For quick RTR entry, try the Vorza. For easy and cheap chassis price, try to Ofna LX1e.
You probably should go with something built to be electric, to avoid the conversion issues. Both of those and the VE8 fill the bill, and have good reliability and easy parts availability.
For electronics, go with equipment that has stood the test of 1/8 racing (Tekin, Castle). I run a Mamba Monster with a Tekin 2050 motor on two-2S packs.
As mentioned before, using two-2S packs also give you a pair of batteries that have some value is you go back to 1/10 scale racing instead, and they work fine.
Good luck. The power and speed are addictive.