ok so i'm here because i'm planning a new car for myself and while searching for info on it, your thread came up in the results. i've read the entire thing and:
1. yes they are 'posers' cars, learn to love it (maybe only ironically to start with) if you don't already
2. someone mentioned something with the phrase 'astra vs bmw' in it or something and oh boy, what a comedic suggestion
3. i hope you do get the BMW. i got my crumbly old e36 318iS coupe in similar circumstances (was considering an old celica when i was informed i could actually afford a bmw... "what's that, a bmw you say? hrmmm...") and have never looked back! in fact mostly i have looked down, down my nose that is, at everyone else, but hey i'm a fan of irony.
good luck!
p.s. i'm one of the ones that indicates