Which car out of the VAG 2.0 Turbos or BMW F30?

[jc74]

Hi everyone,

Indecision time choosing a car. Just throwing it out there so some opinions and maybe thoughts or pointers which I hadn't yet considered...

I'm think about buying a new/nearly car for my 6 mile each way daily commute which is on 30/40/60 roads, about 10/15 mins outbound and 20/30 mins return (traffic).
Obviously pretty much any car can do this commute if I had to, and pure bhp would be wasted and I'm not looking to drive at the limits or drift around corners at any time, so RWD isn't a must have or desirable (it's actually a put off in case we get a harsh winter!)

Primarily, I'd like something fairly nippy and a decent engine/exhaust sound. Ideally would like to be able to fit a couple of small children in the back on the very odd occasion (have alternative car in the family that can do that).
Ideally it's be reliable for at least the next 2 years (that's the time frame I'm looking at keeping it) - new/1 yr old is ideal.

It has to be petrol (I'll do about 5000 miles per year), and automatic (VAG DSG - love the pop on upshift/BMW 8 Speed autos currently favoured at the moment).

I'm currently driving an BMW E93 325i auto so would ideally like something at least as quick 0-40 and achieve at least similar to my car's mpg (currently around 24mpg).


My current shortlist is:-

Bmw f30 328i auto (1yr old)
Bmw f30 335i auto (2yr old)
Seat leon 5dr cupra 280 dsg
Vw golf gti mk 7 dsg
Vw scirocco 2.0 tsi dsg (either current or upcoming facelift)
Audi s3 saloon stronic(1yr old)
Audi tt 2.0 tfsi stronic (mk 3 due september)
Audi tt 2.0 tfsi Stronic (current model)
Audi a5 sportback 2.0 tsi stronic (2yr old)

- I'm very much favouring the VAG 2.0 200+bhp TSI DSG combination, though the 6 cylinger BMW engine does also tempt me.
- Sensible tells me the 328i would be more than adequate...
- A Leon 2.0TSI 200bhp would have been better since I don't need 280bhp and the 280bhp costs Golf GTI money!
- I curse Audi for not making an A3 2.0 TFSI 220bhp! Though they do a 1.8TFSI - is this close enough though??
- Is the A5 that bit too big heavy and long to be fun?
- I'd like to think I'm not a badge snob, but unfortunately Skoda VRS is out of the running!

Any further thoughts, suggestions or pointers would be interesting to hear!

[kambites]

Out of that lot, I'd be going for the 335i. The engine is in a different league to the rest and the BMW probably has the best chassis too.

[joebongo]

6 cyl with a set of winters on a BMW.

Winters on RWD kick the ass of FWD cars on summers.

And it just feels right to be pushing from the back and steering at the front to me. I've never drifted or even gone near the edge of anything goatee-worthy but still prefer the setup of RWD.