I got a 5Bss for xmas last year and the only thing I jhave broken is a shock shaft after running over a rock the size of a soft ball at full speed.
I love that thing. It handles awsome after you tune the rear suspension for yu type of drivind.
Being 2 wheel drive you have to learn how to do controlled power drifts with out spinning it out. It takes a while but once you get the hang of it its addicting!!
Hop ups are expensive. Parts are cheap. With the SS hop ups are not necessary.