I own both an '04 Coupe & the SRT & wouldn't have wasted my money on either unless I was convinced these cars are the steal of the decade.
....and the boys over in the 2000 forun are indeed haplessly misinformed. Both cars handle like dreams around turns even with no rack & pinion. You won't be missing any cornering capabilities between the 2000 & the Xfire!
In addition to all the fine points listed above above this car boasts a 5 star crash rating, has front & side airbags for both passenger & driver & stops on a dime, in fact the SRT can stop so fast it's scary.
My '04 Coupe has 57K on it & other than for tires & oil changes I've not spent a dime on repairs. The SRT (27K) has been in for a radio replacement under warranty, that's it! I drive/have driven both cars 100 miles a day back & forth to work on empty rural roads & feel perfectly confident that either car will get me there & back in perfect condition.
If you decide to go with the Xfire you will have made an excellent choice simply because there isn't anything else like it on the road for the price you'll pay!
Good luck!
P.S. Buy one & then inform your fellow S2000 forum members to do a little reading; maybe even watch a few Youtube videos minus the idiot in England who came up with the dog crapping comment.