you make a pretty good case there mate.. the sound is one of the main reasons i like them so much, though i much prefer large na engines over smaller turbo lumps anyway always have.. i must admit i always struggled with the idea of an 1150kg hatch feeling over weight, one of the lads making this claim drives a clio 197 that weighs 1250 so goes to show i guess.. so the vr in a straight line would hold its own against cars of similar nature ie hot hatchbacks id be happy with that..