Remember the drivetrain is only one aspect of a car. It's not only the drivetain that will win a race. Great balance, good equipment, and great driving skill will win you a race. Marketing is a huge factor in this belt vs. shaft debate. My friends and I own both and we have had a range of new and old versions of each. Personal preference is a major factor as to which cars we really like. It's the total package (ie. suspension, durability, availability of parts, price, etc. ...) that make us like one over the other. As for pebbles, I usually use my TC3 and have had no problems with pebbles except for the steering rack which was resolved with a steering rack cover. My friends with their TA04, SV-10, and TF3 Spider have had problems with pebbles literally shreading their belts or breaking apart their diffs. No car is perfect, at least not yet.
