[Azimov]

I've seen these go on Ebay for around 40-50.00 bucks. The retail price listed on the website is more, but it's not the cost for me. I think you may be getting your moneys worth with the motors and electronics used in these cars.
I do have two gripes.
First, the metal bodies. That's an easy one to fix as many HO scale slot car bodies will fit these things.
Second, and this is the big one. I hate that stupid controller. I know it's gonna be a pain to drive the car let alone race with it. I know the company is trying to market the thing as an expensive executive desk toy perhaps to offset the eyebrow raising sticker price. But, I think they've made a very disasterous marketing and branding blunder.
They should have branded these things as very high end micros for the discerning hobbiest. That means a cool pistol TX and some tire/wheel upgrades. It has several frequencey choises built in, so they kinda get past not having interchangeable crystals. But, If they don't at least offer another TX with a wheel and start showing an eager hobbiest gripping the thing in his sweaty mitts rather than a stuffy corporate suit, the things might as well never be unpacked at the docks.
One last thing. I would suggest they fire the guy who said, "Well, 70.00-80.00 bucks is easy pickins if we make it look like a status toy for self absorbed 20-30 something executives."
Hobbiest, the main market fer pete's sake, aren't gonna touch em if they think they are just a flash in the latest Spencer Gifts catalog.