i also have jammin buggy, and truggy...however if i were a beginner that knows what i know now i would have started with a 1/8 buggy, and most likly i would have started with a nice, but lower priced kit something like the Xray XB8R, its a great kit for the money tons of upgrades, can be bashed, and is a great racer...with a price tag of less than $350 for the kit....team it up with a budget minded .21, for around $150-$200, and toss in a good 2.4 radio system like the spectrum DX3.0 for under $250, and the rest of the needed basics to get started bump box, glow igniter, rx battery, tires, fuel bottle (i may have forgot something) for about anothrer $200, and for $900-$950 you will have a great buggy for on and off the track...
jason