Personally I'd keep the C55 if it does what you want, and instead of getting the EVO, get a proper track day car such as an ariel atom or caterham because these would be much more fun than the EVO on track, and even faster. Also they will be cheaper!

Thanks guys for all the responses so far. Bruce, you're right that I have no idea what I'm going to do. Just day-dreaming at work today and thinking about "possibilities".

One thing for sure is that I'm not going to change any cars until 2009-2010 at the earliest. There is no way I'm going to get rid of the C55 so soon, as the largest depreciation occurs within the first 3 years. And I'm loving it too much anyways. But as cars age beyond 4-5 years, that is when maintenance costs go up, and I'm sure Mercedes AMG parts are not cheap. If I look at it that way, I should trade the C55 in for the M3 sedan in 2009-2010, end of story. It's just this little voice telling me how much I would love to keep the C55 for a LONG time that is causing all this trouble.....

2009-2010 will be prime time for the M3 sedan, probably a year after it is formally introduced.

Cars like the Ariel Atom and Caterham are not available in Canada. The Lotus Elise is available, but it is not "cheap" either.

Oh right, shame!

Well, would you consider a second hand Elise, that would make an excellent trackday car!

The Evo has a boy-racer image, but there is also a fair number of moneyed individuals who buy it to get it round the track faster than their Bentleys and Lamborghinis can. I have met a few of such owners on forums. So if you're thinking of buying the Evo as a track car, go for it... But don't replace the C55 with it, no matter what! Like Giannis said the Evo just isn't the same class as the C55. Only an M3 would perhaps be a sensible upgrade from the C55.

Good point about the 2nd hand market. Maybe there will be a few surprise bargains by the time 2009-2010 comes around.

What Andreas said, clear and simple!

I would buy a used WRX STI to supplement the C55. The nice thing is you can pick up one for substantially less than new and still be assured (provided you bought it from a Subaru dealer) that the vehicle is in sound mechanical condition. STI's really are lovely on a circuit - albeit a little softer than the EVO IX - and the driver controls are absolutely spot-on for track work: great clutch, fabulous six-speed 'box, Brembo brakes and good steering feel. With a nice exhaust conversion and some simple ECU mapping you'll get a nicely rapid and characterful track worker. And whilst the STI makes do with a far simpler DCCD centre differential, compared with the active jobbies on the EVOs, one can still dial enough torque to the rear diff for sharper turn-in and exit characteristics.

Engines are very reliable and quite resilient to mild fettling, the gearbox is robust and specifically engineered by Subaru Technica International for its application in the STI.

It's slightly softer setup (though stiffer than a C55) makes the car quite predictable and a good machine to get started in.

Once done with that you can make the move to a true track car like an Exige or E46 M3 CSL.

Ok we should add that Martin is sponsored by Subaru

Sponsered by... no. Paid by... occassionally!

Ooo two weekends in a row of plain mad Subaru-ness! This weekend it's the SubaruConnect owner's convention in the Drakensberg and the following one it's the Subaru Experience at Gerotek (= skidpad and tracktime!)

Sorry to hijack your thread PC Valkyrie... Back on topic, one of my closest friends has a C55. He'd never dream of putting it on the track - not that it isn't up to it... it more than is - it's just such a special car. There's something massively appealling about the C55 as a high performance road car with such an effortless ability. One wants to look after these things and not subject them to the premature aging that track work invariably results in.

Martinbro, I agree that sometimes I feel a bit bad taking the C55 to the track as it does get abused and may lead to premature break-down or failure. The brakes get a real work-out. However, it's so much fun, and it feels amazing to push the car to its true capabilities. On everyday roads, I could never drive it the way it was meant to be driven.