't quite as pretty (some will cry blasphemy). And I probably wouldn't thrash it in the dirt in winter. 

My XV-01 is pretty versatile, drives superbly in any conditions and I love the Lancia body. I don't personally think it needs many hop ups or mods. But this means it's more of a stock workhorse than something I can really say is mine. And if I'm honest I just prefer buggy terrain to rally and road. 

My Falcon and unfinished Stadium Blitzer are the same (cheap, simple) car underneath. The Falcon is OK on a track, no racer obviously, but very good for what it is. The SB should be a heap of fun in the dirt or on the beach. One could become the other with little more than a wheel and body swap. And I quite look the looks of both. When the Falcon flies over a jump it turns heads, because what idiot would jump a Falcon? And, they're very much mine, with some fairly unique mods that have been successful and some future mods on the to do list.

My Boomerang is much better than it has any right to be. I reckon it'll be tough as old boots and when I do break something it should be a cheap fix. It already drives decently and I can see that if I get my head around suspension settings it has the potential to drive much better still. And it's another car that's very much mine and has given me great pleasure as a creative outlet. But even nicely put together its drivetrain is a bit draggy and at the end of the day it's a very old platform and will always drive as such. And it's future development prospects are limited. 

Having written all that I'm leaning towards the need for versatility. Heavily modded Blitzer Beetle that I've turned into a Falcon and Stadium Blitzer it is, if I'm allowed spare wheels and body. But I couldn't have just one. This hobby for me is all about the next project, it's constant growth. God knows what I'll do with the old ones. 

[Nikko85]

Good question.

My criteria are very similar to yours, I would probably go for the MF01x SCT.

I fitted TL01 arms and it goes nicely.

Chassis seems to be sticking around, and most spares are super cheap and available. Body is still available from Traxxas.

It's 4WD so can take gravel well, even with the racing truck tires. Other cheap tires and wheel combos fit nicely. Runs well with cheap motor and electronics, waterproof and tough.

Or a Pumpkin, as it's fun, looks great and with some upgrades handles quite well.

...but for me this is really about the making and creating. I wish I was the kinda person who could have one, run it and enjoy one, but that's not me.

(Still thinking I might drop down to 6 or so but to be honest totally zero value in the cars I have with the mods I've done so stripping to parts would be the only well to sell but not worth it at all.)

[Busdriver]

When I understand the concept of infinity I will possibly be able to answer this question. As it stands 40 is fine by me!!!

[Kol__]

The answer came easy to me, it would be my Madcap/Super Astute mongrel. It was the first decent RC I bought when getting back into the hobby and it means something more to me. It's been heavily modified and I've enjoyed every minute, and there's a new round of mods in the mix. It's a runner and a fast, durable one too, so it would cover off most needs.

That said I would be gutted to say goodbye to my custom Top Force EVO and my custom Dyna Storm.

[Verskis]

I would keep either the Tamiya XV-02 or Traxxas Slash 2wd, as those are the cars that I enjoy driving the most, and both are quite versatile.

But I answered with two cars, and the question asked for only one. That would be really hard choice for me, I really don't know which one I would choose out of these two.

[yogi-bear]

if it had to be one, it would be my Marui Galaxy. Sure I have plenty of other cars that are better and faster, but this was my first car and it drove well enough that I could have fun with it. Plus with today's 3D printers and filaments I can keep it running well enough.

[alvinlwh]

My "go anywhere" cars, the TA-02(Ra) or MST MTX-1. 

[Wooders28]

You can't have one RC!!! 

That's like picking one food to eat for the rest of your life....

Maybe one 4wd Off Road Buggy ,one 2wd Off Road Buggy, one 4wd On Road, one 4wd IC, one Monster Truck Etc 🙄

[Kol__]

7 minutes ago, Wooders28 said:

You can't have one RC!!! 

That's like picking one food to eat for the rest of your life....

Maybe one 4wd Off Road Buggy ,one 2wd Off Road Buggy, one 4wd On Road, one 4wd IC, one Monster Truck Etc 🙄

It's ok Wooders, remain calm💆 it's not actually happening, you can keep all of your RC's!!😁

[Andreas W]

Thus is almost an impossible situation, like if you were only able to keep one 1:1 car..

