Seems the M Coupe still divides opinion ΂- mention its name and you're never sure what response you're going to get. While there are plenty who reckon it's one of BMW's best cars for evo types, others get very upset and reckon it should never have got past the drawing board. It's mainly the shape that doubters get upset about ΂- they can't forgive it for looking so odd, pointing out it's the first car in history to be modelled on an old-fashioned running shoe. Well, I'm sorry, but there's nothing wrong with being individual. Especially if you happen to have the world's best engine up front, driving the rear wheels, in a very compact bodyshell, as anyone who actually drives the car will testify.

Our car looks particularly tasty in silver, with an all-black leather interior in place of the dubious two-tone leather option (it's even got cruise control and a top grade stereo system) so it wins full points for presentation before it turns a wheel. And turning a wheel was something it had done quite a lot even before it turned up outside Evo Towers for the first time; in the two weeks it had been on the road since it was first registered it had covered a whopping 2250 miles.

The cabin is really tiny compared with conventional cars. If you're over 6ft the electrically operated seat runners will hit the buffers before your legs really want them to and the steering wheel is not adjustable at all, but I've already completed several long hauls and comfort hasn't been a problem so I guess you just adjust to what's on offer. What you soon realise is there's very little storage space to shove clutter in; the glove box is just big enough to take yet another oversize BMW manual.

We're nit picking here. The M Coupe has already proved to be a hugely popular addition to the fleet and should be turning up at some of our evo Active days (see News) so you'll be able to have a ride in it as well.