You won't beat the mk5 GTi - I had a DSG Edition30, put a smile on my face every time I drove it, so much fun. Better than an R32 as it felt like it wanted to accelerate even though the R32 sounded awesome. Impossible to drive it slowly.
The Golf Mk.V GTI is an OK car. I personally didn't get on with it, but it's just about a LOT better than a Mk.4 in every respect besides (possibly) looks. The Mk.V GTI I had was all but cheap to maintain though. Blooming sparkplugs cost a fortune for that thing. That might just be ridiculousville that is Southern Africa in that regard, though. if you can get an old car, the old boxters, an MX5, maybe an RX8 (older, used ones sell for about that here...cheapcheap - except the maintenance - rotaries are a bit notorious for that). Possibly even a (not small, though) old C230K Sportsback Merc or a 330 Bimmer
Compared to the usual American car size? They're almost tiny. As are Imprezas - drove an 05 RS the other day, it was also a rather nifty little car. Not as much fun as the Mini, though.
Trouble with Impreza and Evo's is that normal road speeds won't challenge them - you've got to be going mental fast. The Mini is a giggle because you can wake it up without breaking too many speed limits.
Similar things go for the GTI, though it's not entirely as sure-footed as an impreza. It's almost too good a car to be realy fun. Might I turn your eyes a bit south and suggest something Fiat/Alfa? those 1.4L turbo engines are rev-happy, exciting as small engines go, and they cruise well too... 88/110kw Grande punto 110Kw Bravo Sport 114kw MiTo thei resell value is also (at least around here) jsut south of nothing, so you could theoretically buya 2008 Fiat Bravo Sport for that kind of money. With service plan still there and all.
Can't find them here for love or money, unfortunately... All we've got is the classic Alfas and Fiats, and the new Fiat 500s - no Alfa 147s to be seen. And yes, I definitely want a car that's fun to drive at legal speeds. All the big roads IN THE AREA are too busy, and the back roads are all watched.
Not sure what they cost over there, but the 500 Abarth should eb HUGE fun. I have driven the normal 500, and while a bit small for my liking (and possibly a bit girly), it's a fun little city slicker that's not realyl all that quick, but somehow feels like it is, and is fun to drive. It's happy to have the hell revved out of it, and if you feel sensible, it can get great gas mileage as well. As far as I know, the Abarth 500 runs the same 110kw 1.4L Turbo engine as the Fiat Bravo/Alfa MiTo, and has a better suspension. But yeah... Fiat/Alfa has bad supply in the 'States, hence the big Chrysler buy-in a year or so ago...
