For Audi I'd go S5, BMW I love the M6, but I'm gonna try and stay with Sedans here (even though I am a Coupe man at heart) and say RS6 for Audi (no use having a sedan if I can't fit in it) and M5 for BMW. Even though I like the look of the M3 a bit more.^ Same here. Despite the fact that Clarkson says only cocks buy Audis, I'd get an RS4. If we didn't get a ton of snow in the winters I'd consider an M3 as well.
My real favorites are the Cadillac CTS-V and Chrysler 300c SRT8 (it's too bad it's so expensive to own and only comes in auto, otherwise I'd consider it, it's HUGE inside!), and the now late Pontiac G8 was pretty neat. I hope Saab will make a really good performance Sedan now that Koenigsegg own quite a bit of them.
And great pics Flux! That's the face of a proud new car owner if I ever saw one

As for your loaner, yes they are all that bad. At least the ones I've driven have all been terrible, terrible cars. And apparantly the EU Focuses are better then the US ones
