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chrisl, I test drove the 1-series (128i, 135i, and 135is) quite a few times before getting my BRZ, and even in 135is form (which is essentially the M sport package on steroids, IIRC), it just didn't have the athleticism that the BRZ has out-of-the-box, particularly in steering response (the Bimmers just felt like boats by comparison, to me).
I wanted to love the BMW. I wanted to have one instead of the BRZ, because by and large, it's a much nicer vehicle. But the BMW suffered from the same problem as my GTI--I liked driving it, but I never felt inspired to just go out and drive it the way I do the BRZ. At the same time, for the cost of a new 1-series, I could own a BRZ Limited and have enough cash leftover to buy a very nice E46 or even an early E90 to serve as a DD of sorts.
In any case, I just figured I'd throw my two cents in after a few more months of ownership (and after just looking at used E46s for when winter comes, ha). The statement about the cars being made for two different groups of people are spot on, but I certainly wish there was something in between the two.
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