Buying Guide : Cars

What is a Remote Control Car?

An 'RC' car commonly refers to a radio (or now more commonly remote) controlled vehicle that can be controlled from a distance using a handheld transmitter. RC Geeks specialise in 'scale' models (the ratio to the full size actual vehicle) from huge 1/5 down to compact 1/32, all propelled by electric motors. These range in body and chassis style from buggies to truggies, monster trucks and trophy trucks as well as road-based drift and touring cars.

Which remote control car should I buy?

Naturally this is a personal choice but we have remote control cars suitable for various terrains and budgets. The majority of our cars come ‘ready to run’ often only requiring batteries and a charger to get started, but note that some are ‘kit’ form requiring construction and extra components before they can be driven.

Off-Road cars

These are our most popular range of cars and can cope with mixed surfaces such as gravel, dirt and grass. They vary in capability to buggies that will cope with gardens to stadium trucks that can handle the beach, right up to serious crawlers that can ford rivers and traverse rock faces. If you intend to use the car in a wet environment we strongly advise looking at waterproof models designed for this.

On-Road Cars

On-road cars are commonly 1/10th in scale and have a realistic appearance. This sector includes spec touring race cars ideal for club racing at the track. Modellers customise their cars by switching the body and swapping out the wheels and tyres.

Drift Cars

We are big fans of RC Drifting where on-road cars are setup to race in controlled slides, as as is very popular in Japan. Our electric drift cars are 1/10th scale and feature hard rubber tyres, adjustable suspension plus locked differentials to allow for good drifting characteristics.

Are remote control cars expensive?

No, we have electric cars for all budgets, starting at just £30. Our range starts from hobby grade ready-to-run cars, moving through customisable chassis right up to sport models capable of over 70mph. As with any hobby the costs can rise, but we are here to advise you on the best components for your budget should you wish to improve your setup.

Do I need anything extra to start driving?

Models on our website will show if any additional items are required for operation, but (besides some AA batteries for the controller) the majority of our vehicles are ready to run.

That is to say they include the core components (transmitter, receiver, speed controller, motor and battery) required to power and control the car. Many will have combo options available so you can customise your kit to include a battery, charger or radio gear if they are not included as standard.

How fast are remote control cars?

With minor alterations, some of our top-of-the-line cars will push past 60mph whilst Traxxas’ halo XO-1 model will exceed 100mph (with the correct gearing and battery selection). Yet the majority of our models are designed to be driven at approximately 20mph, a more sedate and crucially controllable pace.

Note that some sites quote scale speed, we avoid this as we feel it is misleading. They might say that a 1:10 car can travel at 120 mph (the top speed of the actual full-size car) when in reality, the model version will only hit 12 mph.

How long do the batteries last?

Our staff can provide a estimation based on model specification battery capacity but as this is ultimately both model (specification) and driver (style) dependant it is impossible to put an absolute value on it. We suggest checking the manufacturer's website for an indication of model specific data.

Do you sell spare batteries?

Many of our ready-to-run cars tend to come with relatively small capacity batteries, but larger (or direct) replacement batteries are available for most models. Be sure to check the cell’s specification in terms of dimensions, capacity, output and crucially the connector to ensure compatibility. Do get in touch if you would like purchase advice regarding batteries and chargers as it can be complex.

How long does it take to charge?

This will vary and is dependent on both the battery and charger specifications so please refer to the manufacturer's documentation. Charging time can be worked out by dividing the batteries capacity by the charge rate. Cheaper models include basic ‘trickle’ chargers that can take 6-8hrs+ to fill the included battery. We stock several high-powered chargers that not only charge cells in a fraction of that time but can also handle the charging/discharging/balancing processes associated with advanced LiPo batteries.

How can I upgrade my car?

We offer a large selection of upgrades in the 'compatible hop-ups' tab should you wish to switch wheels, tyres, bodies or electronics for improved components. Also browse our bodywork section for new shells, accessories and some detailed aesthetic additions.

Does my car come with a warranty?

Typically our models come with a limited warranty to cover any manufacturer defects, warranty length varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. If you have a problem with your brand-new car please get in touch and we will do our utmost to resolve the situation.

What happens if I break the car?

Crashes are a common experience in RC car ownership but do not fear. Should you crash your car we have a wide range of spares for each model and always ensure the more popular parts are in stock; These can be found on the 'item spares' tab for the relevant model.

Do you sell Nitro or Petrol cars?

Whilst we do offer spare parts for certain fuel-powered chassis, we no longer stock or support fuel-based vehicles.

What is all this noise about Brushless?

Electric cars are often defined as 'brushed' or 'brushless', with the difference being their motor technology. Brushed remote control cars feature ‘standard’ motors with brushes and are often powered by a 7.2v NiMh battery; They are aimed at entry level users. Brushless RC Cars feature powerful 'brushless' motors paired with advanced speed controllers to maximise performance. These are often coupled with Li-Polymer batteries which can supply instant bursts of power for quick acceleration and fast top-speeds.