What 4WD to Buy??? Help Help

[riftan]

Not sure where to start......there are too many people saying different things.
I just sold my brand spanking new DF-03MS and DF-03. And still sad that I let my DF-03MS go.

Here I am looking for any advice from you guys. The car I am looking is for bashing only....full dirt and a lot of dust and gravel. Maybe down the road I will race it. It should follow the following criteria (the higher is the bigger the priority for me is):
1. Shaft driven
2. Durability and less problematic due to bad design, bad material and bad build quality. (oil leaks, breaks to easily etc)
3. Parts and chassis potential
4. and....brand new

Not sure if I should buy over engineered original Tamiya Avante or TRF502X. And is TRF502X OK for newbie?

Any recommendation for me please.......I am open to other brand

[Alan Reeves]

You could buy my lazer zx5! Good condition and ready to go, potential for upgrades too should you wish,
http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91999

[simon]

FTX vantage...Fantastic for the money!!!!!!

[riftan]

to both, what so good about them?

Spare parts easy to find? not breaking too easily? No problems a ka less maintenance?

[colmo]

Buying a TRF TRF502X to bash only is just...wrong!

A 4wd basher should be cheap to run and have a plastic tub chassis - an Ansmann or Team C 4wd, FTX Vantage or LRP Blast BX would be fine.

For pure bashing, I'd far rather have a 2wd truck. Lots of options there - Ansmann, FTX, LRP, HPI, Traxxas, ECX/Electrix....

Possibly the best bashers of all would be the Kyosho or Losi Short Course Buggies - effectively 1/8th scale 2wd buggies, based on short course truck platforms.

[Col]

Colmo speaks true.

[riftan]

Originally Posted by colmo

Buying a TRF TRF502X to bash only is just...wrong!

A 4wd basher should be cheap to run and have a plastic tub chassis - an Ansmann or Team C 4wd, FTX Vantage or LRP Blast BX would be fine.

For pure bashing, I'd far rather have a 2wd truck. Lots of options there - Ansmann, FTX, LRP, HPI, Traxxas, ECX/Electrix....

Possibly the best bashers of all would be the Kyosho or Losi Short Course Buggies - effectively 1/8th scale 2wd buggies, based on short course truck platforms.

Thanks. Sorry I am a newbie here. Like said...there is a possibility for me to jump into racing world. But haven't decided yet. Back to your suggestion....why it is wrong? Is it purely wasting of money or maintenance issue?