$0-500?
In that case, I would recommend an electric RTR (Ready-to-Run).
Since I'm an AE (Associated Electrics/Team Associated) fan, I'd recommend:
- RC10T4 RS RTR ($241.99 @ Tower Hobbies.com)
The T4 is a 2WD stadium truck
Click here for Company site info:
http://www.teamassociated.com/ae/t4/t4_features.htm
Click here for Tower Hobbies' product page:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXMGM4&P=ML
or if you're into buggies,
- RC10B4 RS RTR ($237.99 @ Tower Hobbies.com)
The B4 is a 2WD buggy
Click here for Company site info:
http://www.teamassociated.com/ae/b4/b4_features.htm
Click here for Tower Hobbies' product page:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXMGM6&P=ML
With the $250 you have left over, you can use it to purchase required running equipment
They are:
- Radio (transmitter) batteries - 8 AA sized batteries
- 6-cell battery pack, for starting, I'd recommend Epic's 3000mAh NiMH sport packs ($18.99 each, I recommend more than one). Later on as you progress, you can build your own battery packs if you wish to race.
- AC/DC digital peak charger (I recommend Duratrax's Piranha digital peak charger, the best charger you can buy for under $100 ($49.99 @ Tower)
Keep in mind, the B4 and T4 are great cars to get into hobby-grade R/C with, but if you want to know, the B4 and T4 are also monsters at the R/C track. Visit your local off-road R/C race track on a race day and watch them race.
The B4 was also the 2005 IFMAR 2WD Buggy World Champion driven by Billy Easton. The B4 has also won many national and regional championships throughout the world.
The T4 is no slouch either, its the 2005 ROAR Offroad Truck National Champion (US). I can't recall the name of the driver.
No you can't. You can probably purchase the vehicle, but you won't have enough money to run it.
Thanks for helping with the questions, but the lack of formal R/C experience really doesn't help, it just makes it HARDER for us to help him!