You lot seem to have a lot of opinions about this; I think they’re all valid except for that guy who thought style was unimportant (WHAT?!)
For everyone who’s asking about battletech, armoured core, pig mechs from rocket knight adventures, etc. look at the poll options again. I think you’ll agree that with phrases such as ED-209 STYLE, I’m actually referring to the arm-less shambling things you refer to.
Definitely some good points raised, though. Don’t you guys think that the lightning league vehicles from Jayce should actually be mechs intead? And, do you guys think that Guyver units qualify as mechs?
I have always liked the Madcat mech from the Mechwarrior universe. Of course, it could be because the first Mech game I ever played was Mechwarrior 2150 for the SNES, but I still like it on the count of its versatillity.
What? No Xenocrafts? Xenogears and Xenosaga II had awesome mechs. 
I want a mech that has the cool design of a gundam series or Armored Core…
But with the theme of Anubis from Egyptian mythology.
BattleMechs/OmniMechs hands down. Best design, most believable. When I do a Death From Above in my Mad Cat Mark II you feel it.
Yep, it seems that hardcore, big nutter mechs are most popular. I’m sorry guyz - I woulda included Armoured Core and Xenogears in the poll had I thought about it a bit better. I’m kinda surprised at how little the mighty Transformers are being mentioned - maybe it’s tht fact that they are sentinent beings themselves - is it just me, or in mech terms is that not-quite-right?!
RoW: When I said style didn’t matter, I meant from the point of view of the stories themselves. If Mechs are supposed to be vehicles and weapons, why would people bother to make them look like Japanese Gods and such?
But HEY, don’t they look cool that way?? 
As for Transformers, yeah, I think most of us see them as characters, not Mechs. OPTIMUS PRIME RULES!
What about Gears? Gears are awesome! (Xenogears) [EDIT] Looks like a lot of people already said this. Ehh, just means I’m on the right side. =P
But, since the choice isn’t there, I’ll go with Gundams, simply because I’m tired and don’t want to go looking for the rest so I know what they are.
Well, my personal favourite wasn’t included on the poll list. My favourite would be Scherazade of “Visions of Escaflowne”.
I am surprised no one mentioned Godannar.
<img src=“http://animeoltre.altervista.org/robot/godannar.jpg”>
It’s a hilarious show, you guys should watch it.
Godannar replaces teenage angst for lesbian angst. it also has robot wives. no seriously i’m not even kidding (slightly not-work-safe).
ps
I like gundams.
BTW you forgot Big O and the ones from that one show…um…h.m…ah…
hold on.whatever I remember that the main character’s name is coop.
That’s why Godannar is so hilarious.
Megas XLR isn’t too bad either. But I wonder who’d win if the original Megazord, Voltron and the Gundam giant robots went on a free-for-all.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, and say Transformers. Don’t get me wrong, Gundams and Battlemechs are cool, but something about Generation 1 Transformers I cannot get enough of. Namely Soundwave and Megatron
SOUNDWAVE
MEGATRON
Pierson: OKAY, I HAVE to check Goddarnit or however it’s called. 0_0
Manus: Gundam gets crushed in the first round. That’s what you get for being a Mecha from a “realistic” show. Megazord and Voltron are evenly matched, at least until one of them pulls their Ultimate Attack first.
“FORM… BLAZING SWORD!” FZZMMMM
Evilpop: Let’s hope the ones in the STEVEN SPIELBERG LIVE ACTION MOVIE are just as cool.
The whole diety angle in mecha seems to stem from shinto, in which the gods have so many forms (and seem to spring up spontaneously) that a machine could well be a god.
I’d love to see a Kannon bot though. Haven’t come across one to date.