It’s one of the best cars to have in G-Stock. As far as raw time goes, I can usually beat a WRX, RSX Type S, etc. The best car’s I’ve beaten head-to-head were a Z06 and Mazdaspeed 3, but those were obviously due at least as much to weather conditions (cold, rainy) and the individual drivers than the cars themselves.
That said, mine is the old style, R53, with the supercharged Daimler Chrysler engine, the new turbo Renault in the '08 is a lot better set up, and it shows - my uncle has one, and that car has run close on raw time to Evo IXs and STIs. The limited slip diff helps it out too. Even on mine, the handling’s bizarrely good for a FWD car.
Don’t get too excited too early, I’m sure that any off-topic / political arguments that I come across will make me look like a forums troll before you can say “lulz.”
Where are you at? Mine’s not in perfect condition, but it still looks good, and I’d be willing to bring mine out if you’re shooting in the Syracuse or Rochester area.