All my buddies say that the Talon is a LOT easier to drive than my Cavalier. In the clutchability sense, I think the Talon will be easier to drive than many other manual cars. However, a turbo AWD can be a hell of a lot of car for someone not used to it. I would go for it, just make sure you know exactly what you are getting into. Yes, they are fast and fun as hell, but they do break on occasion.