Steve, I'd ask for more pictures before making the drive, but if it's as nice inside as it looks outside, it's well worth the time and gasoline. And really, is there any such thing as a bad excuse to visit Santa Barbara?
I can't remember the last time I used the "Permanent Press" cycle on any washer I've owned, but it would be sort of a 906 novelty to push a button for it rather than use a specified cycle setting on the timer dial.
It appears that instead of the four wash and spin speed combinations on later 806 models, this one has three: regular/fast, slow/slow, and regular/slow (Perm Press). I have certain items, like rubber-backed bathroom rugs, that I'd prefer to have that fourth slow/normal option for, but in that instance, it would easy enough to go hit regular/fast before the machine went into final spin.
I wouldn't be too concerned about the three fill levels instead of four. That's kind of like splitting hairs, and the main thing attraction with an 806 is its larger capacity. I think you'd be using this machine on its highest fill level 90% of the time anyway.