"Still, it pissed me off to sit there and listen to a couple AWD Talon pricks bash anything not AWD."
Gee, next time you go to the X-cross take a copy of the old C&D article "Best handling car under $30K". Show them the page where the SVT beats the AWD turbo Talon in overall handling points (in a comprehensive seriess of handling challenges) and matches it for lap times on 2 different racetracks. With less HP & alot less tourque. Then tell them that as long as THEY believe AWD is king of handling, then thats what counts.