Once you get used to the speed and smell of a new car then the deftness of it's control takes centre stage. A car must have good, linear steering above all. I suspect the Mk2 GTI has this (hence people love them) and most BMWs are pretty good in the steering department. The Mk5 is just above average and because of this I think it won't become a classic.
It's really nice not to be loyal to one brand. The world is then your oyster.