The screws that come with the kit are actually very good and there is no need to use anything else. As others have stated the plastic is very tight (which I prefer) and may be causing people to strip some screws. I used an electric screwdriver and never pre-tapped anything and had no problems building the kit. Just use the electric screwdriver until the screw is ~1mm from being tight, and finish by hand.

I used this electric screw driver, and of the many I have tried over the years, it's bay far the best.
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/c...driver/2401-22

Not sure on the bearings yet as I haven't run the buggy, but they seemed fine.