Not sure poke is such an issue on a commuter.
I'd go for MPG, Comfort/quietness and Safety.
One of those long legged A4 diesels or similar from the vast VAG range. Or, like you said Beemers.
I too don't buy new, and if you can avoid finance in whatever guise they dress it up, you'll not have the banks cut eating your hard earned cash.
Keep something fun for the weekends... Like an S6 Plus perhaps
