Nice short and snappy review RedVee8. I can understand the odd feeling you got when stepping from the Captiva to the VE. I found when test driving the Captiva, that I was sitting too high and forward, ready to fall out the front of the seat. I really loved the steering wheel on the VE I test drove, but that may have had something to do with the size of my gropers.
Did you get over the 4spd 180kW combo?
I've nearly talked myself out of a sportwagon (may not be owrth going that far in debt at this stage) and considered an excop Omega. FE2, LSD etc. They can be had at auctions for <18k. But still not sure about the powerplant.