To Vintage or not to Vintage?

[g60madman]

So long story short. I got my Son (6 years old) into RC this past weekend and started him off with a Re-release Tamiya Grasshopper. Now Dad wants to run around outside with Son. The NTC3 I have is a little to fast right now for that. I have been thinking of getting an RC10 World's Car but it's hard to say no to the old gold pan I used to love and adore back in the 90's (damn that I sold that car). Anyways I wanted to know if parts are still easy to get or if it's best to move on to the World's Car or something else...dare I say RTR?

[mk-Zero]

Before the World's re-release Associated actually re-released a gold pan car they called the Classic. As such, pretty much every part for a vintage gold pan RC10 has been reproduced:
https://www.teamassociated.com/cars_and_trucks/RC10_Classic/RC10_Classic_Kit/parts_accessories/

So to answer your question, parts are very easy to come by.

That having been said, it depends on what your interests and goals are. When I first got back into RC cars about 2 years ago, I bought an Associated B4.2RS RTR to bash/have fun with, and all the while started restoring my old RC10 that had been in the closet for 25 years. Modern cars with brushelss motors and LiPo batteries make great bashers because they run a really long time on a charge and are tougher than 25 year old plastic. That's not to say you can't get that same performance out of a gold pan, it just takes more effort. A good compromise might be the World's car. Put a brushless motor and LiPo in it and start having fun.

[g60madman]

Thanks mk-zero. Sounds like the Worlds for now and maybe a Gold pan just cause

[shodog]

why not another Grasshopper? You and your son can have fun modifying them to Hornet performance. I had the most fun running cars with my son when we both had similar spec T3's

[yellowdatsun]

I was kinda thinking the same thing, because even a stock OG RC10 will obliterate a Grasshopper. Might leave him feeling sad that his car sucks compared to yours.

So maybe get another grasshopper for you guys to run together, which would likely build way better father/son relationship, and when he's not around then run a Worlds car by yourself.

[abailey21]

Or even go all out and get a matching grasshopper

then pick up a couple worlds cars you guys can "grow into" together for down the road

[durb69]

yeah i agree get the same car as your son, you can buy the other fast ones to build on your own time and play with later

[g60madman]

Well crap...I already bought the worlds car I was going to get the lunchbox but the itch for the RC10 wouldn't stop so I scratched it. The plan is to build the RC10 together, I asked my son if he could help me and he was like "Sure Dad, you helped me build my grasshopper, I will help you build your's". Guess I maybe forced to get him an RC10 before to long just got to check with SWMBO before I go down that route

[yellowdatsun]

Yeh, you'll likely have to get him a Worlds car too at some point. Or just hold off on building the RC10, and get a Grasshopper for the time being. The Grashoppers are cheap enough to go that route. But I know if I was a kid, and had a Grasshopper, and my dad built a WAY better car, I'd be sad and disheartened, and maybe not even want to play cuz I'd have the "sucky" car.

[shodog]

I'd have the "sucky" car.

Nothing worse than a sucky car.

C'mon Dad, either buy him a worlds or get a grasshopper.

[yellowdatsun]

Here's what I'd do:

Buy a Grashopper, and let him help build it. Then you guys can run those for a while. When he get's good enough, let him help build the RC10. The RC10 can shared. Or buy a second, because again, nobody wants to have the sucky car.

If we were talking dirt bikes, that'd be different, but with RC cars you really should have the same.

[g60madman]

Thanks Gents for the feedback. I will be popping for another Grasshopper.

[Fred19K]

Maybe get a Hornet instead. Pretty much the same car, but with oil filled shocks in the rear and a 540 motor (or do the re-re-re Grasshoppers have 540s now?). Spend the extra $20-30 before you assemble it to get ball bearings. Tamiya nylon bushing tend to wear out and cause problems for hard driven cars.

I was cursed by a Hornet a few years ago when my father decided it was going to be retro Christmas and got me a .22lr rifle and a Hornet. It was pretty much 2 gateway drugs to expensive hobbies

[JimTMich]

Yes, you need to get another grasshopper.

My son and I have a pair of ECX Boosts. We have a great time with them.

Take it slow and keep your cars equal so he keeps having fun.

After 2 years my 20turn motor died so I picked up a 15 Turn motor. The little guy couldn't stand it that my car was faster, so now we are both running 15T motors and breaking more parts.....