a remote-controlled car is one of the classics among children’s toys: whether on the carrera track, on playroom carpets, asphalt surfaces or challenging terrain such as meadows, sand or on specially designed model race tracks – the variety of remote control cars available on the market offers vehicles for all tastes and demands.
Remote-controlled cars promote concentration and dexterity, but most of all they are fun to drive. A remote control car is not only suitable as a toy for children, but is also very popular with teenagers and adults, as sophisticated, high-quality models can also be used as remote control race cars.
We tell you in our comparison of remote control cars 2022, what types of remote control cars there are, which criteria make up the best remote control car for your purposes, which models are suitable for whom, and what you should pay particular attention to when buying one.
1. Electric cars for toddlers and older children
A car with remote control exerts a special fascination on very many children, which is why the market for electric cars for children is very large and ranges across all age groups. Remote control cars for children should meet age-appropriate criteria.
1.1. The right age
children have a lot of fun playing with remote control cars.
The age recommendation of the manufacturers is based on the one hand on how far the motor skills must be developed in order to be able to control a radio-controlled car. On the other hand, it also depends on the speed that can be reached with the remote controlled model cars, because the ability to control the car and a corresponding sense of responsibility are important in order to avoid accidents and injuries.
Especially fast remote-controlled cars for adults professionals can reach top speeds of 130 km/h and more, but the limit of most remote-controlled cars is below 50 km/h and for electric cars for younger children usually between 5 and 20 km/h.
1.2. Most important features of a remote control car for toddlers
- Robustly constructed
- Easy to use
- Without small parts that can be swallowed
- Free from harmful substances
For example, a remote control car for a toddler from 2 to 3 years should be especially robust and easy to operate his. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that the model meets safety standards so that, for example, no small parts such as wheels can come loose and be swallowed in the worst case scenario, and that the plastics do not contain any toxic substances such as questionable plasticizers.
Suitable remote-controlled cars for children over 3 years of age are available from manufacturers such as fisher price and dickie toys.
Particularly popular at this age are, for example, utility vehicles such as a remote-controlled police car, a fire truck or a construction site vehicle. In addition, well-known cars such as the "cars" car models based on films are also very popular with young fans.
A remote-controlled mini car from 4 years upwards can be built up a little smaller and be more complex with increasing age, as far as functions and handling are concerned. School-age children are often very happy to receive a kit for remote-controlled cars, where the challenge of assembly awaits the young and old tinkerers before the driving fun begins.
2. Remote control cars for outdoors or indoors
If you want to buy a remote control car, you should consider whether it should be a vehicle for use indoors or a remote control car for outdoors. In the apartment it is important that the vehicle is maneuverable, reacts quickly and is able to avoid obstacles accordingly.
The speed of a remote control car for indoors does not need to be particularly high, since it does not usually have to cover long distances. A remote-controlled car for outdoors that can master sand and meadow surfaces instead of smooth asphalt surfaces and, in the best case, can also overcome obstacles, can also be found in the RC model kits.
3. Remote-controlled cars with electric drive or gasoline engine
What are RC vehicles?
Radio-controlled cars, so-called RC cars (where "RC" stands for "radio controlled" or "remote control"), are available – as with the big models – with an internal combustion engine or as an RC electric car. The most common RC cars are those with electric motors, which run on batteries or. powered by rechargeable batteries.
an electric motor is usually sufficient to drive a remote-controlled car at 50 km/h or less for approx. 15 to 40 minutes to power. entry-level models are usually always remote-controlled cars with battery or rechargeable batteries.
A remote-controlled car with gasoline drive, on the other hand, is usually a model for professionals, as it is more demanding to handle. Commissioning the model and maintaining it requires a certain basic knowledge and technical interest.
Because even in miniature, a car with an internal combustion engine has to be refueled, maintained, cleaned and, if necessary, serviced. Also be repaired once. a remote controlled car with a petrol engine is more powerful, but also significantly more expensive to buy and maintain.
Because, in addition to the technology, there is usually also a high quality workmanship and the quality of the material value placed. In addition, a remote-controlled car with a gasoline engine may only be driven on specially designated areas, and liability insurance is strongly recommended.
3.1. advantages and disadvantages of remote-controlled cars with gasoline engines
- More options for tinkerers in design and tuning
- Faster speed achievable
- challenge for experienced hobby drivers and hobbyists
- More demanding in terms of maintenance and care
- Can only be used in well ventilated halls or outdoors
- First experience with RC cars required
- Liability insurance strongly recommended
4. off-road vehicle or race car – a question of type
what’s as exciting as in big: the remote-controlled monster truck.
Before buying a remote control car, you should decide whether you prefer a race car or an off-road vehicle (e.g., a car that can be driven by a car driver).B. A monster truck) should be. High-quality race cars place particular emphasis on good road holding and lightweight construction using aluminum and plastic, so that the fast remote-controlled cars have as good a chance as possible of taking first place in the races held among the fans.
In addition to free-running racing cars, many model car enthusiasts also enjoy the purchase of a car racetrack (or also called slotcar racetrack, z.B. From carrera) an attractive alternative, for which there are numerous track-guided car models and tracks with different levels of difficulty can be set up. for (adult) collectors in particular, the appeal also lies in being able to drive models from major car companies from audi to ferrari as remote-controlled mini cars.
