The relatively high price of pan cars - relative to their complexity - is mainly due to the low volumes they are produced in. If they were produced in the volumes that an 1/8th scale offroad buggy is, I'd bet the WRC could sell for $200.
In spite of that, it is still by far the least expensive of the current nitro onroad classes you can race. Keeping with the theme of cheap racing, I'm using $32 Turnigy titanium geared HV servos, a $9 Turnigy lipo and a $10 Turnigy Spektrum receiver in mine. A perfect marriage of Italian racing heritage and the lowest price Chinese electronics....and of course a cheap $175 3 port buggy motor. i also run the $36 Dynamite hard anodized 086 pipe - awesome pipe at an awesome price.
Well under a grand, ready to race.
