holtjv - you are correct on feeling the rush.. anything below triple digits is just mundane for the car. The only time I got a real 'hell yes' experience was taking the car on some back roads at over 100 (when I was younger and stupider) or on the track. The recirculating ball steering at first is kind of odd when you've come from a r&p setup but the chassis and car give you enough feedback that you don't mind not having the steering wheel feedback.
I still have the original clutch on my car and I have 86k on it. It is all about how you drive the car, be smooth and the car will love you. Be stupid and you'll be paying for it.
I love it because it is has the right balance of performance and comfort and electronics. I wish their traction control was a little less intrusive when it is on (perfect for wet weather, not so much for dry) but with it off you can get yourself in trouble easily.
If you intend to track the car you'll have to watch your fluid temps, power steering fluid and brakes (or do what I did and replace / upgrade the failure points). They might have tested the car on the 'ring, but they did it during the winter.. here in Texas you drive it hard on the track and it'll boil all the fluids.
I have the B&B Triflo exhaust on my car and with it the car has got to have one of the best exhaust notes I have ever heard. At idle and low rpms it rumbles like a muscle car and at higher rpms it wails like an Italian.
Here are a few pics of my car:
