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I'd second the GTI, with the Perf Pack you get an LSD and the R's brakes. I can confirm it has great winter traction... Our GTI clutch has never slipped (we are right at 4yrs/40k) with APR low tune all along (290ish hp) but Cara doesn't drive it too hard.
That said you have annoyances, love/hate with BMW, VAG, etc. So I'm not sure what to recommend. You know all of this stuff anyway.
If you are nearing 200k on the Mazda3, sounds like it's done its job, time for something new. No reason to keep squeezing it as a daily perpetually. Let some kid enjoy it (or wrap it around a tree).
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