the traxxas rustler was my first car. im now driving 1/8th buggys and i still run a slash for fun.
you can just beat the hell out of these cars and they dont brake.
and i do work at a hobby shop( hobbypeople) and i have to say. traxxas is the best selling company we sell. i know we dont sell a lot of the high end companys but we normaly only sale to people looking to get into the hobby and they always leave with a traxxas car.