I only have one friend that plays, and he kind of got bored with it apparently. I really don't play anymore now due to the update, and when I do it's nothing terribly productive. They should at least make it to where any races are equal to Coveted in terms of money and RP per minute, still should be a tad better at that... At least that way leveling isn't just set to doing one thing over and over and over again... Once you hit level 36 you can do Coveted, it's the best legitimate money and RP now.
I'd like to throw it out there that you really can't kill the Rebel, I've tried. Short of drowning it or blowing it up with a bomb, it's highly unlikely. One night I took it to Mt. Josiah and climbed to the peak of it, then rolled down it and headed over to Mt. Chiliad. Climbed to the peak of it already beat up, then rolled down it as well. At one point I thought it was going to explode on impact since it was such a high drop, I even got an "Airborne" trophy for it.

So there I am at the base of Mt. Chiliad smoking like a chimney and mangled into now what's the size of a Blista Compact. Surely at this point it's going to catch fire or just stop moving at any point. Nope, ended up driving it almost seven miles back to my garage without any problems.