 

Pr now I think that has to be a rally car. Specifically my first XV-01. With small changes it can do all I want to use an RC for and it has a bulletproof drivetrain now, so plenty of room for more power.  

 

This can maybe change after I have built my Optima Mid. 

[Kpowell911]

The Traxxas X Maxx is by far the best RC Ive ever had/owned. I must have had over 300 R/Cs and honestly its by far the best in my opinion. That said its a bit big to have as an everyday RC, so Ill go with its little brother. The 4S Widemaxx

[Nikko85]

1 hour ago, Wooders28 said:

That's like picking one food to eat for the rest of your life....

Curry 

[Busdriver]

6 minutes ago, Nikko85 said:

Curry

[Saito2]

Ah this impossible question! As much as I love a good Hotshot buggy or the beautiful Egress, narrowing it down to just one means its gotta be a truck, just for versatility's sake in my case.

Now, when you say one, do you mean one single model or can I have multiples of the same model? Either way, the Clod Buster can be modded in numerous ways or can be fun stock. With their size, they can go lots of places. Parts will always be around. The only downside is the same size that lets them go where mere normal RC's fear to tread also makes them a pain to lug around.

My first Tamiya, the Lunch Box comes to mind. Its simple, bulletproof design means even my original '87 model could be pulled off the shelf today and ran. Excellent for beach use too. Its simple design does limit it sometimes too, so...

The winner for me is the Monster Beetle. This was the one that got me hooked on Tamiya so its appropriate in this case. I like to tinker and the ORV monster has enough fixable flaws to keep me entertained. Once it is bulletproofed, the Monster Beetle provides a bit more off road competence than the Lunch Box, even if I'd never take it to the beach. Parts are plentiful. There's a reason its stablemate, the Blackfoot, was likely the most popular 2wd truck here in the States at one time. So yeah, give me a Monster Beetle.

 

[moffman]

Ohhhhh this is a difficult question but one I’ve often thought of myself when I’m at work on those many many congested roads of the British isles!
for me it has always been the original team associated RC10 that I would keep if I was only allowed to keep one I admired it the first time I ever set eyes on it when it was released back in the early/mid 80s simply because one guy had one and I just loved it’s looks and how smooth and sorted it was when it was on the track in the school hall and this has always stuck in my mind to this day so for me it’s nostalgia so I’m on a bit of a high at the moment because of all the RC10 re-releases!

[bavee]

Great topic. For me it would be my Tamiya Toyota Hi-Lux Monster Racer:

With just two sets of tires I can run it everywhere around our house. And it is great to tinker with. Nice to look at too.

[Kowalski86]

10 hours ago, BuggyDad said:

Having written all that I'm leaning towards the need for versatility. Heavily modded Blitzer Beetle that I've turned into a Falcon and Stadium Blitzer it is, if I'm allowed spare wheels and body.

I didn't think about spare wheels/bodies, but that could count as far as "versatility" goes. A big reason why I'm iffy with mini scales or "clipless" body mount systems is because they get in the way of any of that.

I keep gravitating to my 2wd Stampede myself, even though I'm not a Traxxas fan and its not great on pavement. It's basic, works wherever needed, and with the right body (not the ghastly stock one!) it looks fine enough.

6 hours ago, Saito2 said:

Parts are plentiful. There's a reason its stablemate, the Blackfoot, was likely the most popular 2wd truck here in the States at one time. So yeah, give me a Monster Beetle.

 

I find it interesting how while we both concluded different models, we both went with simple 2wd Monster Trucks. There is a good reason why there were a handful of Blackfoot variants and that philosophy still sticks today (Gorgon, Stampede, Jumpshot MT, etc).

[Grumpy pants]

For me it would have to be Sand Scorcher or a Lunchbox. 
 

Thinking about it, a Blitzer Beetle would cover my VW and Tamiya love in one hit. 

[markbt73]

One?!? I don't think I could narrow it down to ten.

[CMshooter]

Honestly, one of the 2wd Traxxas.  They have been in constant production for 30 years.  I still have a 1999 stampede and the first Slash, though they have different shells on them.  Parts are available at every hobby shop I have ever been to.

 

 

[CMshooter]

Stampede on low cg slash chassis.  Dirt oval wheels and hot rod body.