zheka130

I have a somewhat relatable story.
I used to own a 2005 2.4L manual Accord with the EXL trim. Beautiful car for me at that time, the interior was like new, leather, comfortable. I was in my mid twenties and I enjoyed driving it.....for a year only.
It was pretty underpowered, and that bothered me. At that time I had never driven a RWD car, therefore I didn't know what I was missing.
Whenever BMWs were driving by, I kept looking at them, I just wasn't fully satisfied with the Accord.
Until I found very close to home, a manual 2004 330i with the M Sport package. I thought, why not test drive it , it's like 2km away. When I took an off ramp in the 330i and felt like the car is on rails, I was hooked immediately. The day after I bought it. Drove that car for 8 years.
Switched to the GS almost 3 years ago.
This week, just for fun, I test drove a manual 2023 WRX. Oh man, I'd love to go back to a manual car. Even though the GS handles amazing (especially with the rear steering) and has a pretty good gearbox for an auto, it just isn't the same. Just that feeling of going through gears for the hell of it cannot be replaced by paddle shifters.
Thus, I fully understand your choice. Although a FWD platform would be a deterrent for me.