E-Savage-8L-9L+mamba max or Velineon?

[BrianG]

Honestly, the Velineon will run too hot in an e-savage since it can only go to 3s (or around 9 NiMH cells). To get the speed you want, you'll need a higher wind motor, which will be working hard (and pull more current) to push that relatively heavy truck around, and heat up. Not to mention stress on the cells and ESC.

The MM can go up to 4s, which lets you pick a motor with a lower kv and more torque, like an L or XL (preferably an XL). The resulting lower current is much easier on everything.

The MM, 9XL, and 4s (or 12 cells) should be right in the ballpark of what you want to spend, and I think you will be happier with that. And if the 9XL is a little slow, you could go with an 8XL instead. Depends on how fast you want to go and the quality of the cells. Fast and powerful is not usually cheap.

Sure, you may have to be creative about how the motor mounts, but it can be done. Serum has done a few Savages so I'll let him chime in a bit.