Austin Mini Pickup

Hello,

I'm considering changing my car and I would like some advice / opinions on the best car for change ...

Some of my first story ...

Currently, I drive a 2004 1.6L Focus Hatchback (with about 64k on the clock) ... This car is OK-ish ...
I find that the handling is good on twisty roads, fuel economy is okay, but transmission and lack of power make this car on highways exceptionally bad for my taste. I really dislike the feeling of "substance" of the car ... it feels like a soda can in terms of solidity and road noise is very annoying intruders when cruising at high speeds.

Cars (property) in the past (with points of memory) were:
1976 Austin Mini
- Very unreliable
+ Offset
+ I liked more minis
1993 Rover Mini Tahiti 1.3
+ Awesome fun on country roads (probably the most fun car I've driven on these roads)
+ No fun on motorways
- Not reliable enough for the distances I was driving ..
1999 Peugeot 206 Hatchback 1.4 GLX
+ Great handling (with quality tires) ... I remember between 70-100 on the highway roads with heavy snowfall, no probs.
Super + air-con (maybe I got lucky on this):)
- Sensors temperament
- Feelings of not particularly strong
+ Good / comfortable seating.

2001 Astra Hatchback 1.6 16V SXI
+ Better support to standstill as cars previous
- Had a really crap gear shift from 1st to 2nd, but I guess I was unfortunate that the speed-pass was punctured
Chassis + Nice
- Electric questionable (spotlights dimmed considerably while turning, and a light switch module was very temperamental), etc..
1999 BMW 318i E46 sedan
+ In the heart aspect of this car (probably one of my personal favorites forms BMW)
+ Heart of handling, highway cruising, low noise.
+ Solid feeling
+ Good visibility and the overall usability inside.
- Seats not very comfortable (very long) cruise.
- Non-folding rear seats and start small-ish more limited practice

2004 Ford Focus (vol) 1.6 Hatchback
+ Nice handling on winding roads
+ Start a good size
Fuel Economy + OK
- Acceleration poor (especially now 50-70/80)
- Feeling of limited strength / substance.
- Bad as the intrusion of road noise cruise.

I have the experience of several other cars (although most U.S. business) also ... (And also naturally resulted in an old asiprated diesel before) ..

My workplace is moving soon and I will make between 15-20k + miles a year ... and think to spend (more) diesel car ... I am a bit tired / bored of the Focus, but do not have much money to spend, which somewhat limits my options ... I also like the idea of having to stop at the pump to fill and less than diesel is suitable for my (mostly) highway cruising.

The cars I'm considering are:
- 1999-2001 Audi A4 TDI (115 hp or 130 variants)
- 1998-2001 BMW E46 320td
- 2000-2003 Volkswagen Passat (115 or 130 hp variants)

Given my limited budget (and age of cars) mileage is likely to be in the regions of 95-150K on the clock ... (Bottom of the latest Passat, higher for the Audi / BMW) ...

I read the Passat are quite reliable, which is something I'm interested, but they are very annoying on the road .... Since I am a driver reasonably spirit (and do a bit of winding road driving weekend where I live), this is not the ideal ... The A4 and BMW seems to have some serious note ... if I got a BMW, I'd be looking to have removed the swirl flaps ASAP (especially because it will not be eligible for guarantee schemes due to mileage and / or age) ... but do not know if a reliable INDEPENDENT.