I'm buying a 1.4 act FR. Drove it for about an hour and a half yesterday. We've had a 1.6TDi Leon for years and I've had a Golf with the independent rear end.
I wanted the 1.8 but there are not many around which makes finding a really good one hard. In the end I settled for the 1.4 because everything I read suggested the 1.8 is not that much faster but drinks more fuel and doesn't hold its value as well. I don't care about the last two, if I'd seen a clean 1.8 in the sort of spec I wanted I would've bought it, but I'm not waiting for for months to buy a car.
There is a difference in the suspension. The independent is more 'alive' feeling. It's more supple and responsive which lets you play with the balance of the car more. If you push hard, you will appreciate the difference. The beam axle grips well and feels tight but hit broken tarmac mid bend and it's out of its depth. It's not terrible but no way the beam is as composed or controlled as the independent set up.