Check into the 1/16 Mini E-Revo VXL. Yuo already have a very good upgrade in the ESC and you can pick up a used car with RPM arms and all the need accesories, lipos, and upgrades it needs easily of r$300. My Mini E-Revo is on etough little sucker, it has withstanded so many 50 m.p.h. cartwheeels I've stopped counting.
I was going to suggest the Ten-T, or possibly the 4wd slash. I haven't read much on what Brian thinks of his so far. I think a Stampede would be lots of fun - but you would have to commit to a 2-wd truck.
Losi 8T 1.0, Savage Flux - XL style, LST XXL, Muggy, 3.3 E-Revo Conversion and sitting outside 425hp, 831 Tq Dodge Ram Turbo Diesel. It SMOKES