RE: Looking for a new RC car on a budget.
The Jato is a great truck. If that is really what you want then I think you would enjoy it. The previous owner of my Jato 3.3 put RPM arms and bumper on it and it has seen multiple 40mph wrecks and comes out without any broken pieces each time.
The Jato is bad off road... with the stock tires. Put some good tires on it though and they are great off road. Here is mine on a hill at the local rock quarry with proline dirt works tires on it:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-bTR9xxEw[/youtube]
You can see it has no problem climbing the hill and when you want to hit the road, its one of the fastest ones you will find. An 1/8 scale buggy WILL be stronger and more versatile, and better off road, but they wont be as fast on the top end. The jato or a buggy either one will be good, just have to pick which one you want.