if you are looking not to race and just to have fun with your kids in the backyard i would deffinately go with either a stadium truck or a monster truck these both run on just about any terrain and are the most durable. then theres the question of nitro or electric, personally i would go electric because you are new to the hobby and a electric truck would be easier to maintain and would give you more time out having fun than working on tuning and repairing etc. as far as monster truck or stadium truck it really depends on what you like, a monster would be a little better in the grass and stuff like that and it would also be better for bigger jumps and things of that nature i would suggest a traxxas rustler because their very durable or a traxxas emaxx because they are in my opinion the best all aroundelectric monster out there.