Actually they're $179 now with motor and esc.
As far as needing upgrades straight away....?
This is box-stock with a Telebee, Align servos, JR S185 (since then I got an HS81) on the tail, and King 2 paddles (to tame it down - more weight). The only thing out of the box that needed replacing was the one-way bearing, and this is before I replaced that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPSZuaI_4Qg