Depending on the design and scale, these can either be purchased as ready-made remote-controlled mini cars for immediate use, or they can be assembled from a kit with a great deal of attention to detail and craftsmanship.
However, the more robust remote controlled car models are less likely to be found among the race cars, but rather among the off-road vehicles, which are higher with their large tires, and with the chunky tires with a lot of tread, even challenging surfaces such as sand courses can be driven on.
4.1. Monster trucks – the indestructible
A remote controlled monster truck has similar characteristics to its big role model: it is robustly built, has large tires with a good grip, good shock absorption and is very well suited for off-road use. Many models are also highly maneuverable and can even jump high and far.
Especially for beginners, the remote-controlled off-road cars are very well suited, as they do not mind minor collisions very much. However, depending on the model, very high speeds can be reached, why you should pay attention (if it should be a remote controlled car for a child) to the age specification of the manufacturer.
4.2. Carrera – the classic among remote-controlled cars
A carrera track is the dream of many small (and often big) car fans. That’s why carrera offers remote-controlled cars based on racing car models for different requirements in terms of complexity and size. Depending on the space, budget and mood, you can decide how large and demanding the race track should be.
For beginners from the age of 6, the "carrera go!"-series suitable and more simply built entry-level models, since the contacts of some higher-quality model cars sometimes require sensitivity in handling when they z. B. need to be straightened out after a corner taken too fast and flight landing.
But there are also many collectors who enjoy the 1/32nd scale car models compared to their larger counterparts and are passionate about carrera racing.
In addition to the track-based carrera track principle, the carrera brand also builds free-running vehicles, which are impressive and often score well in tests.
| remote control race cars | low center of gravity, lightweight components, reaches top speeds in the lane or on asphalt, streamlined body according to formula 1 model | for those who enjoy speed and want to drive tracks |
| remote controlled off-road cars | large wheels with deep tread, higher set, good steerability (forward/backward/sideways), drives on uneven ground | for all those who love challenges and want to prove their skills on the off-road course on demanding surfaces |
5. remote-controlled cars in the test – these are the most important criteria
When buying a remote-controlled car, many factors play a role. At the stiftung warentest, where the last test of remote controlled cars dates back to 2005, driving performance (30% of the rating) , fun (20%) and handling (20%) as well as durability (20%) and environmental characteristics (10%) have been set as important criteria for the evaluation.
the driving behavior of a remote-controlled car was tested on different types of terrain (indoors, on asphalt, grass and sand), how well it can be maneuvered and steered, and whether it runs straight ahead.
Other features tested included the top speed achieved, the driving time per battery charge, and the range and susceptibility to interference of the remote control. In addition, the operating instructions, battery replacement and remote control were tested for their ease of use.
Comparison winner of the remote controlled cars were then the lego dirt crusher RC (grade 2.0), followed by the tamiya baja king (note 2.2), the jamara MTB bison (note 2.3) and the racy quadra racer from karstadt (grade 2.5). But in the meantime these models are only available second hand as cheap remote controlled cars, as the manufacturers have long since introduced new models to the market.
But you can also use other criteria such as special effects (lighting, sounds, etc.).) or include the price-performance ratio in an evaluation.
6. Bestsellers at amazon
| distianert 1:24 radio controlled 2WD car RC monstertruck electronic racing buggy |
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| carrera RC 370162052 – turnator |
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| vatos model VL-BG1512-R |
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7. Questions and answers – FAQ
7.1. How to build a remote control car?
also a pleasure to play with outdoors.
If you want to assemble your own remote-controlled car, you will find a range of kits on the market for this purpose. Well-known for its model kits is, for example, the manufacturer revell, for example, which has its own series for vehicles with rc remote control, revell control has brought out.
There are ready-made remote-controlled cars for the youngest (from 3 years), but also kits suitable for children from 8 years and for adults, where step by step the car is assembled and then put into operation by remote control can be.
lego also offers kits for building remote-controlled cars yourself. For example, the remote-controlled tracked racer from lego technic is one of the most popular models.
Furthermore, in the lego power functions series, you will find different electric motors that can be used to tune lego models and convert them into a remote-controlled car with infrared remote control.
7.2. How to tune your remote control car?
Some people, who already have experience with remote controlled cars and like to deal with the technology, think to themselves: there’s still something to be done! Because both speed and appearance of the remote control cars can be tuned in many cases.
For example plastic main gear through a more stable metal model replace the plastic body with higher quality aluminum sheet metal, install ball bearings for better running of the wheels and much more.
The appropriate parts can be obtained from the companies or dealers (e.g.B. Order at conrad), and the best tips for tuning can be found in hobby forums.
Tip: model cars are particularly suitable for tuning, as it is easier to replace individual parts. Tips on this offer hobby portals, such as world modellbau.
7.3. Is there a remote control car for both the water and the land?
the so-called amphibious vehicles are suitable for driving on land as well as on water. In this category you can find among others remote controlled mini military vehicles like amphibious tanks as well as remote controlled off-road vehicles with big tires and lots of profile.
Because remote-controlled cars for water and land are particularly suitable if you enjoy mastering challenging outdoor courses with them and testing their limits.
7.4. Are there remote control cars in which children can sit and ride??
Remote-controlled cars in which children can sit and ride along are a big hit with children between 3 and 5 years of age. The electric vehicles are depending on model and possibilities for several hundred euro to have.
(40 ratings, average: 4,05 of 5)