RE: have $500, which truck???
the savvy was made to bash, it can race though if you want ot make it do that, cna take a bit of modding to be on par with a revo, i'm a traxxas guy though so i'm gonna vote the revo, i'v only had small problem with mine so far, the t maxx isn't worth looking at, i'd go the savvy over the maxx anyday.
but really i am unbiased, i think it depends on what you wanna do, the savage is a well known basher, if thats what ya gonna do 99% of the time the savage is defiantly the better truck for you.