Alright so I'm looking at buying my FIRST RC car and I must say the choices are vast and I'm quite intimated by it all. I've read forums and looked at reviews and I really must say that I just need some help choosing a first model. So here's my specs:

1. I want a fast, durable off road vehicle (buggy, truggy(?) or monster truck)
2. I want to build it from a kit. I don't just want to buy one that's pre-assembled. Part of the fun looks like putting it together.
3. Since it's off road, it will be used outside. So nitro is an option.

Can someone just recommend like 2 or 3 good RC cars for a total newbie that fit this criteria. Some of the kits freak me out as it looks like you could get stuck with just a chassis and your on your own for an engine, body, tires etc.

Just point me to the newbie kits but I want something that is going to make an afternoon home from work in my backyard fun. I'm not looking at racing or anything, I just want to tool around in some dirt.