Get the Savage XL, sell the engine new unused, and get yourself an LRP Spec 3.. When I think how paranoid about my engine I was at the beginning, I have to laugh.. For tuning, just make sure there's smoke, and that it sounds right.. You don't even have to be that experienced for that. Right sounds right - wrong sounds wrong.. You want nitro, so get it.. An XL with an LRP Spec 3 will be awesome.. Seriously awesome...

I personally prefer Losi, and the Losi engines are sssooo easy to use - AND have tons of power.. But the XL should be great... You've already come out and said what you want, and in this hobby, it's all expensive - no way around that - so given that, get what YOU want. Good luck...