RE: KINDA new--don't know which scale to go!!
I just recently got back into the scene from taking a 15 year or so hiatus. I ran electric offraod before, but just bought a 1/8 buggy, the Hyper 7 pro. I actually just got it together and haven't even started it up yet.
My opinion would to be go 1/8 scale. The main reason I would say is that there might be limited # of places that you can run the bigger car, where as you might not have a problem running a 1/8, I guess it depends on where you lie and how many areas you would have to drive them.
Then again, what do I know?!