If you plan on doing any mods at all the V can be made to be scary fast for relatively little money. For the ride'n that you are talking about the V would be better in the mud and it does handle very well in tight technical woods. I would say take a realistic look at what you really expect of your new machine......with all that said; a new Rappy for $5000 is like a gift from the heavens. I love my V but that is a <u>smoken deal </u>on the Raptor.