Back to the original question, I'm personally biased toward the smaller versions of everything (to a point... every manufacturer has a line where suddenly its more econobox than sports sedan/coupe).
I find smaller lighter cars always just inherently more fun to drive than their bigger counterparts, even if there is a bit of a power delta.
I'm also taller than you are, and stopped at the S4 instead of the S3. Part of that is size, and part is I prefer the dynamics you get with a the AWD systems that come with longitudinal setups rather than transverse. The Golf R/S3 always felt a little too much like FWD cars to me, but I suspect they've made massive strides there with the recent iterations of their AWD setups.
I look at the RS3 and really wonder if that's something I should be attempting to squeeze into one day, because that thing must be a blast.
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