In 2001 i bought an Audi TT Roadster. It put out 225HP with a 1.8T Turbo engine.
Every article I read while I waited for my built to order model would come was nothing but 'IT HAS NO POWER'.
At the time, I was driving a 1996 Olds Cutlass Supreme Coupe. I loved it, but it was in the shop for a new alternator every two years. It had a 3.4L V6 and was a beast, but I was wondering what I did wrong.
The TT was rare at the time as this was the first year of the convertible/roadster. So I hadn't driven it. Then the dealer got one that was for driving/test driving/loaning out for a few days.
I don't know what car people were driving, but it wasn't that one.
Also, after test driving the FR-S in deciding if I wanted it to replace the Camry Hybrid for my 'fun car' this time around I can say the same damn thing.
I can count on my hand where straight line acceleration is super important enough that 200HP wouldn't be enough, and it's usually being an idiot at a stop light or somewhere you shouldn't, or, in autocross group dominated by Corvette owners who make NASCAR ovals instead of curves.
I haven't had this much fun in a car in a long time, the rest of them get heavier as they get more power and you lose the feel of the road. The last time I grinned that stupidly as I walked out of the car was when I drove the TT for the first time, or before that when someone who owned a early 90s Celica loaned it to me and I floored it like I normally did in my weak ass pontiac sunbird and about did a donut getting out onto the highway..
The hardest thing in the world is to learn to ignore the haters, it's even worse now with internet than it was when it was just whomever lived in your town that you ran into. Everyone goes nuts on the forums and youtube and blogs.
Personally, just because it looks fun I may add a supercharger because I've never owned a car with one and it looks relatively straight forward add. in reality, I probably won't touch the engine and just have fun and take the back roads to work that have lots of turns.