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With my last car (the Camaro), driving in any conditions but "bone-dry pavement" could be a terrifying experience. As a result, I wanted a little more safety because I would need to drive this vehicle year-round.
Once I tried the AWD, I was hooked. The best way to describe the feel of a sports car with AWD transmission (what a rare gem!) is "you're riding on rails" - the 17" low-profile tires grip the road and don't let go. In rain, you hardly notice the standing water and can drive through road ruts without a shiver. In snow, it's very strange: the front-rear crossover differential (and optional limited-slip differential for the rear axle) make the car feel like it's treading on the road in 4 sneakers instead of rolling along a slick surface. AWD is MORE than worth it!!
A lot of "professional" reviews of this car complain that the controls aren't well-laid-out and there isn't any room for anyone taller than 5'5". I am puzzled by this since the biggest reason for my buying this car was it felt GREAT to drive! I'm 5'11" and after a minute or two of playing with the seat managed to find a very comfortable low-slung driving position that still allows me to see just fine. All the controls are literally at my fingertips: I can press dashboard buttons without taking my hands off the wheel. The interior design was modeled off an F-16 fighter plane, and it shows: the hooded gauge console and ergonomic curves to the controls give the whole car a "cockpit" feel but still leave center controls angled well enough for the passenger to operate the climate controls, stereo, etc. It was a very odd experience, that first time: waiting for the dealer to come back with the keys, peeking in the window, I thought, "My legs will never fit in there". But that appeared to be the Talon's best-kept secret: there's a very deep well with tons of legroom in the front! For the first time I owned a car that didn't need the front seat back all the way. Seat controls allow for reclining the seatback and dropping the seat bench forward/backward. The console for the Talon lights up in an attention-grabbing amber, and most of the controls and gauges are easy to see. The Cruise On/Off button and some of the lower gauges are hard to see through the steering wheel.
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