good old engines, nothing really goes wrong with them as such, very simple tech.
for me i'd be fitting a hybrid gt25 or upping to a gt28rs, then the turbo isn't wringing it's neck to get 300bhp and makes it more efficiently, along with a live remap.

i run a zetec turbo in an xr2 and it's got plenty of punch (gt30 turbo though), the standard setup with a remap isn't slow though and low lag indeed.
comfortable motor, good brakes, suspension all you could want apart from being fwd, but that just makes it a little more predictable.
all in all i'd buy one myself, having driven a couple i have been impressed.