Brand name or brand X?

I have been buying and selling RC cars and trucks for several years. I have over 2200 transactions without a problem that couldn't be resolved. I have a large collection of RC cars and have both electric and nitro type vehicles and have a pretty good idea of what is good and what isn't. If you are just starting out in the hobby, and we all did once, then I suggest a brand name electric car or truck, new would be best but there are good deals to be had. I like Tamiya, Associated, Losi, Kyosho and Traxxas cars and trucks to name a few, but these are major players and they have a really good parts support network. I would avoid any car that I didn't recognize the name and was half or less new than the leading brands, chances are it is going to be a cheap import with absolutly no parts network what so ever. Before you buy any car or truck, search through the listings for parts for that brand, chances are if okay doesn't have them, no one does. There are a lot of sellers saying that parts will interchange with other brands, this is just not true at all. Most manufactures make things to fit their hole placement and standards and to say that some cheap car is going to share parts with your brand name car is ludicrous. So stick with a known brand and their parts, they for the most part have been around for years not months. Kyosho has been making cars since 1970, Tamiya came out not too long after that. Associated has been in since 1980. These guys are going to be there when you need or break something. The latest flood of cheap cars seems to be geing from China. They use words like "Japan" engine when in reality it has never been anywhere near Japan. Here today and gone tomorrow is how they seem to oiperate. My advice unless you are looking for a throw away is to spend a little more and get a decent car or truck. For parts and selection it is really hard to beat Associated or Traxxas, just run through the listings. I run my stuff hard and most of the imported from China junk I have seen is not up to the task. Most local hobby shops will not be able to help you with anything and if you look around a reputable shop, they don't sell this stuff because it cannot be repaired. Do yourself a favor and stick with the brand names!