Will be used almost 100% as a basher - doing speed runs and in general just having some fun tearing around the neighborhood and letting the boy play with it with a smaller battery pack.

Which is the better choice money not being a factor

I could'nt make up my mind so I'll say get both of them so you can go play with your sun, Quality time is something alot of parents dont offer to kids nowdays and regret it later. Go have some fun with your kid.(seems how money dont play a role)
P.S
They are both good buggies end effect.

We already have too many expensive hobbies together - Model trains, rockets, lego and just "science" projects together - That being said I already have a Ultra LX Comp that I have been running myself with an Axial .28rr 2 and while I can turn the throttle expo down she is not real happy doing so and right now it is much to quick for my son. Figure an electric running a smaller battery will give him the practice he needs and then go up to a bigger battery when he is comfortable with speed and then the real fun begins

Money does play an issue but I was looking for the opinion of the group with out that coming into equation - the more I look at them though the more I am not sure and I will list the prices

Hyper7 rolling chassis with a nitro engine of unkown condition $100 (sure parts will need to be replaced through out)
LX2e rolling chassis (new kit) for $199

Will put a mamba monster on it no matter which kit I go with

Nice to hear that you put time into your kids. Dont get that much nowdays.
Anyway, its still a difficult decision to make on which buggy to choose from seems how we cannt see in what condition they are. O.K you said the LX is in kit form, is that a new kit???
The hyper needs parts because of wear. Now comes the question of whether or not you are willing to put the time in the buggy to get it running well but from what I have read so fare and can gather about you, your willing to put in a bit of time for your kids plesure, good on you mate.Now try to figure out how much do you have to spend on the hyper to get it rolling.
End effect they are still both relativly good buggies. Flip a coin. (Hope it lands on the Hyper side though)

Have only seen photos of the Hyper - was supposed to go look at it this morning but that got pushed back to this afternoon - I fully expect there will be some things that are worn past reasonable limits and could be a good project to do with my son in figuring out what is worn and the actual tear down/rebuild. That said there is only one shop in the area that sells Ofna parts so a fair number of things will be online purchase or order through the hobby shop. Think they have a descent stock of Hyper parts though.

The LX2e is a brand new kit - I suspect it will be mostly built and we just need to drop the drive train in - more instant gratification and no worries of finding the weakest link with each running day.

Recently went through that with the Comp I have when I put the Axial into it. When the Force .26 threw a rod the car seemed to be in near perfect shape (would have rated it at 90%) - Put the Axial into it and got it broken in and then let her rip - ripped all three differentials out of it in short order