Thanks Jack! I'm sorry for taking so long to get back to you but I work 7 days a week and I'm smack in the middle of moving so 3/4 of my life is packed in boxes right now and I don't know if I'm coming or going.
The car is quite impressive to drive. It's super tight and firm and rattle free. You can feel the car's lightness and how stiff and strong the frame is. Nothing creaks or squeaks - to be honest, it's hard to believe that a self-built car could feel this solid and refined. I had a 2004 Crossfire and the Karma feels as solid as that car was. The doors close with a 'clunk' and there are no squeaks or rattles or annoying vibrations. It feels solid like the Crossfire but much, much lighter (and louder).
The shifter snicks and clicks into gear like some sort of high end Swiss machinery. The clutch pedal is FAR too hard but the travel is lightning quick and between the super quick pedal travel and the snicking and clicking of the shifter, changing gears is glorious. You WANT to keep shifting.
The power is beautiful. I've never gone over 4000 RPM and I see no reason to unless i was looking to make a show. The exhaust is rumbly and crackly and when you really get on it, it the turbo whooshes, and the exhaust shouts and crackles like a giant angry hornet in a can. I can't tell you how fantastic it is to drive. I never would have believed a normal guy could build a car that feels this good. The XR2 drivetrain is fantastic! You can imagine the acceleration if you took a good running XR2 and dropped a few hundred pounds. Not a rocket ship but certainly not a slug and TONS of fun to drive. In the future, I plan to upgrade the power (why not? It's what we do!) but truthfully, I have absolutely no issues with the stock XR2's power.
The Karma looks good but it actually drives better than it looks.
Thank you for your reply!
Dave