Are you the person who only buys from the local hobby shop because think that their credit card is going to get hacked online. The desperate member who wants parts now and cant wait over the mail a few days possibly weeks.

In this hobby, its more than simply the RC car, and thats where all the fun ends, parts support availability.

Me, if it wasnt for online stores, I would have been out of the hobby a long time ago. LhS prices are outrageous, regardless as to why so high prices.

HPI has very good models, and one that has made its presence is Axial.

Many of them release a kit and within a year its gone. So I would stick w the main line of production be it HPI, Traxxas, Axial, Duratrax.

The comment about a RC for many years, unless you plan to keep as a shelf queen, this hobby the RC is gonna get beat up. There is a learning curve to the hobby, start simple, MOST of the time the first RC is for learning, and then you sell and buy a good one. Its either you develop a habit, ritual, dedication to invest time and money or you will be, this is not for me, and it ends on CL.

My first RC was a Tamiya Monster Bettle then it was a RC10.