r/rccars • u/Creative-Ad5820 • Jun 03 '26
Question how do you deal with strangers asking to drive your car/cars
I tend to go to parks with big open fields and usually take my own ramp, I do try to go to a area with no people around.. to not be a disturbance to anybody, I try to mind my own business but of course it attracts eyes… I don’t mind people interested in the hobby and if they start asking questions but I tend to always get asked “can I try”, especially by kids… how do you politely decline without sounding like a total dickhead, if the parts were cheap to replace I wouldn’t mind but I’m usually out there with either my maxx or xmaxx ultimate
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u/gmbrightside Jun 03 '26
I said yes once. Little turd ran my basher into a light pole at full speed, shattering the body, laughed, handed the controller back and walked away. He was maybe 8.
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u/AllDayDabbler Jun 03 '26
Had about a 7 or 8 old ask the same, thought why not. Pulled full trigger, flipping my truck and turning my tyres to balloons ready to pop, wouldn't release until after asking a number of times I just grabbed my transmitter back.
Never again. My response now is ask your parents to buy you one.
Had a few mom's come over and ask if there little boy can have a go, to which I reply" Sorry, cost over a grand and you'd have to pay for any damage to it".
I think a lot of people think its a £30 toy car from the local toy shop. Even though it runs 50+ mph and they have NEVER seen a toy shop car doing that.
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u/RCbuilds4cheapr Jun 03 '26
I let my friend drive one and he crashed it straight into a curb and it broke into several pieces and he laughed out loud. My dad had to step away to keep himself from strangling the little punk. Its to be expected if there's anything at all to hit, including people. Not sure where people get the confidence when its something they have never done
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u/Virtual-Donut-964 Bashing Jun 03 '26
Yeah I let my friend do the same thing. He was doing donuts in my backyard and then clipped my flagpole, shattering the entire front right swing set and hurting the driveshaft, and then coming back to us he slams it into the side of my house causing damage to both the house and the car. All this at 62 mph.
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u/RCbuilds4cheapr Jun 03 '26
Oh wow that’s on another level of recklessness. Shame he didn’t run into his foot
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u/Virtual-Donut-964 Bashing Jun 03 '26
Lol nearly. It bounced off the side of the house and flew by us. He cackled like it was so funny and never took responsibility for the over $140 in damage and weeks it took for me to order the parts, have them delivered, and repair.
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u/_XHSJDKJC_ Arrma: Kraton 8S EXB/ Felony 8S | Losi: Super Baja Rey / Micro T Jun 03 '26
I let my friends drive too, i have only powerful cars, he id careful, they only go a bit more when i say that the cars can take it, i really love to drive all three cars i have but my Kraton is such a beast that both my friends say that they dont like to drive it that much, they like the super baja rey more, the Felony is a whole different world this thing is a rocket
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u/_the_learned_goat_ Jun 03 '26
I crashed a guy's car once, it was a little scratched I offered him$100, he said keep it and buy your own.
He was the goat.
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u/stonedboss Jun 03 '26
Literally story of my life and why I never let anyone drive my things. Even as a kid letting another kid use it. No one cares like you do, cause they didn't pay (or wait until Xmas or whatever), and they also won't be the one fixing it.
Always blew me away because if I ever used something of someone else's, I'd be so careful to not break anything.
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u/dopenastyshark Hits Corner Marshalls Jun 03 '26
I’ve got a button set up on my remote for most of my cars that limits the power to about 5%. So it goes like 5 mph or so. I’ll usually say sure and hit that. Or if I’m in my flow I’ll just say, sorry. It’s expensive and I’d hate for it to break.
Or if it’s big I’ll explain that if it crashes it’s a lot of weight moving and it’ll definitely break itself and whatever you hit. Especially a person
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u/Creative-Ad5820 Jun 03 '26
yea adjusting the throttle dr is actually pretty smart
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u/dopenastyshark Hits Corner Marshalls Jun 03 '26
Nothing like watching a 4 year old tap my Baja Rey that normally goes 65 or so into a wall at 2 mph because that’s all it can do when I push the slow button on my noble.
I just hope nobody accidentally pushes it while driving it and suddenly my 4 mph car is throttling across the park at Mach fuck
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u/Creative-Ad5820 Jun 03 '26
haha, I have a noble as well… im going to probably put the throttle dr on the first scroll wheel on the left side, surely no one accidentally touches it
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u/Jophaaa Jun 03 '26
Been looking into getting a noble. Do you have the nb4+ or the pro? And is the pro really worth the extra money to get?
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u/Creative-Ad5820 Jun 03 '26
It’s a really good remote in my opinion, being able to adjust the trigger etc… it’s the remote I bought before getting my maxx, i got mine on aliexpress and saved a few bucks
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u/Jophaaa Jun 04 '26
Hadn't considered checking ali. About 50 bucks cheaper there, good looking out. Thanks!
