Traxxas Stampede XL-5 is what I started with, and I would recommend it to others. $240 seems kind of high for what you get. Nice and durable and will go just about anywhere. Add a spare battery and a fast charger and you'd be good for a while; until you need another body and get the hankering for some better tires. It took some beatings before something finally broke.

I'd probably try an ECX Ruckus if I were starting new again.