I would suggest the Savage 4.6 X SS over all of those cars, that car will take hell. It is the most durable car that I have ever owned. But it is a Nitro. I don't quite understand were you are going with the you can go more places with electric then nitro. You can do just as much if not more with a nitro then an electric, but I guess of course you couldnt trive it in your livingroom. I would suggest Nitro because its so much fun, just the smell of nitro is. Go for the Savage 4.6 X SS kit with a Nice radio system. here ill make you a list.

Savage 4.6 X SS towerhobbies part #LXMYA2

For a remote system I would strongly suggest the Airtronics MX-3 3 channel reciever and controller. I ran this controller for about 3 years in 2 of my cars and its fantastic! The transmitter includes the remote and the receiver, it even has some misc. crappy servos that you can have for backup parts! Here is a model number! LXCHA9

Servos for that car are gonna need to be the ****, its a 1/8 scale kit and let me tell you its gonna scoot, so some high torque servos for steering and throttle.
I would purchase 2 of these Futaba S3305 servos for this car. They have metal gears and pulls about 150 oz per inch. thats plenty well at moving speeds. (Towerhobbies model number LXDWF8)

With that kit that I picked out all you will need is batteries and nitro.

Total Price so far- $639.96! Still under your budget!

$696.41!

You will have on hell of a car if you go with this plan, its actualy almost similar to my 1s gen salvage! but let me know what you think! Ill be back!

But there is some spare parts that you will def need in the process of breaking in and bashing the hell out of your new vehicle!

Your gonna burn plugs while trying to tune that engine since it will be your first rc TRUCK that you will be messing with so pick up 2 of these awesome glow plugs LXDTK6 its all I run in my vehicles!

also you will want to get a glow ignitor if you dont already have one, I would suggest LXVZ06

your gonna need a hump pack to strap in the back of that car for power, I would suggest a rechargable HPI 5-cell 1200Mah pack, they have great life and are greatly priced!
LXFJT1

a charger for the hump pack would be nice LXHCF1

Thats all the NEED to haves for this truck to get you going.

total price!
$696.78 you cant beat that, have fun bashing and let me know what you think!