erso. if there are any rc tracks near you or somewhere that alot of people drive their trucks, that would be your most informative format. maybe you'll get lucky and someone will let you drive their truck. i just sold my 2nd gen. t-maxx after putting about $800 into repairs and upgrades, and now i'm waiting for my savage to show up in the mail. as far as the aftermarket world, there are plenty of hop-up options out there to keep a savage owner just as happy as a t-maxx owner. well maybe a little more, because on first hand experience you will spend a lot of time tuning your maxx rather than driving your savage. think about the common problems with both trucks.........t-maxx= engine problems & savage= broken dog-bones (which hpi supplys replacements in the box) i think i would rather spend my time learning a new hobby that might have me replacing a few parts rather than trying to learn with something that has chronic engine problems. just my .02!!! good luck welcome to (maybe) your first addiction :stupid: