Avoid Schumacher...hard to get parts for, expensive.

HPI for the win....American brand, so its CHEAP CHEAP at the moment. Don't get ripped off here, buy everything from Tower Hobbies (www.towerhobbies.com).

They are cheap and reliable, I've spend thousands with them over the years.

I recommend the monster trucks too, they are brilliant fun. Good all rounder if you wanna bash around and do jumps. 1/8 buggies are more for racing, not quite as fun as a truck for jumping and mucking around, but they are VERY quick.