Go drive one and you wont have to ask any questions
The handling is superb! The only bad review you get in mags/reviews is understeer and non-responsive steering. The understeer is noticeable but no where near excessive, and the steering seems just fine to me

. All of the mags complain about the steering yet I seem to have no problem with it.
The power is great, and of all the people on this forum who drive their cars hard (both modded and stock), I have yet to see any engine or trans failures. That includes those guys on the MB forums with SLK32's and C32 AMGs.
Do yourself a favor and drive one. They can be bought for pennies on the dollar now and you wont find a better car for $20k or less.
SQ