Your gonna get mixed reviews, some users will say their trash don't get em etc etc, however I've owned several exceeds in the past (all were nitro though) and to be honest they aren't crap like people state they are...... The only real downside is parts availability and warranty support etc.......... However the several exceeds I've owned held up just as great as my name brand rc's, so I say if he really wants to get an exceed then by all means go for it, but he has to factor in the negatives I stated above.....