Hello, I'm pretty much new to the forums here at hobby talk. I used to do electric rc several years ago when you had to use those huge Nicad batteries just to have your RC run. I have decided that I wanted to get back into the hobby but I need some help finding the right truggy. Im looking for a gas powered 1/8th scale truggy. Ive been looking around and I have found a couple that I might be interested in. The reason why im not going back to electric is even though LiPo are much better batteries and they have brushless motors, they still drain quite fast. My uncle does electric rc planes with LiPo batteries and brushless motors and they only last about 10mins and if he runs them too hard the LiPo battery cells swell up. Hes had a LiPo blow up before in his basement, thankfully it was in an ammo box. So I wanted to get into gas powered, I dont have to worry about charging batteries or anything, I can just fuel it up and start it and take of for a while. The truggies I was looking into were the vtx st1r-http://www.rc-nation.com/display_part/859.php, or the CEN 1/8th Matrix TR Arena-http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXSWP0&P=0. Anybody have any experience with these two? Can they handle alittle bit of abuse? I want to get something under $400. Maybe you guys have some suggestions? I'm open to suggestions. Thanks everyone!:thumbsup:

You may want to look at the Caster Racing one as well.

www.casterracingusa.com

They have both RTR as well as KIT versions for the price range you are looking at.

You dont have the charge batteries for nitro? I converted from nitro to electric and charge less battereis. 2 LiPos to run my 1/8th scale. With Nitro I charged 2 receiver packs, 1 glow igntor, and 1 starter box each week. I charge less now and I am running electric? LOL

well with my experience the lipos last a lot longer your uncle must have some bad batteries or something is wrong with his charger, (( mind you I'm not knocking him by any means since I don't know him)) . but I can run about 30 minutes + of practice time on a lipo in a 1/10th scale buggy or truck. and you are gonna have to charge like was stated glow ignitors, receiver packs, starter box and what ever else you might use thats battery powered with rechargeable batteries in nitro. we have people running 1/8th electric buggies & truggies running 30 minutes or more with lipos.

I use 2 cell lipo's in on road racing and actualy get a good deal of run time out of them. You also need to realize that electric fyling puts a lot more load on the batteries than car's do.
If you are looking into a nitro truggy, I run an XTM XST. It comes ready to run with a radio, and motor for around $300.00. The performance is realy good for an RTR and though it is not quite up to the performance of the Losi's and the Associated trucks, I feel it's a good deal. It also helps that my local hobby shop stocks XTM parts.

http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/145635.asp

the thunder tiger st-1 is one of the best truggies out there for the buck and the hop-up parts are very cheap in price i have seen the rtr version whoop up some but on alot of other truggies at a couple of tracks and can be found at a-main for under 300 bones ready-to-race
oh and the motors are actually AE PRO .28

I am also getting back into racing after a few years off. I am steering myself away from electric for now, mainly because I enjoy nitro more (that is just preference). I would not avoid electrics because of LiPo's. In the time I've been away from the hobby, electrics have changed completely. I never thought that I would see 1/8 scale electrics running at warp speed, but it has happened. A few weeks ago I went to a hobby shop and stood in awe at the advancements (2.4 GHz radios, monster torque servos, brushless motor setups and lipo batteries).

I would really suggest you do some deep research before you purchase.
There are tons of great vehicles on the market. Nitro and Electric. Look at the Traxxas vehicles.
The TMaxx and Emaxx are great vehicles
The Revo's are great too.
Don't be turned off by lipo's. I know with good lipos, you can get almost 1/2 hr of run time with a E Revo. and close to the with an Emaxx.
Many others to choose from.
For bang for your buck check out Duratrax vehicles for Nitro.
Do you have any experience tuning Nitro engines? That can be a challenge if you have no experience with it.
Get the best you can afford and have fun!!!