ORIGINAL: madmaxx1
matrix is a good, solid buggy. excellent for a beginner and can be raced if you choose! do some google searche's if you don't beleive....
99% of people are going to tell you to spend DBL what you want to spend because the sub $500-$600 ride's are lesser car's, to a degree they are right but for the most part that mentallity is WRONG IMO
maybe in the case of that nitrorcx or w/e they have a point but if you are buying from a known manufacturer (like CEN or an older model used buggy from LOSI,Xray,OFNA...) you will be OK. nothing wrong with the used market either, i find LOT's of deal's and have saved hundred's if not thousand's doing it! just have to be carefull with what you buy, check it out REAL good! when shopping for used item's i deal locally so that i can inspect before i purchase [8D]
just my $0.02
If he knew enough about the hobby to know when he's getting ripped off for a used car, then he wouldn't have posted here. Many noobs give up because they buy Junk at the suggestion of people online. They spend $300+ on junk, it breaks, there's hardly any parts or support from them, they get frustrated and it ends up at a garage sale for $50.
He stands a much better chance at happiness/success with a better car. Get a Losi, Ofna(not the ultracomp) or something of quality. It's a MUCH BETTER place to be when the worst of your problems is learning to tune a nitro motor, rather than waiting for some obscure part to come from Timbuktu...
Save your money, HIDE IT WELL(I have a wife too) and spend more for a good, name brand vehicle. You won't regret it.
P.S. The CEN isn't bad.