I've had some time to think about the answer to this question. I need to preface it with a bit of understanding about my head-space about cars.

I'm a brutal utilitarian when it comes to cars. I want to get from Point A to Point B, carry all my crap, get good gas mileage, be reliable and inexpensive to run over time. I don't care about status symbols, or the emotional context of owning a car. And I refuse to see myself as part of a 'culture' just because I bought something.

Now that the "Darth Vader Car Review" theme is out of the way? I love the car. The switch from low vehicles with 15" wheels to a car that sits higher and rides on 19" wheels has me wondering why I did not do this sooner. The car holds my telescope with so much room left over that I have to fight the feeling that I forgot half my stuff. It handled snow by laughing at it; granted we only got an inch here and there this winter. I've run it through puddles, over shitty Kentucky potholes masquerading as interstates, and the package I have has auto everything which is wonderful. I'm looking forward to loading the thing up and going.... not sure where but it will be the end of a dirt road where the skies are dark. It is still a small car, but it does not FEEL like a small car. I've been doing 75-80 on the highway and getting 32MPG. The rear view camera that I thought was a joke is now a vital part of my drive every day.

The downsides are all on me, not the car. I'm still fighting the urge to use the clutch as this is my first ever auto transmission vehicle. The constant velocity transmission still feels weird, but otherwise is great. The engine has a funny start which if you have ever driven a Mazda rotary you know; the engine when cool sits in a pool of oil so it has that sort of "guh" when it starts for the first 20 or so seconds. And the car is 7" wider than the last car, so I have to force myself to remember to leave more room when driving and parking.

Yea, I dig the car. The 2016's are getting even better reviews making me wish the accident was in January not November. But no regrets at all.