Indeed ^^ racing! drifting or just bashing in a car park?
The top 3 at the moment would have to be Xray T4, TRF418 and Yokomo BD7.
If planning to race Xray would win hands down for support. Very well built, amazing manuals and a lot of mid level guys run them.
I bought a TRF418, but would probably have gone Xray if not for nostalgia
Parts for tamiya I find are cheap though. Plastics that is. Also has a wide set up window. Very easy to drive, very strong.
Yokomo are massively fast also and probably currently the best car out there, but parts cost a bomb.
All three are around the $500 mark and are capable of winning anything in the right hands.
Next level down the ARC looks to be a good thing, and the Durango is supposed to be a well thought out machine, however I've never seen one in the flesh.
Have you considered used to start or do you want a brand new shiny box?