@ Julian, the "drift cars" that we have been into lately are all ready to run kits offered by hpi. I think the only thing that makes them drift cars are the tires which are plastic instead of rubber this allows them to drift easier on carpeted (usually indoor) tracks. The track we have been using is at out local hobby store which is a converted warehouse. I think we pay $5 a day each to use the track but are rarely their month an 2 hours a day.
The kits vary in price from $240 to $300, some come with nickel metal hydride batteries while others are set up for lithium polymer batteries (I.e., they have brushless motors and electronic speed controls that can handle lipos). All of the hpi sprint 2s like the one we run are 1/10 scale with belt driven 4wd transmissions and oil filled shocks. The lipos run between $50 and $60 each depending on capacity and last about 30 mins on a full charge. Chargers are around $100 and take about an hour to fully charge a lipo. So the buy in price to get into the hobby is between $240 for a kit with an nmh battery and trickle charger with rubber tires to $ 400 / $450 for a car with the brushless motor/esc ($300), lipo battery $50 and charger ($50 to $100).
The plastic and rubber tires are interchangeable but also relatively cheap at $25 for a set of 4 premounted on rims so I go that route instead of using the same rim for different tires.
If you are thinking about getting into this I suggest you start slow and look at what is available in craigs list. I found a lot of guys selling almost new kits because they went all in only to find it just wasn't there thing or things changed such that they, their fiends and / or family didn't have the time anymore. The kit I bought my son was used and included the lipo ready car, two batteries, a charger, two extra bodies (mustang and Porsche) and other extras for $400 no sales tax. If I don't keep it for spare parts I will sell the first Porsche I bought (once I get it fixed) for $140 (the price of two new lipos and fees for two on the indoor drift track). I got it for around $200 so it's been a good training vehicle for my son and I.
The box says that they go 53 mph (actual not scaled) I believe it and this can be changed by using aftermarket gears. We've done speed runs at the local high school parking lot but still haven't strapped a GPS or iPhone to one to clock it. On the drift track I don't think these things ever exceed 20 mph since the focus is on drifting not necessarily winning the race so there are a lot of turns on a relatively small track.
@Big Shasta your pics remind me of the 1/8 scale into buggies and truggies I used to be into along with the traxxis nitro 4 tech and several nitro powered boats and Helis. I used to love those vehicles but always found tuning the carbs on them more of an art than a science, I suck at art. I will stay into this as long as my son does but so far I have more fun maintaining the cars with him and using them with rubber tires in a parking lot than drift tires on a drift track. These have been great at getting my boy to use his hands and his head while maintaining them. He is really starting to appreciate tools and having spare parts on hand.
My latest purchase is the "air dog" basically a quad copter which tracks the user via a homing device and keeps the camera focused on the user automatically. Theoretically, I should be able to strap the homing device to my arm, activate it from the water and have the drone take off, follow/film me and land at the touch of a few buttons. According to the web site I'm the 1,257 preorder customer and it should be delivered on or before June 30, 2015, in time for the next boating season.
