A small nit to pick on the article. The previous 1.8T does not suffer from significant turbo lag, which was mentioned twice. Ferchrissakes, is 1800 rpm that far away from where people normally engage the clutch? People have identified this apparent lag before, and I believe that its more an issue to be attributed to the tiptronic transmission - another reason to choose a manual (or DSG) over the tip.
Optioning this car up to $50K is the wrong way to go. Take the basic package with sport suspension and you're set to go. Even still, the competition is stiff in that ballpark, and each offering has its various strengths and weaknesses. Despite my recommendations to consider Subaru, my wife is still leaning to a BMW as the next car, and I have already commited that its her turn to choose.