General Comments:

I don't own this car, but rented one for a few days in Texas. I put several hundred miles on it in a few days - mostly highway and back roads, and I have mixed impressions.

All in all, it was very comfortable to drive. The interior is well done - the stitching on the brown leather seats was attractive. The seat adjusted well and I could drive for hours without much discomfort. The dash had a strange appearance. There's a large shiny wood grain panel on the passenger side that reflects light. I found it distracting, as passing streetlights, etc. would reflect into my eyes.

I found the engine to have adequate power and passing wasn't a concern. The trans shifted smoothly. Only got low to mid 20's for fuel mileage though, with mostly highway driving at 70 - 80 mph. My 96 Saab gets high 20's in my daily driving and mid 30's highway.

After I got home, I looked up the specs. 333 HP? I thought less - mainly because the power came on pretty high. It was capable of breaking the tires loose though... My 96 Saab 9000 has more torque and feels stronger on the bottom end. 8 speed trans? Really - wow. I would have never have guessed - shifting was transparent, and downshifting to pass was effortless. The trans was nice - even for an auto.

I thought the ride was harsher than it should be for a car like this. Also road noise was excessive at times.

Not sure how much these things cost - maybe in the 40's? It was a nice car, but not that nice. Then again, I believe in the $5000 car. If you're looking for a smooth, comfortable ride, you need to consider this - if you can handle the fuel mileage.