You need to look at some more HB race vehicles in person... I have seen the previous HB tc's and Buggies, and the quality is just as good, if not better than other major manufacturers, and they are much of the time better value for the money.
It does use a carbon plate chassis, so it might not be as planted as one of the aluminum chassis cars you looked at before.
Unless you have a yokomo parts source at the lhs i would go for the xray.