Me, Me, Me. A guide to what I might want from an RC. [Please help!]

[Bubbles]

So, I want an RC car. Truck, buggy - you'll have to forgive me on the lingo. For the moment, anyway. :P I'm new to all this.

Knowing no-one who's into the hobby, a bit of 'research' lead me to the Traxxas Rustler VXL. Seems rugged, quickish, fun, something that I can mess about with in the local rural areas, on't break too easily, etc, etc.

Or so I thought.

Turns out a mate at work used to race Touring Cars in his youth. And win. Whilst walking past my machine, he sees the modelsport website up, has a "moment"and promptly talks RC for the rest of the day. He says I need a nitro buggy. I tell him to forget the nitro bit. We come to a compromise, and I'm sent to look at Team Associated. And, seemingly, the transition from toy to tool.

Now, these buggys look cool, but seemingly - from the uneducateds point of you - primarily for race/competition, rather than messing about. Or do I have this wrong? I'm not looking to race. Well, not yet, anyway. I just want something fun, that'll deal with tarmac, dirt, gravel, speed bumps - a real 'all-rounder' appeal. Do buggies cope well with this kind of useage, or are they better suited to 'track' indoor use rather than non-race usage?

Before I start looking at specific models in a particular 'style', I need to work out which kinda RC is going to be best suited to me.

I love the cheeky appeal of the 1/16-1/18 micro trucks, especially with some bonkers brushless power, but I'm not too sure how they cope with off road stuff.

Anyway; buggies. Race machines, or all around abuse takers at the hands of the unskilled?