I have a Honda Fit. It's shifter is a little more precise feeling but I grind gears occasionally. The Kizashi is smoother and feels a little more mechanically insulated. I rarely grind gears with it and it generally feels better. Incidentally, my father's 1999 BMW 3 series felt sloppier at 80 k mile...

I pushed it too hard once and had an emergency maneuver another time and its handling was very "safe." Responsive and quick to turn and stop, no bad understeer, body didn't wallow, not tail-happy, good brakes.

I'm in Pittsburgh and I thought I'd be the only one autocrossing a Kizashi this summer. I haven't figured out how it will class - it should go into G-Stock but isn't in the SCCA rulebook.

Bought mine at Wright in Carnegie before that branch closed.