[junkman]

what alloy are you talking about? The rear shock tower brace is the only thing I can think of that may be 5b substandard. The early ones had pullstart hub problems, but have now come with metal hubs, plastics may be easier to break, I don't know, havn't broken anything. The electronics may leave something to be desired, but like I said I have 2 gallons on the stock servos, did put the dx3s in that I already had. I don't see how it could take hundreds, or thousands of dollars to make it hpi standards, maybe you can fill me in. Most people with multiple vehicles are going to put different radio equipment in it anyway, I havn't had any clutch or gear problems, but if you did you would probably put something better in it just as you would do to a hpi as well. I have not personally owned a 5b, but have driven one, and been around one. We have 2 of these running around, and both have been great deals. At $450 to the door, you can't beat it, especially if you plan on doing something other than leaving the car box stock.