<img src="http://www.spikee.com/tt/hpitt.jpg">

Just wondering what your impressions were. I priced a whole kit out at just over $400 at a local hobby shop (including the body, paint, turn-key "kit", gas, etc.). And I've been told that they are *damn* fast for an R/C car.

TIA.

 

I was going to buy one this summer to replace my old Kyosho truck that disappeared....but never got around to it.
I would say to get the nitro RS4 kit with a two-speed tranny.

 

The car you posted looks like a 1/10th scale RS4. It has the HPI 200mm(width) TT body. Typical electric racing 1/10 scale cars are 190mm, most Nitros are 200mm. You can use 3mm offset wheels to fit a 200mm on a 190mm chassis. Bolink makes a great 1/18th scale TT body it looks very accurate. I have this on a HPI Mini Pro. It is very fast, I have 1/10th scale wheels on it. I have an HPI Rally with A4 body, a Tamiya TRF414X with A4 Avant body, and HPI Pro2 with a TT body. Electric is fun, Nitro is incredible, but way messy. I prefer electric over nitro, because I have 2 small kids and don't like having that poison around. I also think electric is much better for small kids. The real money pit of R/C is "Hop-ups". There are a million mods you can do, Carbon fiber or Aluminum chassis, new wheels, etc.... This is where the hobby shops make their money. I would suggest electric to start, it is still very fast(depending on motor) and quiet. Things still break but less than nitro powered cars. Nitro cars can do 40+mph out of the box.
What components the hobby shop tries to sell you can have a huge affect on the price. I am assuming you are new to R/C. I would suggest a cheap transmitter like Futaba Junior(am or fm) sport. It has the adjustments you want, but isn't too outrageously priced. I would suggest a simple ESC(speed control) like a novak explorer II(or rooster if you want reverse) and a "Stock" motor like a trinity chameleon. This would give you a fast car, but not too uncontrollable until you get a handle on driving these things. You can get a futaba/explorer II combo @ tower hobbies.
I just realized you want a Nitro. For Nitro I would suggest the HPI RTR(ready to run) Nitro or buy a kit and build it(more fun and educational). Then just buy a 1/10th TT body and paint it. I have a beautiful Nogaro blue avant body, but the A4's and TT are silver, tons of colors out there, just use a paint for LEXAN. Nitro motors MUST be broken in first. 3-4 tanks of gas just idling on a stand. Then you SLOWLY lean it to get better performance. Nitro motors can last a long time or die a quick death, just depends on your care and patience with it. I had lots of frustrating days with Nitro. The oil that slimes the side of the car gets everywhere. It is basically a premix gas you are using. Nitro absorbs water so you need to keep it sealed up and use a small bottle to fill the tank. I could go on and on about R/C cars, feel free to ask me any questions you have. I have some pictures at home, I will try to post them later or take a few new ones.
Bobby Hopp
'01 225 TTQ Coupe

 

Wow! Thanks for all the info. That's more than info enough to start looking around at what I want.

 

Tower Hobbies are also Great planes, the biggest distributor of R/C in the US. I would suggest buying some stuff here, and maybe some of the smaller stuff from you local shop. I use Tower because its faster(and way cheaper) then special ordering from my LHS(local hobby shop). I do use the hobby shop for things like paint, glue, it is nice to have them help me if I have a problem.<ul><li><a href="http://www.towerhobbies.com">http://www.towerhobbies.com</a</li></ul>

 

I agree completely...they can help figure out what exactly you're looking for

 

All for 350+radio. Then I bought that exact body. Mine is a black metalic though. She is supposed to do 55mph out of the box.

 

Great! Thanks again.