If reverse was a neccesity, HPI would've included it with the Savage. Run into a curb with the Savage and drive right up, if it's something else, stop being lazy and walk to turn it around.
To answer your question, the Savage has been tested again and again against the T-Maxx 2.5. These tests show that the Savage has quicker starts around turns but the T-Maxx accelerates past it in the straight. These quicker starts are due to the .21 engine while the .15 is tuned for more speed...
How about you just get the truck and put an air compressor in the tank when it's completely dry and blow all the crap out. My Savage didn't have any plastic shreds in the tank. One would imagine that plastic shreds wouldn't make it through fuel tubing. The absolute first mod is to loctite all...