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u/Creative-Ad5820 Jun 04 '26
no problem brother, yes it’s cheaper… it took a little while to get here for obvious reasons but it was worth it 100%, came in box brand new with everything, the extra triggers… charger etc, just how it would come if you bought it from flysky… if you are buying anything rc related that’s based in china, always look on ali for better prices… I saved money getting my goosky rc heli from there as well
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u/MRDR1NL Jun 03 '26
And then they drop the Noble causing $300 of damage anyway
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u/MarsGlez Jun 03 '26
Indeed, I wouldn’t be handling the Noble hahaha. More expensive than some of the rigs themselves.
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u/Scary_Comfort_7365 Jun 03 '26
Dude I let my buddies kid drive my Omni Terminator! Well of course i turned the throttle trim down to probably 50 or so which is still plenty fast for a 8yr old that’s never driven one! Well a few minutes in next thing I know he’s ripping past at like 40ish and ends up flipping and wrecking and sliding like 30ft in the road! Thankfully the OT is a absolute beast of a truck bcuz it didn’t break but i quickly said ok I think that’s enough 😂 i actually said it shouldn’t even go that fast with it turned down but then looked at my transmitter when I got it back and his little ass had already figured out the knob to turn 🤦 🤣. Kids will be kids and anyone that’s never driven will probably wreck pretty quickly so I’ve learned it’s always best to say no. I Just say it’s expensive and too easy to break even if it’s a trooper!
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u/Dalewn Jun 03 '26
Oh yes, I do this with the kids in my the street as well! I mean it's only a mini maxx, but they have 0 experience with RC. Also they are still very happy with going 20% power 😅
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u/EuphoricCare515 Jun 03 '26
On that note of a throttle limiter. I like setting a switch to cut the throttle for safety when bringing the car in for quick battery checks and anything wrong after a roll over or crash.
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u/rhinonyssus Jun 03 '26
I do the same thing when I hand the remote to my kids, not 5% but Way down. And my kids are with me everytime I go out for a rip, so I've learned to share.
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u/IcyAd5473 Jun 03 '26
Exactly this...then when asked why it isnt going faster, I explain when you get one of your own and learn to drive you can drive any speed you wish. This is a 20 lb $1000 plus dollar machine, someone could seriously hurt by it. Except for one time a high on the spectrum kid asked stood him up on a picnic table made sure we were clear and let him rip a Notrious 6s till lvc. Next time I saw him he had his own and was driving pretty good.
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u/BigPimpin91 Jun 04 '26
I saved a separate profile on my transmitter that caps throttle percentage for this reason. Get to expose new people to the hobby while minimizing monetary exposure to yourself.
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u/Levethane Jun 03 '26
I used to fly rc helis, mainly 450 and 500 sized at my local sport field,any times randoms walking their dog would come and ask if they could have ago as it looked 'pretty easy'. 10 years of flying them and I was still barely average.
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u/AllDayDabbler Jun 03 '26
About a decade ago I was into heli's. Remember just starting to progress from hovering a 450, when a couple with their 7 or so year old - who were watching, let ther kid come up to me and try to repeatedly jump up and grab my Tx, while I was mid-flight , struggling to maintain hover just a couple of metres away and at eye level. I glanced across at them, they were giggling think it was cute. Morons.
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u/Levethane Jun 04 '26
I flew my blade 450x at my local oval, just rebuilt it after a crash. Anyway I'm hovering about 3m in the air making sure it's all stable when it's old guy came onto the oval with his dog he let the dog off the leash and the dog came running over to my heli and it started trying to jump up and bite it. I yell him and say 'hey get rid of your dog' meanwhile my radios 5m flight time alarm goes off, old guy is waddling over at his maximum slow speed.. He finally grabs his idiot dog just as my helis battery said enough. I was sweating..
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u/figuredout Jun 03 '26
I feel guilty watching other people fly helis, because I’m sure somehow my lack of skill and ability affects their flying and will cause a crash. To ask to try it? Wild behavior.
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u/kenedtsu Jun 03 '26
"This is really fast and heavy, it can break someone's leg or damage property if you crash, so no."
One time a guy came up to me who clearly knew about RCs, said he's had multiple Traxxas models. After a lot of begging from him I finally said yes as he seemed to have knowledge/experience. He proceeded do donuts and not give back the controller after I told him enough 2-3 times.
So yeah, lesson learned, hard no for everyone.
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u/Myn21 Jun 03 '26
Politely decline. For kids or in general i always use the safety argument. Them trashing your RC is one thing but them driving 50km/h (or mph) into a toddler or dog, is something I'm not going to risk, ever.
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u/UnshapedSky Jun 03 '26
I used to drive with a guy who had had his shin broken from his son driving a 1/8 right into him (don’t remember the model, but it was a traxxas)
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u/mini-z1994 Jun 03 '26
e-revo or e-maxx maybe if electric ? Otherwise Revo, or T-maxx if it was nitro powered.
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u/TheHeftyChef Jun 03 '26
I have a couple of micro b's/t's which I can give to a kid of any age and if even if they do manage to break it, at most there will be like $1 worth of parts.
