1998 Question of the Week:

"What are the pros and cons of gas versus electric R/C racing?"

electric is easy to build and gas is tough to build and more expensive.

gas kits are very loud and very exciting to drive because of the low-end torque and blistering top-speeds you can only get from gas power. Electric cars are nice, but recharging batteries limits the amount of time you can run, but your neighbors will definitely enjoy your decision because of how loud the gas cars are. Gas is also more expensive, but you can drive as long as you like as long as your engine stays cool with an upgraded head-happy owner of an rc10gt with an os.12.

The good about electric is you don't have to clean it like a gas truck, you also don't have to worry about tuning the motor and all that, the best thing about gas cars is the long run times.

pros, gas is fast and runs longer. cons, it's messy, expensive.

pros, electric is not messy and is cool. cons, does not run as long.

Gas racing can be fast and loud, but very messy. Electric can be driven anywhere, but can still be fast with the right driver. If they are fast enough (ASSOCIATED) both cars can attract a big crowd.

Gas vehicles are faster and have longer run times. The main disadvantage of running gas is the maintenance. For a gas vehicle to run properly and consistently it must be cleaned and maintained in top condition at all times. Electric vehicles are easier to maintain but the run time is shorter. For racing by the time you get a good charger and four or five good batteries the cost is pretty much a toss up. I race a RC10GT and a RC10B3. They are both great vehicles. In my opinion they are about equal as far as pros and cons go. One note for beginners--it's a lot easier to break parts on a gas vehicle because of the speed.

Geerhed

Gas for one is a more expensive hobby yes you may go faster and be able to run longer but you have to consider there are many more maintenance areas on a gas kit than electric kits, On the other hand electric is a good way to go for a beginner because there is nothing to them there less expensive to build and a lot more easier to maintain And you can make them go just as fast as some gas but your run time won't last as long

Never having to charge batteries, but the oil residue from gas is nasty.

electric: Pro: quick, easy to set up and run, no mess (front bearing of engine area) quiet (complaints from neighbors) simply put...it's charge a pack and go. Con: buying expensive batteries to keep up with your friends at the track, motor maintenance, ESC's intolerance of water...

Gas: Pro: Realistic sound, smell of 2 stroke fuel in air, more run time. Con: loud, having to buy fuel at exorbitant prices to keep up with friends at track...

W. Michael Blevins: proud T3 owner...

I like electric due to the easier maintenance, because you can run inside and outside, they are less complicated to tune and run, and last but not least, they are less expensive in general.

Electric power is there all the time until it runs out. Gas power is similar, but it takes a lot more TLC (tender loving care) to keep it going. Gas can be mare powerful, but at the same time so can electric. My choice of kits would have to be gas. Why? well, because it has given me no major problems at all.

Mike Trueblood Southgate, MI

On the track I race at, speed means very little. The gassers are not only twice as much, but more time consuming, louder, dirtier and hey, they pollute! So unless you race on a wide open, long track, I see no point in wasting your time and money with a gasser. On the other hand, I personally love the roar of these little beasts. The way they shoot out that cool smoke. I love going outside early in the morning and waking up my neighbors. And when you do finally find a big enough track, gassers are awesome!

Electric is cheaper and much easier to maintain. Gas is much more expensive to buy and maintain but nothing beats the speed and raw power of a gas vehicle.

Electric is much cheaper. Gas is more expensive but much more fun because you have extended run times and lots of speed!

Gas Racing offers long run time (More FUN time) It is also easier to just go a mess around with it! The downside to gas racing is the tuning of the motor, but this is easy once you learn how!

Gas are hard to work on, electric are easy.

Gas is dirtier, louder (which can be a good thing!), but the longer run times, higher speeds make it more fun. Unfortunately I don't have enough $ for a gasser, so I stick w/a quiet, clean, yet still extremely fun electric. Also, you don't need as much space to run an electric.

T

he pro or con is that electric cars are limited to the amount of time that they can run on a single charge of the battery, the good thing about electric is that it is clean and less noise is produced from an electric motor. You can also run them just about anywhere.

Now for gas cars, they can run for along period of time without refueling, they ARE A LOT FASTER THEN ELECTRICS but make a lot more noise and also a lot DIRTIER then electrics.

Gas Pros: Run Time!!!! Speed!!! with a little raingear you can run in almost ANY weather. Gas Cons: Noisy. Sometimes temperamental.

Electric Pros: Less messy. Quiet. Less Expensive. You can race indoors. Easier to maintain. Electric Cons: Run Time!!! The time it takes to charge a battery is much much greater than the run time you'll get out of it.

well with gas you've got more power and longer run times.

For gas trucks you don't have to change a Battery every 5 minutes. But they are harder to tune.

First with electric you are more limited on run time as you are using batteries instead of fuel/gas. Second, with gas when you have to do maintenance on a gas motor just like on a real car, it is a little more expensive. But I guess it evens out really, and breaks down to what do you really want to drive. Do you want to charge your batteries or do you want to buy fuel.

Jim Bates

electric: cheap, easy to fix, pretty fast if you got a good motor. Gas: very fast, expensive to buy and fix, a lot more fun then electric

Basically, gas are faster but expensive, and electric are pretty fast but cheap

I have an RC10, I am going to get a gas car. Probably the RC10GT.

The pros of a gas car/truck are more power, longer run time, and a lot more fun. The cons of gas power is a little more maintenance and a few more parts.

