When I started looking for a new car a few years back, I came close to buying a Focus ST, but I thought the back seat was like sitting in a coffin, the piped in engine sound was way too intrusive, and the overall fit and finish wasn't all that I had hoped for it to be. Had the dealer not been a total d*ck, I probably would have bought one, despite my quibbles, as it was fun to drive. That same week I read about the (then) new Golf R in development and was seriously interested.
In the many months between the debacle at the Ford dealership and VW finally bringing the R to the US I seriously considered a Subbie STI, but was way put off by how cheap and dated feeling the interior was for a near $40 K car. The "Gee Look At Me" rear wing didn't win me over either. It was a fun little ride though.
The Audi S3 had me seriously looking as well but, while not as bad as the Focus, the rear seating was unimpressive with my head (I'm 5'11") touching the head liner and the optional sport seats blocking so much of the view ahead. I also didn't care for the dash layout with an expanse of nothingness in front of the passenger coupled with an outdated instrument nacelle in front of the driver. But what really told me to wait for the R was the tiny trunk. It was significantly smaller than the Mk4 GLI I was driving then, and I dearly was looking for a new car with even more cargo room.
Then, shortly after putting some money down with my local VW dealer to hold their first R for me, my salesman asked me to test drive a Power Pack GTI they had just gotten on the lot. It was tempting, as it ticked off most of my boxes, but I wanted the R and had the money for it, so I waited for VW to finally start delivering them in early 2015.
Best car buying decision I ever made.