Great read again Brendan.
I am with you about priorities changing as you get older... 10 years ago, my main 'thing' was speed & power. Now, it is just as you describe:
The older I get, the less I look for absolute speed, and the more I think about rhythm. A car that can pin your hair back and set your hair on fire is great fun, of course, but rarer still is a car that provides that same level of joy at a more relaxed pace. In a coupe version of the 911, I feel slightly bored unless I’m at the track, on maximum attack, but in the cabriolet there’s the wind and the sound and the amazing scenery to drink in.
The 'amazing scenery' part I definitely envy... to be able to drive up into the hills with "No Service"... sounds perfect to me.