Ive read every post but did u consider skoda octavia or some volvo?
I dont like the audi a3 style but i can tell u that those are great cars (i drive them daily 3 - 5 a day bocouse i work in such a place) Which ever car u will choose i strongly recommend VAG cars (VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat). These cars have almost identical engines and they run really good. We (my family) own VAG cars and we never had problems with them.
About BMW: i drive them too but i didnt make an opinion yet coz i didnt drive them so many as VAG cars (probably more then 5k and i am not joking)