We'll there not really the cars fault are they ? I'd hope you'd only paid for the timing belt work and nothing more too.
On the WRX note. I'm in a similar position. Coming from a R33GTS-t to a R32GTR or MY01/02 WRX.
Sure the GTR has the arua, history and all that sort of stuff, but as everyones mentioned, their high on premium of owning one. Insurance, maintaince the whole deal. The WRX, althou mass produced more then the GTR, is still a legend.
I don't think (and I've just got over it) its a good move to buy a car because of street cred, and "potential" performance. The MY01/02 WRX's are hovering around 26-30k, and its only 3-4 years old.
And we all know that the twisty's is where all the fun is, sure RWD is fun, but don't be sucked in to the claim that there's less skill in driving a WRX fast..... A good driver will always make Full Use of the tools provided.