i have a nitro evader st and i have a friend with the rustler and i think the evader does just a good or even better sometimes than the rustler. the DTX .18 engine is a great engine. i know someone with a rustler and a sport maxx which have the same engine and they both have problems with their engine alot. im not exactly sure why its called a 2.5 because it is a .16 engine which is smaller than the .18 on the evader. so i would recommend the evader over the rustler.