I came from a 3.0Si. Did not test drive my car, though I had a hoon as a pax in srhutch’s prior to buying.
My wife instantly said the ride felt more comfortable and the power delivery felt smoother (from the passenger seat).
The gear change first to second foxed me - kept kangarooing. Learnt to drive round it, but CDV delete helped a lot. It has a half kilo stainless steel stormwerks gear knob which also helps. Also, the gearbox needs to be told what to do if that makes sense, as mmm-five kind of says above.
The engine noise freaked me out for quite a while - steady speed, outside lane of a motorway, you hear the tappy noise bouncing off the barrier. Also when cold can sound ill. It is normal, though it may need valve clearances done which helps make it less tappy. Mine needed 14 shims at it’s first insp 2, and was a lot quieter after the service. You get used to it, some induction or exhaust changes may drown it out, don’t know, not done those things. I love that the car has so many different sounds depending on how you drive it. Low speed burble and occasional pop, right up to tear-your-face-off-screaming-banshee, and loads in between.
For me it’s mostly all about the noise and the blunt force power, because it’s actually not that much faster than the 3.0. Roof down, country lane with hedgerows or a rocky slope to reflect the sound, 3rd gear, bury throttle, 4k to 8k RPM, absolutely fucking mental, has NEVER failed to make me grin maniacally in 4 years :driving:
I have done nothing to mine since I got it, and it’s pretty much stock. When I can, or it needs it, I will fit the RTAB limiters I’ve had for over two years... do the engine mounts, shocks & springs, and probably induction rather than exhaust.
As Jembo says, drive it, especially now, with this weather. Get up proper early, figure out a rough route, and go wring it’s neck on some decent A roads.
) by nature with heavy steering , clutch & a gearbox you have to get to know :wink: 
but , there is ///Magic there once it clicks & ive been drawn back several times now as little else in its sector comes close ( especially with the MRs ) :driving:
