 I've owned the car for about 3 weeks now and it is an absolute pleasure to drive.  I was planning on waiting for the new STi, however I'm glad I decided on the MS3 for both practicality and affordability.  Plenty fast for a mid-thirty year old, gas mileage is a solid 26 mpg (I do a lot of city driving), and it handles like it's on rails through the curves.  Motor Trend just did a comparison between the MS3, the wrx, gti and ralliart, and out of all of them, this is the "point and shoot racer" that simply feels much more "dialed in".  Believe me, they're spot on.  I simply can't stop grinning.