I hate grasshoppers! Used to race proper RC cars and the comparison was like a 2CV versus a World Rally Car. It was fun flicking them off into the barriers though 😈
But for a £100 that is a cracking price for which, despite my earlier comment, is a proper RC car that can be used anywhere and won’t get stuck on a blade of grass longer than 20mm. The design must be 30 years old which is testament to the designers.
But I would say he is too young for it and it’s a waste of pennies. It is only a 380 motor but with a modern speed controller (I used to be sponsored by mtroniks!) and batteries will still be pretty potent. If you don’t want to buy a cheap toy then I would second the advice of a rock crawler. ie something that is slow but will be usable just about everywhere. It will teach control too.
I remember my first RC car was a Porsche 944 from Tandy. I stripped the gearbox on it but back then even something that basic had spares back up and I swapped out the gearbox and motor for a new assembly. I must have been about 6 so not much older than your lad and that car was pretty much in the ‘toy’ category these days.