Pit Post: Should New RC Racers Buy New or Second Hand?

 What's better for a New Racers? A Well-used runner or a Budget New Build?

The latest RC race cars can be expensive, for example in 2025 the average on-road Touring Cars are £500. 2WD Buggy's aren't much better and average around £350. This is all before buying electrics, tools and spares. For someone who is starting out and still deciding whether the hobby is for them this is a huge investments for a hobby.

Long running experienced racers will always buy a new chassis with the latest developments in the hopes that their manufacturer will have found a few extra tenths over the competition. But when speaking to top racers they will say it isn’t just for the latest updated because they will also start a race season with a new car even if it’s still an unchanged model. They will tell you that wear on parts over time add up and slow the chassis down. When you think about it, it makes sense, a chassis is built with minimal tolerances to make the handling predictable. Over time metal parts like bearing will wear and composite parts like plastics and carbon fibre will fatigue. Multiple parts wearing will multiply the movements in the tolerances. I like to think that the performance you lose from wear and tear is made up with setup adjustments you find to suit your style and the track. I also think you can refresh some of that performance by maintaining your car with new parts but it will never return it to its original performance.

So if the pro would only ever run a new car, why do so many suggest buying second hand? Risking their first impression on a potentially worn out car with unknown crash history. The plain answer is cost, you can easily pick up a complete setup that’s ready to race for less than a new rolling chassis. The question is whether the risk and loss of performance is worth the discount. We posted that question to our followers on Reddit, Instagram and Facebook. We go some very comprehensive answers back.

The Case for Buying Second-Hand

A lot of people said second-hand is a good option if you’re on a tight budget, or just want to dip your toe into racing without spending a fortune. You can often pick up great deals on Facebook groups, eBay, or RC-specific forums — especially if you're patient and know what to look for.

“I’ve used FB, eBay, and r/rcclassifieds to get used race rigs and got the least value from eBay.” – RCbuilds4cheapr

“Used is a great way to buy when you know what you’re looking at. There are deals to be had, but you need to be a very aware purchaser.” – bangbangracer

But there were plenty of warnings too. Hidden issues like worn out parts, dodgy electronics, or stripped screws can end up costing you more in the long run — especially if you don’t know what to look out for.

“You might end up rebuilding the entire thing anyway.” – TjbMke

“Truck looked great in the pics, but showed up with a few stripped screw holes, a leaking centre diff, and some pretty worn parts.” – RedTail38

The Case for Buying New

Buying a new kit means you know exactly what you’re getting. Everything is fresh out of the box, and if something doesn’t work, it’s likely a setup issue you can learn to fix. Many people also said that building a car from scratch helps you understand how everything works, which makes maintenance and repairs easier down the line.

“I always recommend new kits – you know that everything that may be wrong with it is your doing (or not, if it works flawlessly).” – mowinski

“I'd always suggest building a new car if your budget can run to it, you learn how it is put together and all the parts that go into it!” – John Yates

Some also pointed out that with new kits, especially budget-friendly ones like from Tamiya, you can start simple and upgrade over time — learning as you go.

“Go budget new build, you get to know how to maintain the car better if you’ve put it together.” – rc_crusty

So, Which is Best?

The honest answer is: it depends on your situation. If you’re new to the hobby and don’t know much about setup or maintenance, a new kit might be the better route. It gives you a solid foundation and peace of mind. But if you’ve got experienced mates who can help you spot a good second-hand deal, you might get on the track for less money up front.

As one racer summed up:

“Racing is a money pit either way.” – Longjumping_Swan_631

Whichever way you go, the main thing is to get out there, have fun, and don’t stress if you make a few mistakes along the way — that’s all part of the journey.

Next weeks Hot Topic will be: 

What's the best way to find a base/starting setup for a new RC Car? 

 

Do you follow the manual’s factory setup? Copy your old car's setup and hope for the best? Hit up your local racers for advice? Or maybe dive into the deep dark world of online setup sheets?

We want to hear how you get your car dialled in when it’s fresh out of the box. What's worked, what hasn't, and what tips would you give to someone starting from scratch?

We want to hear from you!  Drop your thoughts in the comments on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rcclubhub. 

   Cool Wall Submissions

Dominic James - Kinwald Special

Verdict: All Losi XX's are special but this one definitely stands out of the crowd! This a special edition Kinwald Worlds kit with replica body. A very rare car that Dominic even raced at the Euro Masters in Germany! A very cool car for the cool wall. 

SJ Perkins - Crazy Stadium Truck

Verdict: We have no words to describe this body, it's beyond crazy and some how it works. A fantastic job with painting it and also a great bit of photography, crazy has found it's way onto the wall. 

Cam Felton- Primary Colour Classic

Verdict: Cam kept his colour scheme as simple as possible only using primary colours. It's a great paint job and nice photo of his work. 

Check out our Cool Wall here: https://www.rcclubhub.co.uk/index.php/rc-pit-post/the-cool-wall 

Submit your body designs via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rcclubhub