PAYING £26,613 for a xompact hatchback may not be everyone's cup of tea but for those who have the desire and the wherewithal, Audi's A3 3.2 quattro Sport has got the lot.
When the car was delivered it did not look too dissimilar from other A3s but subtle badging at the rear displayed that this one was a race apart.
Many may think that sticking a walloping engine of more than three-litres under the bonnet of an A3 could result in a total hooligan mobile which would be tricky to handle.
But the massive engineering and chassis knowledge of Audi, coupled with their rally-bred quattro four-wheel-drive system, means that this car is a tour de force of safe, smooth acceleration with an overall feeling that the vehicle is just right.
Most other Audis I have driven go about their powerful business in a high degree of silence, but this one just cannot contain the booming exhaust note that declares it is in something of a league of its own.
For instance, its top speed has to be governed to 155 mph and it can hit 62 mph from a standstill in 6.4 seconds.
But it is the superb torque qualities of this model that give a whole new meaning to the phrase mid-range acceleration. Driving it is a memorable experience.
And it is not a massive guzzler either. One might think that with such a powerhouse lurking under the bonnet that you could see the fuel gauge needle move, but an overall figure of 26.7mpg is attainable and relatively respectable.
But you really have to look at this car as a whole package to get an idea of why many regard it as a modern classic.
For instance, the A3 design itself is meant to offer everything that the buyer of a premium hatch could ever need. To me it exudes a hunky solidity that gives you a feeling that there is a lot of metal protecting you on the road. You only have to look at the thickness of the doors to witness that Audi's case is proven.
Inside this A3 version the seating is typically firm, the driving position correct to its usual Germanic precision and the instrument layout simple and uncluttered.
Again there is that amazing feeling of solidity and painstaking attention to detail that draws Audi customers back to the fold time and time again.
On the road it's hold on to your hats and keep a weather eye on the speedo because this is an athlete of the car world. In this respect it is both a sprinter and a long distance specialist.
I challenge anyone to get bored with it because it has that rare zest for life, coupled with a massive amount of occupant safety that is not in your face.
The quattro system makes it a forgiving drive. With the extra power on tap it would be easy to steam into a corner a tad too fast, but for most mistakes the technology discretely carries out a brushing under the carpet exercise.
But in saying that, this is not a car for the novice. It is a spectacular tiger of a car that could have pride of place in my garage any time.
As far as outlay in concerned, my test car kicked in at £22,960, but a raft of extras such as a superb sound system upped the ante to £26,613 - a walloping price for a hatch.
But if you love driving and have half an eye on a larger car, take a step back and look at the A3 3.2 quattro. It is one of the few cars I know under £40,000 that will turn sighs of boredom into sharp intakes of excitement.
FAST FACTS
Audi A3 3.2 quattro
Price: £22,960
Mechanical: 247bhp, 3,189cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving all 4 wheels via 6-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 6.7 secs.
Combined mpg: 26.4
Insurance group: 18
CO2 emissions: 257g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust