Well, you could always go brushless for your budget i would think if you went with a T4. But the T4 is a dedicated track racer, but you could still bash it well, but it wouldn't have as much durability as the Savage or TXT-1.

Does the budget include radio gear and charger? I assume so. Radio gear - i recommend a FM system, or even a 2.4ghz system (FM - good reception, better than AM, but 2.4ghz is the future and airtronics has just released a 2.4gz mx3)

I can't really be bothered putting together a full package atm, i'll let someone else do that. sadly my cynical side doubts the gift certificate /curses self.