Now that I know that I need a microcontroller for the RC car I need to know which one and what skills I need. How much do you suggest spending for a micro controler and tools (I guess one needs some software for the pc in order to program the micro controller won't i? - this question might sound stupid: A PIC is a micontroller isn't it?)
I guess I need to be able to do some programming won't I (C##?).

For a microcontroller you want to use either C or assembler. Most microcontrollers
only have a small amount of memory so you do not need high-level languages.

Checkout the back issues of Circuit Cellar for microcontroller articles.
Look for articles on the AVR or PIC processors.

Ladyada has a couple of low-cost programmers for the AVR chips
(see www.adafruit.com). Also check out her PIC vs AVR comments
at http://www.ladyada.net/resources/picvsavr.html

For AVR support take a look at http://www.avrfreaks.net/
For PIC supposrt take a look at http://www.piclist.com

(* jcl *)

 

thanq cumesoftware,hgmjr, John Luciani and JohnnyD.
Will I really need microcontrollers or is there an alternative way?

 

thanq cumesoftware,hgmjr, John Luciani and JohnnyD.
Will I really need microcontrollers or is there an alternative way?

You really need to use a microcontroller. With discrete components it would be too complicate (not to mention too big).

 

k thanq.
I have changed plans. I won't build a RC car from scratch. I found kits which already include all parts needed to build it plus an instruction then I will buy a book in order to find how out how to tune the car. I think that will be a good first up project.
After this I will buy a kit which explains how to deal with mics and then I can try to replace the circuitry of the RC car with the mic like here: http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/co...abell.cnazarian.ee476.finalproject.rccar.html

how about this?

 

That sounds like a fun project. Just a small point - mic is generally short for microphone, use micro or μC for microcontroller.