Loved reading your write up as I am close to receiving my AR-P4 at the end of the month. I previously had a Plus 4 and then a Le Mans 62 +8. I too opted not to go for power steering as the Le Mans 62 had very direct "feel", which I enjoyed. I also drove the AR demonstrator before finalising my spec and it was absolutely fine at low speeds.
The main appeal of this car for me, apart from the look, which I think is great, was the new suspension set up allied to a race bred Cosworth engine. I am really looking forward to the first experience of driving the car to see just how good it is.
I hope to post my own first impressions in due course.
Meanwhile, thanks for your reports and all the other comments. Maybe we can meet up sometime for a better face to face sharing of our experiences with the car. I am down in West DORSET where their are some super roads!