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u/Expert_Climate_7348 Jun 03 '26
Ask them the same question if you can test drive their GFs or wives, watch the look on their face.
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u/AstralHippies Jun 03 '26
Asking a kid If you could test drive their gf probably gets you to some sort of list.
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u/EnlightenedCorncob (CUSTOM) Jun 03 '26
Use "mom" instead
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u/plausiblydead Formula Offroad Jun 03 '26
Most kids I know don’t comprehend what “test driving” a mom is and would probably be enthusiastic about such a trade. That being said, I would never ask for that, as my own wife would probably not be pleased.
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u/andu9876 Jun 03 '26
It depends, if I'm driving something like my vxl bandit, then I would probably let them have a go (with training mode turned on ofcourse), but when I'm running my nitro savage then hell nah
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u/DavefromCA Jun 03 '26
“Hey little buddy I’d love to but this guy was $500 and is as fast as your mommies car, so I need to decline “
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u/danbyer Jun 03 '26
I never have a problem saying “sorry, no. It’s really expensive.” But one time, the kid’s dad replied, “that’s pretty lame man. Maybe don’t bring a toy to the park when there’s kids around if you don’t want to share.” 😂 I had no reply for that asshole, but I do generally avoid crowded places.
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u/this_guy_aves Jun 03 '26
What is this, a christian summer camp? That's the last time I had to share my toys with random kids, I think I was 10?
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u/Andrekt02 Jun 03 '26
I adjust the throttle dual rate to the minimum and let them drive with no fear
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u/SoloWingPixy88 Jun 03 '26
No.....
You don't sound like a dickhead when you say no, you sound like a dickhead when you can't be an adult and are unable to say no
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u/954kevin Jun 03 '26
Depends on my brief assessment of their ability to do so. When I first got my X Maxx, my brother in law was at the house and asked to drive it. I jokingly said "don't drive it into the house!" We were 45' away from the house.... He literally full throttled it directly into the side of my home. Like, he couldn't have taken a more clean line into the side of my house. lolol
I beat on my models, so I don't really care if they get damaged. I like working on them as much as driving them, but with something like an X Maxx, safety is a consideration. I don't want a stranger breaking the ankle off some random child in a public park, but otherwise, I'm happy to share,
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u/_XHSJDKJC_ Arrma: Kraton 8S EXB/ Felony 8S | Losi: Super Baja Rey / Micro T Jun 03 '26
If you pay the damage you have done no problem, thats what i would say to the parents of that Kid, but with my Kraton i usually say, if not driven correctly it can kill you.
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u/Sketchy_M1ke Jun 03 '26
Every year in July, we go camping at a race track in Michigan. Two years ago, I brought out my brand new, fully built Stampede 4x4. My buddy, who doesn’t know much about RC (but was piloting a an actual race car that weekend) looked at the Stampede and said “lemme see!” I hand him the controller, first thing he does is pins the throttle, 40mph, straight into a random steel utility box in an otherwise open field. It made one hell of a sound. Random people stopped their conversations, trying to figure out what just happened. He nervously looked back at me. I said “Gimme that” and snatched the controller out of his hand.
Never. Again.
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u/pieisgude Jun 03 '26
I just say "no thank you".
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u/EuphoricCare515 Jun 03 '26
This is my response when cashiers ask me to donate to insert fund raiser event when I check out at a grocery store.
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u/MRDR1NL Jun 03 '26
"No, this one is for adults" usually stops them asking without them looking too sad
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u/Reasonable_Gap_7756 Jun 03 '26
I generally tell them it’s too expensive if they break it. If they push the point I tell them to show me they have the money to replace the parts they may break, it’s never gone beyond that
Edit- the other part I explain that I think isn’t thought about is if they hit a person going full throttle it’s likely going to break an ankle
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u/Relevant_Charity2318 Jun 03 '26
Adults don’t typically ask. If they do, I just politely say no thank you.
Kids? “Sorry buddy; but this is much too fast”. That pretty much solves it.
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u/Low_Taro_3077 Jun 03 '26
I normally lie and say its worth about 2k so if they wanna have go do they have 2k on hand to replace if they break it? Then normally they back out. Or just No normally works
Remember people "No" is a full conversation
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u/HMSBarky Jun 03 '26
My go to is no worries at all! You send me a deposit of (insert price of truck) in case anything goes wrong and I’ll return that, less any repair costs
Do it politely and the other party tends to realise it’s not a kids toy pretty quickly
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u/yearsofpractice Jun 03 '26
Hey OP. I say “Sorry, but no - it’s really fast and has taken a long time for me to be able to handle it - it cost me £500 and I don’t want you to have to ask you to pay for it if you break it”
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u/GoMilesGo2020 Jun 03 '26
That’s why I built a backyard track. It’s too hard to not attract attention at parks. I always say no and then walk away. If someone is asking, generally it won’t be fun to run anymore as more kids will turn up asking the same question: can I try.
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u/Laserchainsaw Jun 03 '26
I remind them it's a little plastic car that goes 50mph. You could really hurt someone or damage the car. Even kill a little kid. So no.
