friend wants to start RC what to buy?

[gtxracer]

Are you looking for a cheap engine, or something really reliable and race worthy?

Cheap: IMO, nitro engines are like that old saying: You get what you pay for. I see a lot of guys running Picco P3 engines, Ofna engines, Losi engines, blah blah. If I get a replacement engine for any of my trucks, I always look at OS first.

Reliable and race worthy - RB, Ninja, but would go with an OS VZ-B or any of their other big blocks over any others.