I'm no expert (I was in your shoes a few months ago), but this is my experience. I went into my LHS looking for a cheap way into actual RC racing, and mini's were what was suggested to me. There are two tracks within 1.5hrs of me that race 1/18th scale twice a week. I've found a really nice group of people who have been very helpful to me. The vehicles (AE RC18 series, Losi mini-DT, Xray m18 series, DTX detta ST/buggy) are all under 200 and are relatively cheap to keep running (most parts you are going to break are cheap such as suspension parts and the stock gears and such). The running cost is something you don't think about until your into the hobby but it exists in every vehicle in any scale but 1/18th scale is definitely cheaper overall. Just my .02