When I got my old buggies out over two years ago I wanted to try something 'modern' but didn't have much of a budget. I scored an XL-1 Rustler for under $100 shipped not knowing the XL-5 was already out and that brushless was the wave of the future.
Regardless it has served me well-- even winning some mod truck races at the local track. Other than losing some idler gears when I started racing 13turn motors and blowing out the tiny 5x8 axle bearings it's still pretty much bone stock. The original front tires have been raced for two years!! The rears are over a year old.
I added some e-racing aluminum piggyback rear shocks, a Mamba Max 5700 system and a machined delrin idler gear just before the weather went to pot this winter. A friend has a radar gun and I happened to be at his house today. I have it geared insanely low (13.14 final drive) for our small track -- back straight is only about 80' long -- but I gave it a go anyway. 35mph on a snow-covered street.
For durability and parts availability this is my go-to runner. That said, I still love building kits as seen in my Frog build thread.
Here's a lousy cell phone picture with an XL-5 body that I've never actually run. Monster hooked me up with a couple real XL-1 bodies that I use. I'll try to get some better pics sometime....
tips,please share!