I'm in a similar situation. Keep looking at the Golf R but despite it's obvious competence and performance it's just so bland to look at.
Q cars are one thing but VW have taken it to a new level, the GTi is better looking IMHO.
The new Mini Clubman John Cooper Works is at the other end of the spectrum. I like it but am I brave enough to buy one ?
The "blandness" of VW is such a huge attraction to me. Day to day I don't want a "look at me" car, so VW fits the bill really well. It does what it says on the tin.
Whereas Audi, sold for "image" is no better than VW in terms of driver experience. The A4 we rented, and which I really did expect to love, was just too bland as an overall experience.
I've droned on about this so many times, but for me, a car must look appealing (to me), be a special place to sit in, and a capable mile eater. Good mpg is a bonus but not essential.
My measure is that if I sit in any car and immediately want one......it's the car for me. But not many do this. The ones which do I keep a long time, usually over ten years and sometimes much longer.
