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
+1 there is alot of truth here, I went with a used OFNA MBX ultra buggy, and have not been too disappointed, couple of issues, but for 150.00 I got a working comp level buggy and the guy threw in the aluminum arm upgrades, and another 60 on a spare chassis with the arms, and full suspension... what was awesome is it has a huge big block.32 engine, so I got a deal! granted I have a few more things to do before I can seriously run it, which is the drawback with a used vehicle, but if you are a gearhead of sorts, the savings versus the work really comes out in the wash and gives you the opportunity to learn your vehicle from top to bottom, while saving a buck or 2 at the same time!
The plus is witha vehicle like this you can usually turn around and sell it for the money you spent and generally break even, then combine that money with say some more money you ferreted away and get a new rig later on...
Just my opinion to add to the one quoted, and also as an experienced RC driver with a wide variety of vehicles...
oh, and the last bonus to a cheaper used vehicle is this, you do not feel such a sense of loss if you total the vehicle learning how to drive it....