Now that I have done it the hard way and upgraded over time, this is what I wish someone WOULD have told me to do up front. Yes it is more expensive up front, but the money I spent buying cheap stuff first, just to upgrad anyway cost more.

-Hyper 7 TQ Sport = 240.00 at ace (car is so upgradable, and so much parts availability, you can upgrade to pro kit off of e-bay as needed)

-JR XS3 Radio = 150.00 ebay (It is the cheapest synthesized radio around. This means you never have a channel conflict again. Also comes with decent servos to get you going, range seems good and its computerized).

-OS RG (p) = 110.00 or 90.00 at tower when they do the $20.00 coupon (great engine, at half the price of engines with similar power)

-Jammin JP-1 or 2 exhaust= 45-60 ebay depending on coating (good pipe for the RG)

-OFNA Chrome top starter box = 80.00 ebay (12 volt motor, room for a dry cell, and has hookups to run a glow starter off of the dry cell)

-Dubro Pit Caddy = 30.00 (comes with 850 cc fuel bottle, jetting screwdriver, glow plug wrench, engine stopper)

-Byrons 30% race fuel 28.00/gallon @ any hobby store (I have tried Blue Thunder, and Odonnel, and found the best results with this fuel for the above engine).

-OS 8 (or A8, I forget) plugs = 5.00 anywhere (I bought tons of these, because I used to go through McCoy MC-8s alot. I have had this same single plug in the engine for months without fouling!!)

-Mugen Aluminum clutch shoes 16.99 ebay (great hook up, long life)

-Mugen 1.0 springs 3.99 ebay

-Ofna clutch bell 15.00 most hobby stores

-12 volt 7ah battery = 20.00 (for starter box)

-36 Energizer AA batteries 13.00 at Home Depot (tons of batteries, good brand, on the cheap for the radio)

-OFNA 6 volt receiver pack 9.00 ebay (don't mess with AA's for your receiver, this will only lead to a low voltage condition and a runaway)

-MRC 969 Super Brain 90.00 on ebay (plug in peak charger that charges 2 batteries at once, can charge/discharge almost ANY battery type used with nitro cars, including 12 volt starter box batteries).

-OFNA PCR temp. gauge 33.00 on ebay (fits in top of engine, so you don't have to worry about lining it up, easy to read display)

-OFNA micro failsafe 17.00 on ebay (Keep your car from going out of control, with loss of reception)

All of this comes in at just under a grand. It seems like alot, but most of this is necessary, not to mention some of the kits themselves cost this much *cough* prospec *cough*. I too thought, that after seeing the ads, that you could get into this hobby for $300-400 dollars. You can, but within a short amount of time, the bargain parts that got you in cheap will fail (I found this out the hard way). Things like stock servos, starter boxes, am radios, etc. will let you down.

I would HIGHLY recommend, resisting the itch to run out and grab an RTR just so you can start two weeks sooner. Save you allowance/pay/salary and you will find SO much more satisfaction with the above. I wish I had done this. Instead I bought used, and basically upgraded to the above stuff over time (I haven't got the hyper yet or the starter box, but those are next). You may not agree with some of the brand selection above, but my point was to select quality components so that you only buy them once, instead of buying junk, getting frustrated, and then buying quality stuff later anyway.

Rant complete.