Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Easiest answer in the forum, get an mx5 MK1.

A: It is an itch you want to scratch,
B: Pop up lights
C: Designed on the south coast of England, am a close personal friend's with a few of the engineers that worked on the car.. ;)
D: Get a hard top if it is living on the street.
E: they all rust in the same place, make sure that there are photos of the repairs. It is easier and cheaper to buy the inner, middle and outer sills than patch work the parts well. Mostly people just plate over the rust and the cull is where all the strength is.
E: Eunos (imported 5) had better spec like things like air con that does make a difference and nicer seats but all a bit meh as the interior is easy enough to change.
F: the early 1.6 is supposed to better than the 1.8. the 1.8 is from the Mazda 323 and is a strong engine needing little more than oil changes servicing.
G: suspension wise, I thing oe spec rubbers and shocks are best the poly bushes seem to make the car less compliant so not as smooth. Shocks wise don't go for super hard and if lowered needs the suspension reset up.
H: how about a MK1 MR2 is the eqi

Blob Eye Impreza Sti

I used to have a blobeye WRX estate. Not an STI as they never officially made an STI Sportwagon. It was an excellent car, and very efficient from getting from A to B quickly with minimal effort. However, it wasn't actually that much fun to drive. It was so competent and composed it only got interesting to drive if you were being very, and license-losingly, silly. Great as an every day car (apart from the fuel consumption) but not good as a fun high days and holidays car.

Subaru legacy GT was an infinitely better car because:
I Twin turbo, one at low and one at higher rpm.
II legacy was a lower insurance and an estate car so less obvious that you could and would do silly speeds.
III Quicker than the Impreza irl, on a straigh line empty road maybe not but on normal roads the legacy was quicker and a nicer place to be.

Here's a few of mine