I was actually in a Merc dealer on Saturday looking for one to test drive - sadly theirs was 'out' (sales guy clearly took it home for the weekend). I actually got more turned on by the dark grey C63 coupe - man maths told me it is in fact a hatch too, but with 487bhp, annoyingly doesn't really offer me much above the Zed beyond back seats (that you have to climb into). Hatches are certainly more practical as a second/daily car - Seats down = small van! 
I've done most of the rounds - m135i is very nice car, but not 'special' or any sense of occasion compares to the RS3/Merc/Golf R, and the Golf R doesn't do it for me that much either. Both Merc and Audi interiors are easily better than anything BMW has produced recently, even compared to the 70k specced up M3 i tried two weeks ago (tbh only the Opal white leather made it feel anything better than a standard 320d).
I'm hovering over an RS3 order button, i can have one in 4 weeks but i'm still not 100% due to having to lump out for a new kitchen mid car-decision-process and has somewhat sapped up my time. I think if you're looking at a hyperhatch you need to be already not too concerned about the cost.
I've done most of the rounds - m135i is very nice car, but not 'special' or any sense of occasion compares to the RS3/Merc/Golf R, and the Golf R doesn't do it for me that much either. Both Merc and Audi interiors are easily better than anything BMW has produced recently, even compared to the 70k specced up M3 i tried two weeks ago (tbh only the Opal white leather made it feel anything better than a standard 320d).
I'm hovering over an RS3 order button, i can have one in 4 weeks but i'm still not 100% due to having to lump out for a new kitchen mid car-decision-process and has somewhat sapped up my time. I think if you're looking at a hyperhatch you need to be already not too concerned about the cost.

