Definately go with the 18 - ( thats my opinion ) i have both - and the 4wd is just plain cool. I also beat the heck out of it the other night and the diffs are the only thing that are giving me problems ( but then again at almost 60,000rpm on my brushless ) what do i expect. It is very durable - and as mike can attest to " I tend to be hard on my vehicles " LMAO