Check out my edit, just in case you didn't see it. I'm glad you're still considering it, nitro is the way to go in my opinoin, it's just too much fun, but it will be a trial by fire (perhaps literally!!), most people start when they are young with electrics. That's not to say that electrics are for the young, far from it, in actual fact the electrics can be made to go generally faster than the nitros, with some investment. Nitro is a lot more maintenance intensive though.

May I suggest this? I realise it's a lot more than you wanted to spend, but I promise it is worth it...it's a very well supported brand (HPI), it is a well known platform, the RS4 model, it's 4 wheel drive, independent oil filled suspension, comes with the nitro engine, the radio gear, everything you need.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXRSH9**&P=7