Most points have been covered. As for saloon v hatch, imo saloons level the profile of the car out with them having a long bonnet, I wouldnt have a hatch personally, all three of my V6's have been saloons, but it's personal preference, and the hatch is a lot more practice.

The ticking a lot of times is the EMG, but people here ticking and running a mile, due to people having V6 duratec paranoia