RE: Recommendations 1/5 4x4
MCD Racerunner fits your requirements. But RTR will stretch your $2k. They are expensive cars. Perhaps pick up a 2nd hand one off ebay?
If I was to go for a 4x4 right now, it would be the MCD Rally, or MCD Baja 1000. I just got the Smartech Thunderbolt which will be available soon, which is based on the Titan, both very good cars. The only other real option is FS racing.