I hAve a grasshopper with the electronic speed controller or (ESC) as most call it . it works great its easy to work on and a ball to drive . down side the shocks suck I would get a Tamiya hornet over the grass hopper its the same care but with a few upgrades. as for a radio check out this one http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXAVSY&P=0 and get s s3003 futABA SERVO and a 6 cell battery and chrager. and your good to go. there are cheeper radios but I would get a pistol grip radio in two channel cause that's what you need 1 channel for sterring and 1 for gas.