Product support? Aftermarket support?, detailed setup sheets?
How long will your LHS promise to supply parts? I have had these types of vehicles before with promises that they will supply parts only to find 3 months later they drop them.
Yes you can buy online, but now go and type hyper 8.5 and caster zx1R in ebay and look at the amounts of spares available there.
Now go look at the development cycle for these buggies.
There are MANY more things to consider than how fast it gets you round the track. Yes you may be a great driver, congratulations!
We know that a good driver with a cheap buggy can smoke a bad driver with a good buggy. Its said on here all day long is it not? (as well as being a fact).
The point is hes asking for buying advice and you cannot say the caster is a better buggy than the 8.5, cos its never won a major title.
8.5's place very well in many races at all levels.
Now go back consider what i have said and tell me that the caster does all this with the same support and availability, as well as a wealth of information of racers at the tracks who can help out.
I'm glad you like your buggy and i have looked at them and the FT pro looks OK. Nothing better than most buggies though. The lack of support just kills it for me I'm afraid.
So no i'm not jumping on the bandwagon, just offering impartial advice based on experience.