Zx5 and RB5 ... Competative or not, current models or about to be replaced?

[RogerM]

Can anybody shed any light on how competative the ZX5 and RB5 cars are in the real world?

Are either about to be replaced?

The reason I ask is that I have a work collegue who is thinking of returning to racing after a break of 12 years or more and is wanting to pick up Kyosho cars as he always used to race them back in the day.

Will be doing regionals next year, maybe nationals the year after.

Looking for sensible information and opinions that I can pass on as I stopped racing 1/10th as these cars came to the market so I can't help him.