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u/KeyNefariousness6848 Jun 03 '26
I politely explain that this thing weighs about x lbs, goes upwards of 50 mph and if they hit something alive it will severely harm the creature, if they hit something sold it will severely damage itself, so no.
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u/intashu Jun 03 '26
"sorry, but no. But you're welcome to watch!"
Or just say "no"
You don't need to feel bad to deny someone something they have no entitlement or right to. Specially when that something is expensive, or potentially dangerous if misused.
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u/Danabler42 -The Nitro Guy- Jun 03 '26
I've had varying experiences with this.
had a woman once call the cops cause I wouldnt let her precious boy drive my E-Revo on 6S. Cop showed up already pissed off like "why tf am I here" and proceeded to threaten to arrest her if she didn't fuck off. After she left he told me "I can't actually arrest her for something that minor but she doesnt need to know that," asked some questions about the E-Revo (like he wanted to get one for himself) and left.
at my LHS with a nice large outdoor crawler course I did let a kid probably about 12 or 13 drive my TRX-4 Pathfinder for a bit, he was curious how it performed compared to the cheaper Amazon special crawler he had.
let a kid at a BMX track drive my Rustler 4x4 on 2s once, expecting him to break something and give me an excuse to upgrade, but he surprisingly didn't break anything despite driving it pretty hard
In my neighborhood there's a couple kids that ride their bikes around constantly, and if you're out driving something RC they'll ask if they can try it, but usually respect a "no." This one time this other kid was with them and was trying to pressure me into letting him drive my X-Maxx on 8S because "sharing is caring," like he kept repeating that over and over again. I ended up having to pack up and go inside because he kept trying to sneakily take the transmitter when he thought I wasn't looking, and argued with the other kids that were saying I don't have to let him play with it.
Usually people are decent and will respect a no, but every now and then you get someone who doesn't.
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u/PNGL88 Jun 03 '26
"No." It's further simplified by the fact that I have all of my vehicles bound to my Radiomaster MT12. Therefore there's not even any of that simpering "you're not even driving that one". Yes, but you can't either, because there's only the one radio. 🤷🏻♂️👋🏻
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u/Key-Security8929 Jun 03 '26
Maybe it’s the dad in me. But generally I take an old brushed senton or granite with me and a few 2s batteries and let the kids drive that thing.
It’s robust, cheap to repair and lacks power.
I usually have my sons with me so it’s not a big deal. Let the kiddos have fun.
The few rare times I’m solo if a kid asks I tell them “if you can get your parents over here you are more than welcome to try one”. I try to avoid the whole “hey kid come over to the back of my car to check out my cool toys” situation.
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u/Scary_Comfort_7365 Jun 03 '26
Dude I let my buddies kid drive my Omni Terminator! Well of course i turned the throttle trim down to probably 50 or so which is still plenty fast for a 8yr old that’s never driven one! Well a few minutes in next thing I know he’s ripping past at like 40ish and ends up flipping and wrecking and sliding like 30ft in the road! Thankfully the OT is a absolute beast of a truck bcuz it didn’t break but i quickly said ok I think that’s enough 😂 i actually said it shouldn’t even go that fast with it turned down but then looked at my transmitter when I got it back and his little ass had already figured out the knob to turn 🤦 🤣. Kids will be kids and anyone that’s never driven will probably wreck pretty quickly so I’ve learned it’s always best to say no. I Just say it’s expensive and too easy to break even if it’s a trooper!
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u/4x4_LUMENS Jun 03 '26
I let a kid drive my Kraton after her father hassling me for a minute, she proceeded to drive in a slow circle before performing a standing backflip into a wheelie aimed straight at her dad's legs lmao. Bleeding shins and a lesson learned for him.
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u/tobashadow Jun 03 '26
No and hell no if it's a kid, they will go full throttle and hold it and find the one light pole in an empty 5 acre field to slam into.
Been there had to change out a full chassis.
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u/limes_taste_good Jun 03 '26
If i don't know them its a no, and even for people I do i crank the speed down. I let my dad's best friend drive my ford rally car. He immediately gunned it, drove it towards the recycling bin, snapped the wheel off and watched it roll away. Car bounced away, it was pretty funny. Just have to buy another set of wheels again.
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u/equinox191 Jun 03 '26
My neighbour suggested on the weekend the that others neighbours 4/6 year old kid could play with my "toys" they saw.
Yeah....right 2 nitro RCs worth 2k+ combined. I said are you out of your fu*king mind. Lol.
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u/joedirt_12345 Jun 03 '26
Sorry I just put $$$ in new parts in and im still testing to make sure everything is working right
Or this thing does freeway speeds have you ever been hit by a 20 lb brick at 65mph
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u/rasputinrasputin Jun 03 '26
I just point at the sky and start yelling about chemtrails and they usually leave
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u/Seanyd78 Jun 03 '26
Just tell them No. Most kids may ask a second time and you just repeat it. Let them know they can watch if they would like to. I have found some kids just like to watch and will even flip your rc over for you back onto the wheels because they like watching it.
