I have been into nitro cars/trucks since around 1999 and you will never know what you can expect until you run the car/truck. However, there are a few basic things you can do to make the experience easier and more enjoyable. First, break the car enginein EXACTLY like the manufacturer suggests;DO NOT WAVER ONTHIS. Second make sure you follow the correct maintenance procedures the manufacturer suggests, such as, cleaning the air filter, checking bearings, screws/bolts, etc. Make sure your receiver pack is charged to capacity and the transmitter hasgood batterieswhenever you go run your truck. Make sure you use the correct % nitrofuel recommended for the model. As you get more advanced, you can experiment with different engine components and fuels, but as a noob, stick to what the manufacturer suggests. I would not replace the gears until you run the truck. There may be reports of the gears stripping, especially on the Internet, but you never know how those folks run their truck. Yours may never strip if you use good sense and don't treat the truggie like it is indestructible. Keep in mind that there is about half as much maintenance on an electric vehicle as on a nitro so just be prepared. Nitro is pretty fun as long as you remember the important stuff. Enjoy.