If you are price sensitive, then there's little question that CRC offers the best "bang for the buck". CRC's newest offering is the XTI-WC and it is really excellent straight out of the box, no hop ups required or even recommended. Or.......if the majority of guys wherever you race run a different brand, then it can also be beneficial to run whatever car your local shop supports and/or the car that the majority of the other local guys run.....so that you can get help with setup and spare parts. CRC, Associated, Top, Serpent, Xray, Yokomo, Kyosho, Speedmerchant.......all are really good cars. Honestly, you can't go too far wrong with any of them.