[jhautz]

Just a note: With the 9920 and lipo you will also need to get an external low voltage cut off for the lipo batteries($20-30). The 9920 does not have a built in LVC. No big deal, just something to remember.

With a $3-400 budget, I'm thinking that a mambamax and 8xl motor, external BEC or Rx pack and a pair of 2s maxapms 6000mah lipo packs wired in series for 4s would give you a nice start up system and pretty decent run times. Its about the only way I can see getting there on that budget with lipo.

Mamba Maxx - $140
8xl - $90
Extenal BEC or Rx pack - $15
Maxamps Lipo (2) x 2s 6000mah - $90 x 2 = $180

Thats around a $425 dollar system. But dont forget with Lipo you will need to get a Lipo charger and balancer also. Plan roughtly $150 for this. $100 for decent lipo charger and $50 for good balancer. There are a bunch of possible otions for charger/balancer setup. You can go up or down from the $150 number depending on what you think you will need.

When you consider that a good pair of good 6-7 cell nimh packs will be $50each its only another $80 to go lipo. But you could get in the game with NiMH packs for cheaper if you already have a decent NiMH charger. I know you said that you were a nitro guy so you might not even have a good NiMH battery charger yet. If thats the case, spend the extra cash now and just go Lipo. You will eventually anyway.:D