2/26/2023
| By: RC Soldier
Cheap RC Cars With Speed | Quality RTR Budget Options
Lots of people want to buy a fast RTR (Ready To Run) RC car that won’t break their budget, and lots of people are often disappointed. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to spend your hard earned money on something that just plain sucks.
The Problem With Most Budget RC Cars
Many RTR RC cars that are touted as fast and cheap end up with one or more of the following flaws:
- SLOW, sluggish, and not fun at all to drive.
- Abysmal battery life.
- Low quality parts that break often and don’t offer replacements.
Don’t get caught in the trap of poor quality and dishonest marketing. When you’re buying someone a gift, or even getting something for yourself, it sucks when reasonable expectations are smashed to dust by poor products.
There’s some specific things to look for when shopping around, and it’s our aim to give you this knowledge while also providing some excellent options that we’ve vetted ourselves.
Steps to Find RC Cars That Are Fast, Durable, and Cheap
- Establish a budget.
- Only consider quality brands.
- Check the motor Kv and battery voltage.
It’s a common misconception that you can’t purchase brand name RC cars at a reasonable price.
Team Losi, Team Associated, ARRMA, and more have plenty of great options in the $100 - $200 range.
But what’s all this about Kv and battery voltage? It’s real simple. Before showing you our picks, let’s take a quick look. If you’re not interested, feel free to skip ahead!
Kv and Battery | Solidifying Your Choice With Knowledge
When you purchase an RC car, the product description will often offer the battery and motor type. Sometimes, you won’t get Kv, but you’ll get the number of turns the motor has. But don’t fret, it’s real simple. Consider these facts to maximize speed in your RC car purchase:
- Higher Kv equals more speed.
- Lower motor turns equals more speed.
- Higher battery voltage equals more speed.
- LiPo batteries equals less weight and more speed.
There are some nuances to these rules when it comes to performance racing, but in general they will always hold true.
Alright, let’s check out the list. We’ve ordered it from the cheapest to the most expensive options.
Cheap RC Cars | Quality Choices RTR And Fast
- Redcat Piranha TR10 2WD Electric 1/10 Truggy RTR - $119.95
- ECX Circuit 2WD Stadium 1/10 Truck RTR - $139.99
- Team Losi Mini-T 2.0 2WD 1/18 Stadium Truck RTR - OUR CHOICE! - $149.99
- Team Losi Mini-B 2WD 1/16 Buggy Brushed RTR - $159.99
- Team Losi Mini JRX2 2WD 1/16 Buggy RTR - $169.99
- ARRMA Typhon 4WD V3 MEGA 1/8 Buggy RTR - $229.99
#1 | Redcat Piranha TR10 2WD Electric 1/10 Truggy RTR
Price: $119.95 RTR out of the box, even includes AA batteries!
The Piranha is the cheapest on our list, and it’s actually a pretty good buy for one main reason: the scale. 1/10 scale truggy racing is a popular race class, and although this is a cheap RC car, it’s still a compatible platform that could get you into a novice race class at some tracks.
So, whether you’re just looking for having a little fun or you want to enter into a competitive race, this is an excellent choice if you’re on a budget.
Redcat Piranha TR10 | Features
- Ready-to-Run with Everything Included
- 1/10 scale
- Tunable suspension, Toe angle, and Camber
- Large rear wing and aggressive tires for tearing up some dirt
- Truggy platform offers buggy-like performance with added stability
- 40 brushed motor, Waterproof 2-in-1 ESC/Receiver, Powerful steering servo, Full-function proportional 2.4GHz radio system
- Fully assembled and Ready to Run
#2 | ECX Circuit 2WD Stadium 1/10 Truck RTR
Price: $139.99 RTR, battery and charger sold separately.
This is the only RTR car on our list that doesn’t include a battery and charger. We just had to include it, because with the included 15 turn Dynamite motor, you just can’t get this kind of speed for the price.
We found this battery and charger for $54.99 to complete the build. So, coming in at under $200 bucks, this thing is crazy fast.
If you happen to have a 2s or 3s LiPo battery, or a 6s or 7s battery system already, then you can skip any extra purchases by using them, as they are compatible with the ECX Circuit.
ECX Circuit | Features
- Spektrum™ STX2® 2.4GHz radio system
- Dynamite® waterproof & LiPo compatible Tazer™ 15T ESC
- Dynamite® 15T brushed motor
- Adjustable oil-filled shocks
- Adjustable slipper clutch
- Waterproof electronics
- Nylon composite chassis and parts
- Beginner-friendly battery retaining system
ECX Circuit | Needed to Complete
(1) 6S-7S NiCad/NiMH or (1) 2S LiPo Battery (1) Compatible Charger
#3 | Team Losi Mini-T 2.0 2WD 1/18 Stadium Truck RTR - OUR CHOICE!
