RE: Official Rustler Thread
I think the answer you seek is a bit of opinion.... The rustler is good for bashing, the XL-5 is better than the VXL if you don't want to replace parts as often cause it's not as fast or powerful. Then again you'll end up replacing the motor cause it's not brushless. I personally like the Rustler cause it has a lower center of gravity than the emaxx and the stampede. The Stampede is almost exactly the same truck except that it's lifted about an inch and a half higher, which means a higher center of gravity and lower ability to turn at any speed without rolling.
An E-maxx might be good, but that's also a 1/8 scale truck, bigger everything.... which means it requires more power to push it.