NP sir G. 
And, disregard for any brands is NEVER meant in any of our conversations. Just friendly chit chats on the facts.
and the facts I know about the new city vs. steermatic are:
I had a comparison with a very very good friend of mine who had a white steermatic only 27k something driven in Islamabad.
Even that I drove steermatic and my friend was in my red city.
In a run from a complete stop, even an XLi (crap) takes a good initial lead vs. the steermatic just due to its manual tranny. But steer takes over less than a mere 4 seconds to catch and speed past it in a "vroom" 
In the case of city, Steer covers the intial lead in almost everytime.
If steer is just floored a second before city's clutch is released, then good luck city in catching steermatic. 
In a 40kmh roll on with steermatic, both go neck to neck.
I think its pretty easy to roll a steermatic vs any manual car as a steermatic driver has just to keep the pedal pushed to the medal and it goes VROOOOOOMMMMMMM...... so on.
But in case of a manual tranny, one has to go
Vrooooommmmmmmm....
vrrooooooooooomm...
vrooooooooo... vroooooooo... :D:D:D
Based on my knowledge from u people and my little experience with steermatic. I hope u agree.
and yes, a little more rubber helps in every jump and thud on the road. 55 profile seemed a bit hard in the first experience so went for 60. For checking, I had my tyres swapped with the white steer I am talking about.
The dude had Yokohama S drive in 205/55/R15. (H)
Edit: Welcome back to Pakistan, I hope yer landing on 15th inshAllah. have a safe journey sir G.
And I have a little personal request, will PM yu fr that once yu reach PK.
Warm regards.
