To more clearly define my path, I would have to say that 1600N engine is not a fast car. I tried 1835cc and had a 2110cc for 5 years in my 2004 IM. I liked it but it lacked in a lot of areas.
I then tried to make a mental list of what would like, to be able to make it a car I could go on longer trips as a highway cruiser.
I think this process is what Stan most clearly elucidated. He advises that every envelope of features and power range and car types will require ultimately some form of acceptance if you want to stay in the hobby but you can mitigate your chances or at least be somewhat more satisfied if your expectations come with realistic goals based on your experiences and what others have accomplished with their cars. Remembering that it is near impossible to try all permutations or even try some of these cars so your dreaming most times of this illusionary car.
So I realized that seats were a real issue AC and more power and of course the 5 speed, dual rads, and a large trunk with spare and finally some sort of reasonable on going repair and support cost and please Henry no 6cyl P at this point anyway.
I considered a Subie-6 maybe but that was not in the cards for IM.
Experienced builder he was, he was more comfortable doing a turbo 4cyl or NA subie but my car became the first with a subie tranny dual rads, larger gas tank, and big trunk. I got involved in the R&D and helped to source somethings that I wanted. Retro-sound system and bluetooth telephone is a help to make it more enjoyable as well.
So i got much more of a car. Actually it is light years ahead with full 911 front end, sway bars etc etc.
In conclusion, this is really a nice car to drive, still has some nuances of a hand built car still has some tech that is 50 y.o. and some 2009 tech but you can just drive it with minimal issues.
BTW I even installed Cruise control myself after IM were gracious to send me a schematic for the ECU cruise system.
I think I got pretty close to the max that the hobby can give me with my wish list, without much more rear weigh and the switch launch of some turbo setups.
The 5 speed allows me to row through the gears as as a full subie there is less mismatch between engine and tranny powertrain.
All in all I still had to accept the nuances of a new skin, old tech, new tech setup but I do not have to live with the 911 click click click I am doing a 100mph automaticity.
I think it is the automaticity that is boring me out of my tree with DD.
Enough said.
I am typing this by the pool 