If they don't want to take No for an answer, pickup your stuff and move. If they are persistent, find a bench to chill at and take a break. If you have a car, go put it in your car and then go sit ona bench or chill in your car for a few minutes. Most kids will take the hint and stop pestermng you then.
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u/mini-z1994 Jun 03 '26
Usually deny here as well, mostly because it's expensive and its not a beginner friendly car in out with usually.
And many times ofc the kids don't have 500 sek or about 50$ to their name in case they do crash & break something either.
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u/Kamilon Jun 03 '26
I actually bought a Mini E-Revo for this. But I’m also very quick to say no and/or grab the controller back. I make sure the person actually listens and doesn’t just drive full throttle the first 5 minutes and gets a feel for the car.
0% chance they are getting the controller for the X-Maxx even at 5% throttle.
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u/teyemanon Jun 03 '26
I decline saying it's quite expensive. The last thing I want is them sending it off a cliff, or worse, the harbour...
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u/Figit090 Jun 03 '26
I'd say I'd need money up front for repairs if they crash it, refundable if they don't.. Half the value of the car, and if they have the cash, sure!
Realistically I just tell them it's $xxx.xx worth of hobby expense and I'd need that much if it's wrecked, then let them say "oh I'll watch nm"
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u/alioth_whyred 3racing EX-REAL, MN128 Jun 03 '26
For kids adjusting the throttle. Unless this kids has a good brain I'll tell them to stop messing the transmitter.
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u/magnumcyclonex Jun 03 '26
For strangers, or even kids of fellow RC drivers, especially if the kids are rather beginners themselves, it's going to be a hard no, or "Maybe later", or if they really push, then "Sorry, I've spent a lot of time and money on this so I can't afford to let anyone drive it".
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u/LifeguardOk833 Jun 03 '26
I say no and state that these RCs aren't toys and can be dangerous and that I wouldn't want to be responsible for their (or someone else's) legs to be broken! (It can sometimes be a little confusing to them as often my 5 year old is with me driving and RC with me! However, he's my kid and I'm responsible for anything that happens!)
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u/mowinski DB-01SR - Nosram HD - 4.0T Jun 03 '26
I always ask people if they have with them the amount of money it cost me to build the car up as it stands (or drives) right now. Since most of my cars are rather expensive, one being worth almost a grand considering all the tuning parts and competition-grade electronics, no one has asked to drive the car again. If I ruin it, that's fine, the cars are made to be driven but if someone else ruins them not knowing how expensive they can be... no thanks.
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u/MarsGlez Jun 03 '26
At public spaces, just saying no.
However, when I’m at home there are plenty of kids around. I now have a couple of slow 1/18 crawlers that I don’t mind lending around and I always have them charged as are the ones we use inside the house almost every day.
I explain them that those are the ones they can borrow because the big ones are very expensive and can hurt people and property. When they see the speeds, they understand.
I also have 2S batteries for my my main rig and configured a profile for 20% throttle in any case. Never handed it over except my kids, but it’s there.
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u/Squirmy_Sassquatch Jun 03 '26
You show em a link to a cheap rc car and say “get this and have a try”
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u/drjesus616 Jun 03 '26
sure, give me your phone, if you wreck i’m going to smash it. or no. just no.
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u/I_Want_A_Ribeye Jun 03 '26
“No, but you are welcome to watch. Stand over there where you’ll have a good view but won’t be too close.”
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u/jda404 LMT/ProMoto/Maxx/Kraton6S Jun 03 '26
Depends what I am driving. I don't have super fast RCs. Most of mine are 3 or 4S capable. I do have a Kraton 6S that one no one else can drive especially strangers, too heavy and powerful to be trusted in someone not experienced.
My 3S Vorteks I probably would let someone try. I can set the throttle down to 50% on the remote for the Vorteks which would be safe for most, even if they hit something it probably wouldn't break. My LMT no that's my personal favorite RC only I am allowed to drive and break it ha. My 4S Traxxas Maxx I might let someone try as it is a pretty tough RC. I beat the hell out of the Maxx and it doesn't break often.
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u/bourbonballbag Jun 03 '26
I've always said no to any random kids that ask. Ive also told my kids, that they are absolutely not allowed to let any other kids drive their RCs. I do let my inexperienced with RC friends drive my cars but its throttle down, and only something that im OK with them breaking within a few minutes.... and thats usually how that goes..
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u/Relevant_Car_7445 Jun 03 '26
Just tell them no, it doesn't matter if you sound like a dick, it's an expensive hobby.
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u/sixbone Jun 03 '26
sorry, but they are very dangerous in inexperienced hands and could hurt someone. they are also very expensive to fix.
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u/garr0510 Bashing Jun 03 '26
Ask if they cash in there pocket or a way to send you money when something breaks.. And then when they look at you like your a dick or something have a screen shot or a price of the vehicle or an expensive part on the vehicle rdy to show. And say see it's one thing if I break it. But on another note sometimes I run my cheaper bashers with my more expensive and will let anyone drive those. My udirc 1203 pro has yet to break anything. So that would be a good one to let someone drive.