Gas is faster, nosier, and more exciting. It is also frustrating when you can't get the car stared or the engine refuses to be tuned correctly. It is more expensive to maintain and you will get oil and gas and grease all over all your car stuff, but the fun and excitement more than makes up for it. Electric racing is quiet, inexpensive, and better for the beginner but with the sacrifice of larger amounts of money for batteries and motor accessories as well as the time it takes for your batteries to charge.

Well...I will have to say that gas can run longer cause you can always just fill her up and start racing again. Electric on the other hand.. you'll have to sit and wait for the battery to charge, unless you have several batteries handy. I have friends who has gas and electric and I've noticed that gas do go a bit faster on parking lot racing, but not by much. If you're planning on going to an off-road track, I'd suggest electric. Gas are pretty quick, but they need time and space to get to the power band (rpm) to get that speed and power. Electric has more torque, since it it lighter and can take off right off the line. electric is also a lot quieter, cleaner, cheaper, and more hassle free. In gas, you'd have to worry about glow plugs, how rich you're burning the fuel, are you going to wake up your neighbors when you and your buddies decide to go racing and 3 in the morning, and it will cause a pretty big mess on your carpet if you intend on working on it in your room. You can't really work with gas cars indoors too well either cause if you run the gas engine indoors, most of them will produce ammonia which is a pretty foul and toxic fumes. There is simply more moving parts in gas which in turn means more things can break down and more options of what is causing it to break down. Electric is much more simpler. If you're just gettin into the rc sports, I best suggest an electric. If you want to really try gas, ask someone who owns one and ask them that question.

I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT WITH GAS YOU'VE GOT LONGER RUN TIMES USUALLY FASTER AND MORE POWERFUL CARS AND AWESOME SOUND. BUT YOU  HAVE TO CLEAN A LOT WHEN YOUR DONE. GO GAS!!!!!

The first is the "mess" gas models create...the plugs, the % of fuel.. but if one like's the speed and noise to have the feel of the real thing....Electric cars....the agony on battery lifespan, the motors w/cI feel should be changed every after 5 grueling race event....

Gas is Great! There is nothing like the sound and smell of a gas engine screaming down a back straight-a-way. You get twice the run time and real speed. The sound of that engine really seems to make the car go faster. Down side? Messy and sometimes you run it to weird problems that are sometimes hard to fix.

With gas you get more runtime. With electric you can get equivalent speed and acceleration, but you need $$$$ and it will only last for less than 4 minutes. They are both about the same price, so that is a mute point. Gas are messier, whereas electric are very clean (depending on what you drive them on of course ;-)

-Dean

pros of gas: Excitement of nitro. Less items to use. i.e. battery charger, battery packs, spare electric motors. Much more faster. Handling characteristics of both are the same. Electronic setup of gas is much simpler. i.e. 2 servos, battery pack and receiver. Less motor maintenance, for gas. i.e. clean the air filter and brush dirt off carb.

cons of gas: Gas motors aren't consistent all the time. Must have high understanding of 2-stroke motors. Must have a rugged transmission, may cost more. Carb settings are sometimes a pain in the ass. More components are prone to vibrating loose (use loctite!).

cons for electrics: Lug more materials around. Electronics require more cleaning. Electric can be quite more expensive .i.e. batteries are a fortune. Electric motors wear a lot quicker than piston and sleeve, maybe not, depending on your driving style.

pros of electrics: Able to use a kick ass FET servo. A lot easier to use than gas. Practically no hassles. More places to run, like indoors. All around, much easier to use.

Pro Gas: Longer Run Time (No Recharges) Pro Gas: Faster Speed than Electrics Pro Gas: Engines Can last long time (If cared for) Pro Gas: More Realistic Races (With Pit Stops)

Con Gas: Very Messy, lots of work to clean Con Gas: Makes unfriendly neighbors at 7AM Sunday Con Gas: Gas Engines can be hard for beginners to keep in tune (And Care for) Con Gas: Fuel isn't as cheap as Electricity

Pro Electric: Clean, not as much mess Pro Electric: No Noise Pro Electric: More reliable Operation (Engine for Beginners) Pro Electric: More Support (Hobby shops, races, etc)

Con Electric: Engines Wear out WAY too soon Con Electric: I hate waiting for charges Con Electric: Not as fast as Gas Con Electric: Only 4-6 Minutes per run Con Electric: In order to be competitive, you must have VERY $$$$ Matched batteries packs.

I do want to get a gas truck or car, but not many people race gas, so with no competition it is not any fun. Gas does require a bit more skill for tuning the gas engines. I tuned my lawn mower, it was not that hard. I stick with electric though, because it has a lower destruction rate. I am a careful and ok off-road driver, but you hit a wall just right with your gaser, your investment just might go up into a ball of fire. Electrics are safer to have around, and kids enjoy watching and driving in the races. They should not have to fear a gas vehicle taking of your leg while marshaling. Modifieds are fast enough. I am not putting down gas though. I enjoy racing, gas provided, I had the time for all the care and tuning needed to care for your engine. When you need to race indoors, what you gonna drive? A electric. Using electric is more economical. I know! I love the raw power of a gas vehicle too. But they are not real popular as of late. I hope any new racers who read this will take my warning and stay clear of gas until you take at least a year to develop your driving skill. Trust me. you will save yourself a lot of money, and you will want to thank me later. Or you will hate yourself for not listening to me and the other guys. LISTEN TO YOUR ELDER RACERS! THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST AND WILL ALWAYS BE GLAD TO HELP YOU WITH A PROBLEM.

Prices subject to change without notice. Not responsible for typographic errors.