Go with the Slash 4x4! You should be able to get it for around $350 or so somewhere. It is a great all-around basher as well as the most famous short course truck in r/c. It has a brushless motor so no worries about wearing out your motor once a month. Now days, all Traxxas models are waterproof, which adds a whole new element to the game. The Slash 4x4 has the VXL system in it which will let you run up to a 3s lipo or 9 cell NIMH. If you can only get a 2wd, they make the exact same thing in the Slash just in 2wd. Its called the the Slash VXL. It has all the same motor and everything just different drivetrain. Also, if you buy a Traxxas VXL model new, it comes with a 2.4 ghz radio which means you can't bind with anyone else at the track. I would go something Traxxas, just since they're great for some competitions and all types of bashing! Look on the Traxxas site (Traxxas.com), they have tons of info on all their models.