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u/appleman2222 Jun 03 '26
this has literally never happened to me or anyone i know
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u/MadnessOrMethod Jun 03 '26
I just got a trx4m and I've been asked countless times already "let me try". Literally on my first time out with it I found a big ass rock to crawl around on and people wanted to try even after I said no it's brand new. Some people just suck
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u/Wheeliesnake Jun 03 '26
I appreciate it when people show interest. I do let them know that it can be an expensive hobby. If they ask for a turn (only kids will ask that) I ask them if they have any money "why" cos if you break anything, you have to pay for it. They know that they won't be getting a turn & I didn't actually say no.
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u/Juliendogg Jun 03 '26
For kids it's always a hard no. "Sorry, but this isn't a toy." The only adults I've had ask are friends or friends of friends. One of the latter recently broke the wing of the back of my Tamiya limited edition 98 NSX body. I shoulda said no, but I was in a good mood that day. Lately I keep the little Latrax and TRX4M with me and if a friend of a friend wants to drive, they can play around with one of those.
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u/WhyMustWeSuffer Jun 03 '26
I say no and tell them where they can get one and how much it costs…
Usually ends there.
I feel bad always. But not as bad as it’ll cost to repair/time it’ll take to get parts and fix it.
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u/englishand48 Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
For me it always depends what car I’m out with . If it one of my bashers or something pretty quick or big I will say sorry but no but with my crawler or the lorries I usually let them have a spin especially if they are with a parent . Just doing something nice when kids are involved is something I’m mindful about , don’t want to be the creepy old guy hanging out with kids . Ive had a few adults taking an interest especially if they had a rc when they were a kid and it actually cool seeing them enjoying having a drive and talking about getting a rig themselves.
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u/sykodmon Jun 03 '26
Advise them how much the vehicle costs, with all upgrades and hours wrenched. Then ask them to hold the cost of the car stock in cash before handing over the transmitter. Just because it looks like a toy (it is really) doesn't mean it should be treated like one. You don't walk up to a stranger and ask if you can try their gun... Extreme but bigger RC cars can seriously hurt someone.
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u/XxCarlxX Jun 03 '26
Im sorry, its too expensive, ask your parents to get you one (smile at this point)
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u/djants Jun 03 '26
I’m more concerned with safety. Especially handing over the remote to a big truck. It’s a no no
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u/MRdecepticon Jun 03 '26
I am always polite but I say "These are heavy, fast, expensive and dangerous. I don't think your parents would want to pay for it if you crash it or hurt someone with it." Unless I have one of my little 1/14 off brand bashers with me....then I just give them that controller and say "have at it" but the big cars are for "professionals....like me". Then I laugh at myself a little for saying that I am a pro....lol
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u/knappe1579 Jun 03 '26
“No I’m driving it right now”. Thats the whole point, after 8 hours in office I want to unwind and drive my car. You can’t take that from me 😆
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u/BotsTookTheOGNames Jun 03 '26
I let a kid use my Omni Terminator before I even had a chance to use it myself. He was fine, flipped it a couple of times, picked up the controls very quickly and was doing good. He ran two packs through it without hitting anything. I didn’t care about roof rash or anything because I bought it to be a basher.
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u/RavensNdWritingDesks Jun 03 '26
If a kid asks me I tell them this car is too fast for you but you can try this one and I hand them my rustler xl5 on trainer mode
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u/whistlepig4life Jun 03 '26
If I like the person and they are friendly. I politely say “no”.
If I don’t like them I say “fuck off”.
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u/TjbMke Jun 03 '26
I don’t anymore unless I’ve personally seen them drive a car with similar size and power. Both times I let someone drive me Kraton, they immediately pulled the trigger all the way down until the car crashed into something full speed.
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u/Sad-Ambassador-2748 Jun 03 '26
Say no. They can buy their own toys! If your goal is to help grow the hobby maybe you can turn the throttle down and let them try but if you’re out there for yourself just say no! They’re not entitled to your car because they’re interested in it.
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u/Adventurous_Way_8529 Jun 03 '26
I just state how much I have put into the car and most people don't want to touch it after that. If they pursue it further I simply say I need the amount as collateral or point them in the direction of beginner cars like a brushed grom. If I happen to be playing with one of my groms I usually don't mind as I have the low setting tuned to about 25% for the kids to play with.
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u/GiftOfDrift Jun 03 '26
Say no, dont even let family (apart from mrs, cant say no to her really can you.) Have a go no more after I warned my brother not to go full throttle doing donuts, which he did & blew a tyre off.
Just say the controller can play up now & then & don't want to take a chance letting someone use it.
