i have researched both of thes vechicles and i know what they can do. but the one thing i cant find is which one has better handling this is my price range $200-300. please comment it would really help. also i choose not to go electric because i hear it cost alot for batteries and very short run times. if you think electric would be good please recommend a good car. thanks remember fast about 35 to 50 but with a good amount of handling(turning).

Electrics cost less then nitros in the long run (im gonna hear 20 replies telling me its not) but it is. Batterys are only 20 bux at most, and they get the same run time as nitro.

I'd get the new Rustler XL5, 35mph out of the box and its electric. If its your first car, go electric untill you get familiar with the hobby.

Well here's one reply!

What pack do you run that cost $20? A cheap 1500mah is around $20.

I say, if its your first RC you may want to go electric first because the fustrations are less with electric and you will be a little used to it when you make the transistion to nitro. If you want nitro I suggest the HPI by far.

I don't run 10th but i run micros, micro packs are usually more.. I get from cheapbatterypacks.com.. I had a custom 6 cell GP1100MAH pack made for 18 dollars.

Oh, I run a 18B myself.

Firestrom! See what it will cost to buy enough batteiers and chargers to keep an electric running all day. With nitro you fill the tank up and go again. I have both electric and nitro and like my nitro much better.

Oh i love my nitro, i'll run a nitro before I will electric. But if its his first car go with electric untill he gets use to the hobby. I jumped into Nitro too fast and it was a huge headache.

so what car would you recommend for electric\ off and on road like a stadium truck thats fast and handles good read first post and you still didnt tell me whick one you would get the firestorm or the rustler. thanks guys for the help

I said the Firestorm.

I said Rustler. Im a Traxxas fan tried and true. I dont know anything about the Firestorm. to be quite honest, I doubt many if any of the ppl who posted know anything about them either. They just say Firestorm coz its the "non-TRAXXAS". Having a RS4 Im not completely sold on HPI yet. Sure they are decent RC's, but Id take a Ofna GPX4 over any RS4 anyday. My buddy has a HPI Baja 5B coming, will be here Monday, so maybe that will impress me more about HPI, But then again, you cant compare a 1/5 Gas to any sized Nitro. They are in a league that far excedes Nitros.

see thats what i had planned on getting was the rustler but i went though these forums and alot of people says it doesnt turn very good but its fast and sturdy

With some simple mods it can be made nimble. A set of good adjustable shocks and better tires will make it a whole new truck.

Firestorm for the win. Its light years ahead of technology compared to the rustler (thats not hard to accomplish). HPI is also more reliable than traxxas. Spend the dough and up for the Firestorm. Its cheaper, has a way better design, uses higher quality material... its a no brainer

there arent many reviews on here by people on the firestorm i guess not that many people have them

the parts for the fire storm are not out yet, car is new to the market so beware of that. as for electric i have not run the elecs tho but would have to say they are cheaper in the long run to run, your not buying more batteries after each gallon, you just recharge them with a feild charger and keep running.

Well here is my opnion, it like all the others you are hearing is biased with the experience I have gained in my 18 years in the hobby. If this is your first hobby grade r/c I would start with electric. Just because they are easier to maintain and will cost you less. After you have had some experience with the electrics and gotten your R/C feet wet then I would consider nitro. Nitro can bring about many headaches to a new hobbyist that may drive them from the hobby. Once you have some experience these headaches will be lessened. If you do decide to go the electric route and you are just going to bash (play with your r/c, no racing) I would reccomend some of the Traxxas rtr. I have had several Traxxas electrics, but this was back when they still offered them in kit form. I haven't bought anything from traxxas in atleast ten years if not longer. If you think you might like to race then I would look at either the Losi Associated or even XTM rtr for that matter, or if you are feeling adventurous maybe even a kit. But remember you have to supply your own electronics (radio, servos, esc, motor) for the kit where as you get pretty much everything but a charger and battery in the rtr. Again I am presuming that this will be your first hobby grade r/c. If you have previous experience for give me for my presumption. I hope some of what I have said will help. Like I said this is just my opinion.

Oh, to answer your main question about the Rustler vs. the Firestorm, I'm sorta split down the middle with that. The parts support is readily available for the Rustler while the Firestorm being a new r/c it just isn't there. I think the Firestorm will be more capable of being turned into a racer if that is what you are after. The Rustler will pretty much be a fun, reliable bash truck.