I have kept my VXL Rustler stock as much as possible, the only non drive train upgrade has been RPM casterblocks, but right now it is powerful enough ,any more and it would be too out of control, and I do enjoy "out of control"....

. I just have to have a more subtle trigger finger from a stop, and all my repairs have been front end related. I have been running these Ofna 1/8 scale hard foam wheel/tire combo, they don't ballon but if there is a significant amount of dirt/dust on the road it will lose traction.
here is a link to the wheels
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXKKF5&P=ML
17mm wheel adators
http://www.neweramodels.com/item.cgi...=&part_id=8538