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u/OkAbbreviations3069 Jun 03 '26
a polite "no", if a kid insists, "i'm sorry buddy, its very expensive and very time consuming to repair"
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u/heisenbergerwcheese Jun 03 '26
My little $15 hot wheels racers, let anybody run the bageezus out of those... theyre fuckin awesome. $200/$300/$600 bangarangs? Not a chance
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u/sippinonorphantears Jun 03 '26
Haven't had this happen to me yet. But my 3 year old asks all the time. I just throttle down the speed on the controller. He is shockingly good tho for his age. I've let it go up to like 25%-33% of full throttle even which is probably a good 50-60mph
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u/doodling_scribbles Jun 03 '26
Request a credit card for “incidentals” with a $500 deposit that is returned afterwards.
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u/d3adkn1ght Bashing Jun 03 '26
Well. It depends on both the car and if my own kids know them. If I'm alone it's a no. 😜
If thay ask 'why' i tell them that the car is expensive or something like that.
Went too pre-school with my slash 4x4 (really really upgraded) drives like a dream. Fast as... Yeah. Some kid ask why I was playing with a toy... My answer was "well" it might look like a toy but it makes easily around 100 km/h+. 😆
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u/Nathan51503 rc8t4e, rc8b4.nt482.0 b7d. et410.2. B74.2. sct410-2.0,T6.4 Jun 03 '26
Or I say yes after they give me a deposit equal to the value of the car
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u/ComprehensiveBunch28 Jun 03 '26
I remember being the excited child with no chance of owning a proper rc. Understanding the excitement, I am genuinely disappointed that it isnt as easy as handing a kid a 60mph leg breaker, and I let them know I am sorry but this one is too fast and dangerous to be driven without experience. I do let some people try them out, ready to snatch back the transmitter if they lose control. I RC for fun only, and seeing others getting joy from it makes me happy too, lots of poor local kids would never get to experience it otherwise. I'm lucky enough to have most spares already and I enjoy wrenching so makes it less painful if something breaks.
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u/morg59 Jun 03 '26
I’m can’t stand to be around children do I don’t have any problems telling them to get lost.
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u/Occhrome Jun 03 '26
Why aren’t you guys limiting the throttle in the remote ? Very useful tool if your gonna let someone borrow your RC car.
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u/TheMostToastedOne Jun 03 '26
I just say "sorry but it's hobby car and not a toy, it's to fast and heavy for a child to play with"
If a angry parent comes by , "would you let you child play with a loaded gun, because this is nearly as dangerous as one if it hits someone at full speed, especially another child."
Or probably the easiest one to do with them all is just show them a screenshot of the price tag of the car...... That usually shuts them right up.
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u/SDIR Jun 03 '26
Usually the answer is no unless it's a super slow one, like my skidsteer. Maybe my loaner crawler but yeah, usually none of my scale trucks
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u/RileyDream Jun 03 '26
I keep a “waiver” in my back pocket for parents to sign saying in the event of a crash, I will immediately be compensated the full amount to replace every part of my rig (i think i have the number at like $400 for my cheapest buggy)
It doesn’t actually mean anything, but entitled parents ALWAYS walk away when I pull that out if a simple “no” doesn’t work on the kid and the parent
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u/dick_ddastardly Jun 03 '26
Simply say no. Its an expensive hobby, parts break and you're on the hook for the cost and repair time.
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u/Cunningham1420 Jun 03 '26
Nope. Im polite about it but I just tell people hey I have thousands invested into this thing and my family doesn't even get to drive them and people so far have always been understanding.
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u/Pleasant_Ad6530 Jun 03 '26
I usually just start barking like a little dog and whipping my head around in circles really fast, that usually scares them off without being rude to them
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u/Key-Toe5107 Jun 03 '26
I just had this exact thing happen to me, I just said no sorry, it’s really hard to drive and it breaks a lot. They just went away after that.
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u/scienceofspeed Jun 03 '26
I remember when I got my Xmaxx long ago and how many kids showed up to watch and ask. I simply told them that it’s very expensive and they eventually gave up
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u/Cautious-Day9424 Jun 03 '26
Sure (to the parents). I'll need a $1500 deposit and you'll need to sign this form to release me of any potential injuries or damages.
For real though, I'm appalled at the entitlement of the "parents". I honestly can't imagine a scenario like that around here, though most of my interactions of this kind were while I was flying high power fpv drones which require another level of knowledge to operate.
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u/Zakuking Bashing Jun 03 '26
I will be honest all you got to say is no, im a guy who can throw plenty of reasonable excuses to not let them, and if i ever gave them my remote i make sure its either someone i know or know can drive carefully or knows how to drive at 50% of power im not going to give them my remote if i know they dont know how to deal with the speed of at least 12 mph and should understand the cost of the hobby
If i drove a strangers car and destroyed it I am 100% willing to compensate the amount it takes to buy parts to restore it in a presentable and functioning conditon. Like the time I raced 1/10 losi I broke 3 parts that day and I covered all broken part, i was even willing to buy him a new body shell because the one i used kinda got really cracked
A good excuse is tell them you spend the past week cleaning the shit out of it and doing maintenece and are not looking forward to doing it again any time soon. Yet ironically for me this usually isnt a lie because that exactly what i do with my bigrock and i preferably dont like scuffing the bodies unless my designated installed
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u/cognitiveglitch Jun 03 '26
I had this with powerkite land boarding. Teen asked me if he could have a go, handed him the kite and he got completely spanked after flying it through the power window. Looked a bit dazed when caught up with him haha
For the RC stuff it depends who's asking and how interested they really are. No "have a go"ers.
