In the good part of Mass, right?

Southern Maine here.
Sounds like a great place to run!
LOL!!! NEVER underestimate a manufacturers "room for upgrades". Plastic shocks is nothing! Wait til you're replacing entire chassis!

Spend a little more upfront to get more usually is the case but ALWAYS be on the look out for things like this.
Sometimes factory "upgrades" fail too.
Kyosho Platinum shocks weren't great compared to the gold shocks that they "upgrade" The gold shocks are fantastic!. This is an old example but still holds true.
The hobby shop has YOUR picture on the entrance door to that track out back, huh???


I love reading your excitement aabout all this! I felt the same way watching stock Hornets, Frogs and Grasshoppers run around a tiny indoor track at Weir's Beach when I was a kid.
There was NO going back!!!
Welcome to the club!!!