I remember some roads in Australia being very quiet tho -you could often drive for an hour or so without seeing another car :-)

Shh, don't tell anyone. The cops have a LOT of radars down here. Purely for safety, understand. Not, repeat NOT, for revenue raising. 

I'd probably take a look at the Focus 1.6T 182.

 

My old Mk1 Focus is still the best handling hatchback I've driven.