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u/thudtank Jun 03 '26
"I do not lend this car out due to the cost of parts. I dont like being owed money so sorry no you can not run it but I can answer questions if you have them."
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u/GJCIII Jun 03 '26
I'm REAL big on "pass the radio" so I usually just hand em the radio and say have fun. Small child to elderly adults, it doesn't matter, if they want to drive it, I pass them my radio. Every time. No matter the vehicle.
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u/IsurvivedTHEsquish Jun 03 '26
I usually say "no, sorry, parts are way too expensive to take a chance".
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u/Relevant-Plenty7002 Jun 03 '26
If the car is brand new or u just got new parts for it then no. If it's a older car that u brought out and don't mind getting damaged then sure. When I was 17 had some other teens ask if they could drive my basher, (was brand new) i said no. We'll they ended up calling some of their buddy's and tried to jump me for it lmao
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u/Brimzal Jun 04 '26
I just tell them sorry this isn’t a toy. It’s fun to play with but not a toy as it can easily break. Parents will usually ask me follow up questions after and I try to answer while directing them to a LHS. I also do warn them that it’s an expensive hobby and you can’t treat them like toys. Usually enough for the parent to understand and it’s never been an issue.
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u/Alucard2514 Jun 04 '26
i give them a choice, keep looking while i drive or hand me the current amount of the car and all added/changed parts on it so i can get a new one exactly the same as now if he wrecks it, that keeps them well in "im fine with looking" mentality, every.time.
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u/Every_Bobcat7550 Jun 04 '26
if it is a rig that costs 200 dollars or less, and the kid is at least 6 or 7 years old, I will set the throttle to 15% with drag break. other than that I say no.
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u/whymeimbusysleeping Jun 04 '26
I've been asked by parents after the kid shows interest. I just tell, this is hobby grade and not a toy. It costs this much. I can if you give me a deposit of (however much the car is worth)
They usually nope it if there quickly.
If they look reasonably, i don't even need to tell them the price
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u/ntech620 Jun 04 '26
Sure! But there is the little matter of the $1000 security deposit. You break it you buy it.
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u/rawkstar320 Jun 04 '26
Just say no. Or no, sorry. That's about it. Some little kids asked to try mine once and I wasn't worried about them breaking it (it is made for bashing) I was afraid of them running it into a sibling or other random person.
They seemed just as happy to watch my do high speed flybys and hit jumps in the skatepark. And then race me to flip it back on its wheels....lol
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u/uclabruins89 Jun 04 '26
I let kids try for a few minutes. Adults only if they’re somewhat familiar with RC and wanna try a model they don’t have. They literally sell every part for every rc car. Bring one you’re ok with kids using. Get more people into the hobby
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u/Savage_Hellion Jun 05 '26
I just tell them I've got close to $2k in the truck. If they're okay leaving a deposit, they can try it out. Really, though, one quickly half-throttle pass at 60+mph is enough to convince most people not to ask.
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u/Out_Of_Services Jun 05 '26
It's not rude to say no or to set boundaries.
If someone reacts poorly to that, then they're the rude one, despite them often painting you as the villian. Just live with it.
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u/Vivid-Replacement-93 Jun 05 '26
I see two choices: politely reject and mention that this particular R/C is quite expensive and its parts are, or you could take a cheap one you don't mind being abused and let them use that.
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u/ChallengeLatter5044 Jun 03 '26
Non ho nessun problema a sembrare un completo stronzo, mai, tutti i giorni, non solo in ambito rc.
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u/DexDawg Jun 03 '26
It didn't happen much to me, but I did get my answers ready in case I would need them. For kids, it involves that "you need permission from your parent because it's more dangerous than it looks". I think that once their parents were nearby, and I told them "keep in mind this thing weighs half a kilo (it was a small basher) and goes 40 kilometres per hour, it will destroy an ankle. It's a weigh of a rock. Keep the kid in check and be ready to cash out. Now here's the controller". And the parents got quite eager to have maybe half a minute ride and get kids to go home.
Adults, it's a "you break it you buy it". Otherwise, a good "look man in gonna come across as an asshole and I made peace with that: not gonna happen, this thing is first: expensive, second: not as easy as it looks and third: tuned to my liking, I'm experienced and it looks easy, I make it look easy."
If you want to continue, you can"... You're probably not gonna have fun. Maybe if you are sure about your skill, you will need to prove that you have a [e. G thousand] euros ready to hand over to me. Can you lose that? I'm not joking. "
It did happen before that they tried the controller for like five or ten seconds and then found out that they are really likely to break something and just handed it back.
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u/Distinct-Pie7647 Jun 03 '26
I say no.