I bought my daughter one last year, then upgraded it to a 105 group. The kid at the LBS said it would be cheaper to buy a better bike upfront, but I didn't want to spend a lot more and have my daughter lose interest. Since she got into it, I figured another $400 to replace the drivetrain was a decent compromise. I did the work myself. Now it's a really sweet little road bike.

My take is that it's a decent frame with so-so components, but easy to upgrade.