£30 for the year isn't bad! Have you been to Neme Valley, what's it like there?
You have both inadvertently confirmed my one fear with RTR. I don't like the idea of having to upgrade too much to make it up to spec. I would rather buy the real thing and grow into the car than buy the RTR and then upgrade shocks, chassis etc.
The list of bits needed is massive.

If/when I buy I am definately going to need expert advice as there is no way I'd know everything to get!
Thanks for the car summary Ian, I like the look of the Agamas but where do you buy spares from? The usual shops I know from 1/10 seem to have the likes of X-ray, AE, Losi etc, but not so much on the likes of Agama or Mugen etc.
Gregors, your point about the XB9 is a valid one, but as a novice to the 1/8 scene then I would have though the 808 would be fine as a starting point...?