Alongside how did you luck your way into that job? and have you ever been offered a bung?, one question I'm frequently asked if the subject of my occupation crops up 'down the boozer' is, which car would you choose? So should you sidle up to me in the George & Dragon and should I fail to hide under the nearest table, I'll get the answer to the last question out the way right now. The car best suited to me should be quick, practical and small enough to prove a cinch to live with. It should look distinctive, be rear-wheel driven and have an engine that's refined or charismatic as and when I want it to be. Ta-daaah, I think it might just have turned up on my driveway.

The latest addition to our long-term test fleet is this BMW 325ti Sport Compact. The final in my list of ideal car criteria would be cheapness, so on that score the #23,550 Sport Compact doesn't add up. Its price tag does at least include bumper and sill extensions plus a tiddly spoiler, lowered suspension and 17-inch M-badged alloys, transforming its truncated styling from controversial to cleanly aggressive. It's already proving a cracking all-round package. The 2.5-litre straight six revs sweetly, sounds great and its 192bhp is feeling ample. The Compact is also laying on more driving entertainment than even an equivalent 325i saloon or coupe, being lighter and shorter, turning sharply into corners with refreshingly pointy steering responses.

Now in response to the first question, I talked solely about herpetology in the job interview. And to the second question, yes but so far none have been sizeable enough to consider accepting. Any more? Then make mine a yard of Absinthe... Peter Grunert

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