Thank you Greg_L, yes....i did see your kind post.
IMO, i think i got pretty damn close using nothing but ITB tools. As far as if you guys/gals think this mix is rubbish, is purely because you probably dont like CLA mixes to being with. So of course no matter what i do, you will always think its "not good".
Im not here to contest about audio "purist" ideas and how over compression is bad, headroom is good, Analog is king, Loudness wars suck, etc......
I simply wanted to take characteristics of one ME's sound, and try to achieve such a sound using nothing but ITB tools. After A/Bing and listening to this last mix in my car, i think i agree with Greg_L........nailed it.