That puts me at $350 for a new HB kit, $50 mount, $10 battery tray, $100 lipos, $300 MMM....

as opposed to $300-engine cost for a Hyper 7. Not as nice of a buggy, but nice enough to get the job done... I can run a $45 motor mount. And the hyper parts are interchangeable right? meaning if i have a hyper 7, and i break something and want to upgrade to the same part but on the hyper 9 (or something similar) that would work?

I am liking the sound of that!!

And to the used thing. I am done buying used. i got my savage used and had to spend a butt load of money on it. Now I have to buy a new glow starter for it because the one included went bad...