135i for me too! It's like the best of both worlds, as it is hardcore enough for track use, but at the same time it's very nice for everyday driving!

As surely one of the more honest Japanese car fans on this board I say this one is a no brainer. 135i all the way.

Stick on the M sport package and its more than hard enough for some hardcore road driving and it will still be a terrific track car when the opportunity presents itself. Ask PC Valkyrie.

The S2000 is one of motoring's great experiences - BUT - it's a one trick pony... and its trick happens between 6000 and 9000 rpm. Below that and you may as well be driving any other 2.0 litre roadster on stiff suspension. I loved my drive in an S2000 but I know I will love my term owning a 135i. That frikken engine is a masterpiece in itself. The only thing that puts me off the 135i is the lack of a pukka LSD - M-Diff style!

But people (ahem - you all know me well so bear with the old man) if we had Sunny's input earlier on and we had a WRX STI in there - yes, the new "ugly" hatch - the choice wouldn't be as one-sided. In fact, given my experience of the new car I'd say that I'd go for the STI and be done. There's just so much, driver relevant, cool tech in that car without it going all Playstation on yo' ass... It's infinitely a more complete car than the old pram-handle sedan.

Great post martinbo, I agree with you that the new ugly STi is one complete piece of car, just not as fun as the earlier versions.

Regarding the lack of a proper LSD on the 135i, well, the cars it is compared to here are just the type of cars (in their standard form) that need to be tweaked a bit in order for them to really shine. The japaneese have a great tradition of providing such tewaked versions come the end of a products life cycle. I think one of the more charming things about the 135i is the fact that it represents a this way of thinking but from the other way around, starting from the beginning of the cars production and let to the customer. There are tons of things you can do to your 135 and the fact that BMW themselves provide some of the better things is a good start.

I vote for 350Z.

The 135i doesn't look special enough for my taste. It's just a 1 series hatch with a boot added later on.

You might want to re-read what I wrote. I didn't say you need to get the f out of this thread. If you read my post with the utmost of reading comprehension, it's basically saying that this pole is flawed and CARGUY is making this pole for the wrong damn reason. Now he just started another pole without any reasons given and I don't want to be an ass but it really smells like spam to me. If it's not spam then he needs a legitimate question for us to chose the cars.