(This week, we’re examining seven of the best ways to spend a year-end bonus–or any kind of windfall. In our first installment, we present the 2016 BMW i8 and 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S.)  The average Wall Street bonus was over $150,000 last year and we here at the Daily News Autos firmly believe that all these successful, enterprising businesspeople ought to be rewarded with an appropriate ride.  FOLLOW DAILY NEWS AUTOS ON FACEBOOK. 'LIKE' US HERE.  Okay, we also wouldn’t mind a slice of that cash for ourselves – and really, the average is $150-grand?!? Aside from obvious jealousy, and possible SEC investigations, this news got our automotive passions stirring. What would YOU do – heck, what would WE do – with a six-digit chunk of cash to spend on a new car or truck?  In a market saturated with sexy performance cars, high-end sport-utility vehicles, and sports cars masquerading as sedans, where do you even begin to consider spending your windfall? Does the ideal “treat” feature a big, snarling V-8 engine, or does it smugly showcase the efficiency of a turbocharged hybrid?  How big is the impact of it entering the parking lot of a top-tier restaurant? Is it a convertible? Can it be an SUV? And are you getting a headache from all the possibilities? Relax, that’s why you leave it to the experts (i.e. your trusty Daily News Autos team) to help you decide.  This week, we’re presenting some of the best ways to make the most of that payout on the year’s hottest and most exclusive new cars and trucks. Deposit that check, skip the agonizing selection process, and get to the fun part of making the decision!  After all, would we ever steer you wrong?  We’re starting this countdown with our hands-down choice for the most desirable sports car that follows the old-school formula of marrying a muscular engine with sinister looks: the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S. Most bonus awardees can stop right here. With a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 wedged under the long, tight-fitting hood, the AMG GT S evokes the look of the beloved, departed SLS AMG.  The styling, inside and out, breaks away from the Mercedes-Benz norm, while still fitting in with the overall face and design of the brand. Every surface is chiseled, especially on an AMG GT S with a matte paint finish. The growl from the engine bay and the accompanying gruffness from the exhaust pipes, they’re all part of the allure that’s found in every aspect of the AMG GT S. From the heft in the stomped-upon accelerator, to the refinement and delicateness of this Mercedes-Benz’s steering and chassis tuning, this is a performance machine that feels absolutely tuned in to your brain’s pleasure center.  MERCEDES-AMG GT S REVIEW AND VIDEO  Sure, you could also have an S63 Coupe for about the same amount of money, but it doesn’t come anywhere close to the AMG GT S’ prowess as a true sports car. The AMG GT S can make you blush when you see it – it seems almost sinful to stare at it!  It is, however, quite obtainable, at least in the overall realm of supercars and dream machines. Minus any options, a Mercedes-AMG GT S starts around $130K.  What we love: Seductive styling with the brawn to match.  Brag about: The AMG GT S’ link to the iconic 300SL Gullwing.  Tell everyone you spent: $9,900 on the optional “Solarbeam yellow” paint. It really costs that much…for paint!  Vital Stats: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S  Price: $130,825 (including $925 destination fee)  Powertrain: Rear-wheel drive, 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine, 503 hp, 479 lb.-ft. of torque, 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission  Fuel economy (mpg): 16 city/22 highway  What if the sound of making a dramatic entrance was only a silent whirr?  We submit the 2016 BMW i8, the year’s most innovative way to solve the problem of how to quietly stand out from the crowd. Much the same way that the Mercedes-AMG GT S is an entirely different take on how to view Mercedes-Benz, the moment you see the carbon fiber-bodied i8, it’s difficult to associate this space-age machine with lesser BMWs.  The interior is pure sci-fi wonder, with two central screens and driver-focused controls. Sure, under the supercar-like skin is the same corporate three-cylinder engine found in the base Mini Cooper hatchback. Don’t get all snooty on us, because two additional electric motors provide ex-tra power for a total output of 357 horsepower.  On paper, it looks heretical for the brand that introduced the world to the letter “M” to produce a hybrid and call it a sports car. On the road, however, the i8 delivers an experience like no other.  Keep it out of its most economical driving mode – we suggest leaving it in Sport mode – and the i8’s steering, brakes, and throttle response tighten significantly. The “ultimate driving machine” is still in there, even if this supercar doesn’t want to devour the planet.  The hybrid boost is seamless, the piped-in grunt from the exhaust pipe is satisfying (if a little phony), and driving in our beloved Sport mode actually charges the battery at the same time. Take it to a local beach, like we did, and open the winged doors, for the ultimate way to see the waves.  Impress car lovers with the i8’s wild styling and strong acceleration. Then wow the non-believers with the car’s legitimate ‘green car’ credentials. The BMW i8 is an intelligent way to go fast, quietly.  What we love: The i8 resets the expectation that all hybrids need be stodgy and boring.  Brag about: You can drive it with the doors open…for a short amount of time.  Tell everyone you spent: $6,300 for the “laser light” high beams.  Vital Stats: 2016 BMW i8  Price: $141,695 (including $995 destination fee)  Powertrain: All-wheel drive, 1.5-liter turbocharged inline three-cylinder engine and two electric motors, 357 hp, 420 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed automatic transmission  Fuel economy (mpg): 28 city/29 highway
So Santa was especially good to you this year? Here are two of the best dream cars to spend that bonus on.