Almost every manufacturer out there has a proper astro/carpet buggy in their portfolio. I'd recommend the kit that has the best support at your local track, both in terms of spares and set-up help.
For me, the Yokomo YZ-2 would be the obvious choice as a) I had one before and it was the best 2WD buggy I ever had, b) most of my regular pit mates drive it, and c) I could easily get parts at my "local" track, Arena33. If you are living near an AE/Schumacher/Kyosho/TLR/whatever stronghold, your choice should be easier than you might think.
If all of the above are supported by shops and drivers nearby, I'd take a look at the upcoming TLR 22 4.0, which seems to be a great allrounder right out of the box. Except for the included ball diff (good for rainy days,though), it has all the bells and whistles for astro racing, e.g. hard plastics, laydown and stand-up gearbox and many smart little details like the hybrid composite/metal rear hubs. I used to have a 3.0 as a wet car and I was really impressed.