I did a lot of test driving before I bought an IS200 sportcross 2003 (I really should put it in the new members area)
tested :
A3 : didn't like the way it drives, the comfort version is understeered and the S-line version breakes away very nasty. I did not find a comfortable seating position
1-series : OK with 16" tires, a suspension disaster with 17", OK with the M-sport suspension and 17"' or 18" tires
Civic : bad rear view, steering and braking did not feel good due to too strong servo
Subaru Impreza : the safest driving car, interiour is too Japanese
Golf (160 BHP and DSG) : that is the car I liked most, comfort and fun to drive. HOWEVER : there are a lot of delivery problems with Golf, check out the German forums on that point (my native language is Dutch, so German is not to difficult to read :)
I would have got my setup (Xenon is still not going in production in the near future) end 2009, but rumours are it could go to 2010.
So : now I have an IS200 with ALL options and I am a happy man.