For more than 40 years, since they have been first launched on the market, radio controlled cars have gathered more and more fans (or fanatics) from young kids to grown ups, both men and women. They represent, after all, any cars lover's chance of half reaching his/her dreams of having the super car of their dearest fantasies, but in a more accessible, miniature size. Now, let's try and point out their main characteristics, pluses and minuses, that are either the cause of their high popularity or, on the contrary, the signs that they need further improvements.

Toy Grade/Hobby Grade Radio Controlled Cars

These are the two main types if radio controlled cars, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, each RC cars passionate preferring the first or the second kind type, depending on the owner's age, whether it will be used just for mere fun or for a competition racing etc.

Toy grade RC cars are more often than not destined for children's playtime. They're very easy to be purchased, being available in almost any consumer electronics store or hobby shop and have the great advantage of being very accessible, from the costs point of view, compared with the hobby grade radio controlled cars. Now that we've tackled the issues of toy grade RC cars' strong and weak points, we can as well point out, in their advantage, that they're also very easy to operate with, the level of danger being quite insignificant and most of all, what attracts the buyers from the first sight, is that fact they have a highly realistic appearance (with all sort of details taken from their real, larger counterparts, like opening doors and hoods, working lights or windows). There are still many minuses that we can track, regarding the toy grade RC cars like poor performance, difficulty or in most cases impossibility to have them repaired, lack of suspension and a quite rudimentary design and construction.

Hobby grade RC cars tend to win over their “RC cars rivals” mostly due to their available spare parts. Also, another major advantage is that come with lost of upgrades, which can be easily fitted. Therefore, with upgrade parts available in any hobby store, the hobbyist will not stand the risk of not being able to repair his hobby grade RC car in case in gets broken.

Main Components

Whether they are fuel or electric powered, on road or off-road type of RC cars, the main principle of operation is the same. They all require a transmiter held by the person controlling the car, a receiver placed inside the car who gets activated by the the transmitter and, at its turn, activates the car's motor, the motor/s, that turns the wheels and sets the vehicle in motion and a power source (electric or gas powered).

Depending on your budget and exigencies related to cars, it can be a perfect birthday present for a child or even a grown up passionate with racing competitions.