My first RC: An electric MRC truck.... After seeing a bunch of guys at the local hobby shop racing the nitro stadium trucks, I decided to save up to get one... Three months later, I bought a Duratrax Nitro Evader.... For a year and a half straight, I ran that car everyday. I loved the smell and sound of nitro, and especially the attention it gives you. I honestly never really tuned up that engine the whole time I ran it, maybe once or twice briefly a year, but other than that, had no troubles. It was then that I decided I wanted to get into bashing, and simply put, my nitro evader just couldn't put up with it... I had considered buying a savage or t-maxx, but then when the electric stampede came in, I decided to get that (the price just simply couldn't be beat {for me}). My evader has sat for over a year, and every time I take it out and drive it once in a while, I just simply don't enjoy it as much as I used to... But in the long run, I have had a good experience w/nitro, but an even better experience w/ electric. Go ahead and buy a nitro, if you find out you don't like it, sell it and buy an electric... Its all personal opinion on which is better. Some people will swear to electric, some to nitro, its all what you like best. Just go for it and no matter what, have a good time. <-- Thats what its all about.