Affordable? Probably VTA will be best. A set of tires will last you a very long time, and they'll just get better and better until they tear apart completely. Like Professor said, you can run older chassis to save costs and still be competitive with everyone else. It doesn't require the latest and greatest to be the best.
Also, electronics are cheap. $50 Justock ESC and any 25.5 motor and you're in business.