Great write up Jay, and three cheers for wittering on.
Its nice to hear about the warts, as well as the beauty spots, and leaves a sort of contented feeling that maybe the Gen 3 is not too bad, and that a 2016 plate will still irritate after 3 months.
As somebody who has just spent a few bob on anew car, then it would be easy to stay with the rose tinted specs to (internally) justify the expense, rather than a possible slightly painful honesty.
Interestingly, as an Observer for the IAM/RoadSmart, my present trainee has a Toyota GT 86, which also has some pretty low rent internal trim from whatever left overs Mr T has in his parts bin. As a 6 speed manual witha pretty cack handed owner, it is a not a peace passengers seat, as my head alternately hits the windscreen and then the rear hatch windows (with every gear change), or brae application.
But there are no rattles despite a ride quality that probably is grreat en route to Spain, but not around rural Herts, and although road testers complain of lack of grunt, and low torque, it is both a very fast, but very docile car, and seriously responsive.......eg., much tooooo responsive for my ex-NASA IT specialist.
Work in progress!