(08-Dec-2022, 07:10 AM)burkeomatic Wrote: My thing is I have a hard time building quads when you can get on the RCG classifieds and pick up decent enough quads for 100 bucks a pop.

The main problem I have with buying a pre-owned quad that was custom built is that you are buying an unknown, and there are a lot of people out there who unfortunately can't solder for  So you could end up with something that looks like a complete dogs dinner and has potential reliability issues. If however you are buying a used BNF quad that is guaranteed not to have been messed with by the owner then the gamble is less risky unless it has been crashed to within an inch of it's life. There can be some good bargains out there if you are lucky but I've seen a lot of people who also bought a used quad and then regretted it. Wasted money and only good for possibly trying to salvage some parts from.

(08-Dec-2022, 08:20 AM)Lemonyleprosy Wrote: I enjoy the build even though it can cost more…

I’ve also bought a whole bunch of used bits in the past from rcgroups. I’m a cheap bastard.

Not everyone is willing to go the used route… but, it’s still possible to go completely new and come in under $150.

It’s possible to build for considerably less, if you’re willing to go used, depending on what kind of deals you can get on used bits and how old you’re willing to go.

Used bits are always a bit of a gamble though. Although honestly, it seems like new bits are a bit of a gamble these days as well.

I am the same, I like the build. I buy the used quad saying ''if this doesn't work, at least I have extra parts''

(08-Dec-2022, 01:17 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: The main problem I have with buying a pre-owned quad that was custom built is that you are buying an unknown, and there are a lot of people out there who unfortunately can't solder for  So you could end up with something that looks like a complete dogs dinner and has potential reliability issues. If however you are buying a used BNF quad that is guaranteed not to have been messed with by the owner then the gamble is less risky unless it has been crashed to within an inch of it's life. There can be some good bargains out there if you are lucky but I've seen a lot of people who also bought a used quad and then regretted it. Wasted money and only good for possibly trying to salvage some parts from.

Yes, I have seen the garbage soldering jobs, and poor putting things together. Honestly, when I get something used, I take it apart and go through it and see if there is anything I don't like.

I learned my lesson when I got a quad, and I was flying it, and lost FPV feed about 100 feet up and 200 feet away. I could barely get orientation enough to get it back home. Turns out one of the little PNP pins for the VTX was faulty, which is also a reason I prefer soldering things directly to the board if at all possible. But, I got it back and fixed it. I also figured out why the GPS didn't work, because they had the RX and TX mixed up. So I won't buy something used and just yeet it into the air. I look at it as buying a bunch of discounted parts that may or may not work together and purchase and pay accordingly.