The nitro rc cars tend to be place on the smaller end of the spectrum of radio controlled cars. Hobbyists looking for that big honking type of radio controlled car can go for gas-powered rc cars. The gas powered rc cars are more familiar to radio controlled cars hobbyists than compared to other types of rc cars. They gas engine uses a gas motor that resembles motors found in chain saws or a hedge trimmer. The gas rc cars are fuelled by a mixture of oil and gasoline. They have much bigger sizes compared to electric and nitro rc cars. The good thing about gas rc cars is that they posses a much better performance but this depends on the design of the toy car. Although gas rc cars are require more clean up and maintenance compared to its counterparts, they are more reliable.
The gas powered radio controlled cars are far much expensive when buying but it is the lower cost of fuel when compared to nitro rc cars which makes it better in the long run. The advantage that nitro and gas powered rc cars have is they a re air cooled. Thus they can be raced continually with stoppages only to refuel. The electric cars on the other end have to be stopped once in a while for cooling lest they overheat and burn from one component or another. Electric cars must be disassembled to get the battery pack for recharging. One cannot just fill up a tank.
The advantage electric rc cars have over gas powered and nitro rc cars is electric rc cars achieve torque immediately. Gas and nitro radio controlled cars have to get up to speed and this takes a little longer for engine to heat up and clutch to engage. At the end, it is for the hobbyist to decide which the right kind of rc car type for him/her. Besides cost of fuel, there are many other factors a hobbyist can consider before choosing the preferred rc car type based on the body of the car i.e. on and off road models. The off road rc car models have a suspension resembling those of real large sized vehicles. The suspension is supposed to make these run on almost any form of terrain.
The on road rc cars are meant for use on pavements. The instruments implemented in on road rc cars including nitro rc cars are precision tuned for speed and fury. When one chooses on the type of rc car, he/she should base the decision on whether the running will be done on terrain or pavement surface. Getting involved into the competitive racing of things, an rc racing hobbyist needs to know what he/she may be getting into first. One of the best ways to start it off is to join an rc racing club. At such a club, information is shared about rc cars. You also get to see the various rc cars in action and up close. If lucky enough, one may get the chance to drive one of the rc cars.