Electric RC cars are powered by an assembled battery pack. These are the easiest of the RC cars to maintain and operate, making them the car of choice for the beginners of the hobby. Another advantage of the electric RC car is that little or no assembly is required. Just take it out of the box and you are ready to go. This is also the best type for the collector that lives in close quarters with their neighbors because it is the quietest of the bunch.
Gas Powered RC Cars are the next step up after you have mastered the electric RC car. Gas cars operate on a mixture of gasoline and oil. They are faster and a lot more realistic than electric vehicles. One big advantage of a gas powered RC car is that you never have to stop for a battery recharge. Along with these advantages, however, comes some cons. These cars are so realistic that they even smell and sound like real cars. This limits the user to where they can run their car because neighbors usually don't appreciate the noise and smell.
Nitro RC cars are typically for more advanced RC hobbyists. These vehicles are powered by nitro fuel which is a mixture of nitro methane, methanol and oil. Even though they have more power and more speed than electric powered cars, there are some disadvantages to them. These cars constantly have to be maintained, cleaned and tuned for optimal performance. However, serious RC enthusiasts find this level of maintenance well worth the trouble as opposed to constantly recharging batteries in electric RC cars.
RC cars have something for everyone. Whether you like to build or just race cars, you will never have a problem finding someone that shares your RC car passion. In fact, you should join a local club and ask members about the type of RC cars they like best. They can help you decide and perhaps even let you test drive some of their own cars.
