I'd always promised myself a BMW Three-series by the time I was 21. Sadly, the big 2-1 came round and no BMW was in sight, not even remotely. I'd had an Austin Metro and a Ford Capri and at that time was driving around in a clapped out 1984 Honda Accord, desperately trying to make ends meet, and despite the plethora of Taylors Estate Agents driving around in the most sought after German saloon there was little chance of me owning one.

Six years later my fortunes had changed and the chance to own my dream car was upon me. Own is probably the wrong adjective to use: this was going to be a company car purchase, but nonetheless it was me choosing it, me setting the level of equipment, and me who was going to be responsible for it for the next three years. I couldn't wait.

Sadly, a trip to the BMW dealership revealed my worst fears: a 320 of any description was outside of my budget, especially as I was looking for an automatic gearbox as well. Even a 318 was pushing my luck. It was time to reset my goals once again (after all, I was only 27, three more years to go til I was 30).

I didn't need to test drive the car, I just wanted it. The S specification model with automatic gearbox came in £2000 cheaper than its equivalent BMW and just scraped in to the company car budget. I wasted no time in placing my order.

At the entry level S spec model, all this comes packaged with sixteen inch alloy wheels and a cloth interior and airbags are provided for the driver, passenger and at the sides. Move up to the SE model and the wheels become the seventeen inch variety, half-leather/suede interior replaces the cloth and a sunroof is fitted; the SE also benefits from extra speakers and a slightly different stereo system, just in case the six quality speakers in the S haven't already managed to rupture your eardrums; additionally, heated and electric seats are standard at this level. Glutonous speed freaks can opt for the Sport model which features lowered and stiffened suspension, a neat rear spoiler, aluminium drilled pedals and a limited slip differential for improved handling, though you don't get the automatic option at this level.

Climbing into the IS200 is a treat in itself. Even in the S level car you are close to the ground and the sporty three-spoke leather-clad steering wheel gives you a feeling of excitement and speed. The dashboard is laid out in a functional yet exciting way, with the heating controls all large dials that feel nice to the touch and turn with a light click that is satisfying. The stereo is littered with buttons that are all fun to press and it sounds magnificent when turned up. Further down are the controls for the heated seats (if fitted) and the traction control. In front of you is the dashboard itself, and what a sight to behold this is.

Close the door and start the car and you hear the engine burble into life. At low revs the engine is quiet, almost inaudible within the cabin and while driving there is an acceptable level of engine noise within the car itself; throttle down hard, however, and that straight-six lets out a howl of delight all the way to the rev limiter and should you find yourself in a spot of bother you can be sure that the huge disc brakes will bring you to a controlled halt, the anti-lock braking system minimising loss of control all the way to zero. Acceleration and braking are very well balanced in the IS200 and the driver is left feeling very much in control. Hit the bends and the chassis responds equally as well, thrilling you with its rear-wheel drive handling but reigning you in through the traction control when things get a little hairy.

Inside the IS200 the cabin is big enough to hold four large adults comfortably, though it isn't the most roomy of environments. The suspension is firm and sporty but you don't get out of the car at the end of a long drive feeling weary, though it won't leave you feeling completely relaxed, either.

Over three years I had just one minor issue with the car, which was fixed by the dealer without any problems, and on one occasion just a couple of months before handing it back a plastic panel protecting the underside came loose, prompting a call to the RAC. Besides these two tiny issues, nothing else went wrong with the car (it's Japanese, see? The word Japanese might as well be adopted into the English language as Reliable) and the dealer's service was exceptional, as was their pricing for servicing such an executive model.

If I were to be given the chance to own one again I would in a flash, but let's not forget that Steve Coogan's colourful character, Alan Partridge, did nothing for the car's image and his ill-fated meeting with the "sex people", where he referred to a group of Lexus as Lexi has left the IS200 suffering a little in the image department.