If she is a new driver, go with the Tamiya MO3L Mini Cooper.
Add a bearing set, oil filled plastic shocks, and the aluminum steering knuckles.
That makes the car pretty indestructable, she will have fun bashing it and you wont have to spend your time wrenching on it. Runs about 25 mins on a 3300 stick pack, zero maint motor to boot.
Plus you can also enter it in the Tamiya series.
Fred