Thanks again for all the comments.
In comparison, well the interior is virtually the same (even got the same rattle by the cruise control switch lol)....the rest couldn't be more different. Where the 182 engine is smooth and peaky, the V6 is gruff, noisy and torquey. The handling on the 182 is light, agile and front heavy giving bags of lift-off oversteer, where as the V6 bobs up and down at the front with just so much rear-end grip. Obviously haven't tried provoking the rear yet, and to be honest it's not that sort of car.
Having had the mk1 last year its inevitable I'd make comparisons - I remember that feeling like it had good midrange pull, but not massively quick (not compared to the M Roadster), but this
feels a lot quicker than my 182, and not far off the MR.
Even after having a mk1 before, its going to take a while to get used to the whuurs and clunks that the V6 makes in almost every situation. Its ok, I've been told that's what they're supposed to do....