well, the NTC3 is more geared for the racer so it has the opportunity for better handeling. That, of course, is dependant on the settings you set. Parts are also more readily available (aftermarket and AE) at most LHS and online stores.
As far as "boring looking" what are you referring too? I find the layout on the NTC3 more performance oriented when comparing it to the EVO.
Also remember that you are looking to get a RTR so it will run fine out of the box but further on when you want to gain performance, the NTC3 will have a larger option on parts. I owned an NTC3 for quite a while before selling it and moving up when I started racing more competatively. So in a nutshell, I bashed it and raced it so I know it's good for both worlds.
The RS4 series and RTR Evo series ... well, I never liked them. The only HPI products I would lift an eybrow to are the savage and R40. My mouth drops at the sight of a Baja B5 buggy, but who won't react that way?
You can pretty much bet that a kit will cost more in the begining but will have better components and engineering than a RTR. To get an RTR to a kit level, it will cost you more than just buying the kit from the start.
What I can suggest is, do some deeper research other than the RTR models. A kit may be more to your liking. Don't be intimidated by a kit. The NTC3 kits have one of the most well written and thought out manuals I have seen. I would recoment this to even the beginner. It's what I started out with and was a joy to build.
As far as "boring looking" what are you referring too? I find the layout on the NTC3 more performance oriented when comparing it to the EVO.
Also remember that you are looking to get a RTR so it will run fine out of the box but further on when you want to gain performance, the NTC3 will have a larger option on parts. I owned an NTC3 for quite a while before selling it and moving up when I started racing more competatively. So in a nutshell, I bashed it and raced it so I know it's good for both worlds.
The RS4 series and RTR Evo series ... well, I never liked them. The only HPI products I would lift an eybrow to are the savage and R40. My mouth drops at the sight of a Baja B5 buggy, but who won't react that way?
You can pretty much bet that a kit will cost more in the begining but will have better components and engineering than a RTR. To get an RTR to a kit level, it will cost you more than just buying the kit from the start.
What I can suggest is, do some deeper research other than the RTR models. A kit may be more to your liking. Don't be intimidated by a kit. The NTC3 kits have one of the most well written and thought out manuals I have seen. I would recoment this to even the beginner. It's what I started out with and was a joy to build.