Price: $149.99 RTR out of the box, even includes AA batteries!
Alright, this is our first truly respected brand on the list, and it comes as our most highly recommended RC car on this list. Team Losi is a cornerstone brand in the RC world, and we highly recommend the Mini-T.
If you’re looking for something fast out of the box, cheap, and can also be upgraded significantly, look no further.
You can upgrade to a modified motor, such as the Dynamite Brushless Motor found here for $79.99 and have an INCREDIBLE boost in speed. It’s not required, but it’s nice to know you have some options down the road.
There’s also the awesome fact that Team Losi has great aftermarket support for replacement parts and other upgrades.
Team Losi Mini-T | Features
- Scaled Down Version of the 1/10th 22T
- Mid Motor Configuration
- Aluminum Chassis
- Threaded Oil Filled Shocks
- Fully assembled and ready-to-run
- Dynamite 7.4V 2S 650mAh 20C Li-Po Battery
- BK Bar Tires with Dish Wheels
- Full Ball Bearings (less steering)
- Servo Saver
- Waterproof electronics*
- 22 Suspension Geometry
- Option Parts Availability
#4 | Team Losi Mini-B 2WD 1/16 Buggy Brushed RTR
Price: $159.99 RTR out of the box, even includes AA batteries!
We put the Mini-B in the same boat as the Mini-T, the only thing that’s better about it is that it’s 1/16 scale, so it’s a little bigger overall. If you prefer buggies, or want a slightly larger scale, this is a great choice for only 10$ more.
Another cool thing is that the Mini-B is also compatible with the Dynamite Brushless Motor upgrade, so for $79.99 you get a major boost. It’s not required, but it’s nice to know you have some options down the road.
Of course, there’s also the awesome fact that Team Losi has great aftermarket support for replacement parts and other upgrades.
Team Losi Mini-B | Features
- Scaled down version of the 1/10 22
- Mid Motor Configuration
- Aluminum Chassis
- Threaded Oil Filled Shocks
- Fully assembled and ready-to-run
- HRZ 2-in-1 ESC/RX
- Dynamite® Brushed 280-sized 47T motor
- Spektrum™ SX107 metal gear servo
- 650mAh 2S Lipo Battery with EC2 Connector and USB 0.5A Charger
#5 | Team Losi Mini JRX2 2WD 1/16 Buggy RTR
Price: $169.99 RTR out of the box, even includes AA batteries!
The JRX2 is a classic in the RC world. It’s been battle tested, and is a favorite among enthusiasts. It often comes as the first recommendation for guys looking to get into the competitive RC racing world.
It comes with all the features and aftermarket support you’d expect with Team Losi, and has an electrical system that’s compatible with brushless upgrades for those who want to advance into higher skilled races.
Team Losi JRX2 | Features
- Rear motor configuration
- 5 link rear suspension
- Completely RTR
- 650mAh LiPo Battery and .5A USB Charger
- SLT 2.4Ghz Transmitter
- 2-in-1 ESC/RX
- Rib fronts and 4 row step pin rear tires
- Fiberglass Chassis
- Full ball bearings
- Aluminum shocks
- Retro Trim Schemes
- Race-inspired motor
#6 | ARRMA Typhon 4WD V3 MEGA 1/8 Buggy RTR
Price: $229.99 RTR out of the box, just needs AA batteries!
The Typhon V3 is the most powerful RC car on our list. It comes with a 12T brushed motor, which is creeping up on what would be considered a mod motor.
Because it’s a 4WD platform, it’s not quite a mod, but at $230 bucks and fully RTR, this is a whole lot of car. If you’re looking for something that’s closer to a pro level RC car to get your skills up to par for racing, this is a great choice.
Typhon V3 Mega | Features
- 23T Spline servo saver
- Brushless-ready 37T 1.35Mod diffs with silicone O-rings
- Power Module with sliding gear mesh and improved dirt management
- Rubber shielded bearings throughout
- Oil-filled shocks with silicone O-rings
- New body design, front and rear bumpers, paint and decals
- New vented tires
- MEGA 12T brushed 550 motor
- MEGA waterproof* ESC
- IC3™ connectors (EC3™) compatible
Synopsis
It’s a common misconception that you have to spend a ton of money to get a fast RC car at a reasonable price. Every car on this list has some serious guts, and you’ll get way more satisfaction than spending the same amount on your average “fast” RC car from Walmart or Amazon.
Hopefully you found this helpful, let us know if you have and questions or suggestions!
Hopefully you found this article helpful! If you'd like to know more about RC Cars, RC Boats, or Drones,
check out our blog, or utilize the search feature at the top of the window.
This post may contain products from our affiliates, and we'll be compensated if you buy after clicking a link. It's how we grow our business and offer you great content!
