AS THE Boomtown Rats once sang - I don't like Mondays - but the delivery of an Audi A6 2.8 FSI SE set me up for the week.
Turning up for work on a summer morning notable only for the amount of rain that was falling, the prospect of another five days at the coalface after a weekend taming a garden did not excite.
As I walked past the office security guard, he smiled and said my car had arrived.
His good humour was due in no small part to the German beauty sitting in the car park - and once behind the wheel all my cares and woes disappeared as the smooth engine and superb chassis took the strain.
Blurring the boundary between executive and luxury saloon the A6 is a beautifully smooth car to drive. The steering is neat and accurate giving a great feel for what is happening on the road making cornering a joy.
The ride is luxurious thanks to a state-of-the-art suspension with bumps and holes in the highway being treated with equal disdain.
The direct-injection petrol engine is awesome giving the car the power to overtake at will with the automatic gearbox shifting up and down seamlessly. It takes the car from 0-62mph in a shade under eight seconds on its way to a top speed of 148mph - should you find a private road or racetrack.
Fuel economy remains satisfactory though, returning an average figure of a shade over 32mpg.
Longer and wider than previous incarnations of the A6, the exterior looks sleek and stylish with sloping lines and classic Audi grille making an instant impression on the eye.
The cabin benefits from an increase in wheel-base size with both the front and rear occupants getting extra knee and shoulder room that help make A6 a pleasant place to spend time in.
The boot has also been stretched to a mammoth 546 litres and the rear seats split and fold to cater for longer items like giraffes.
The centre console features a rotary switch which allows the driver to control the various functions with ease via a dashboard digital screen that makes life for the driver simplicity itself.
Audi's motors have a good record on safety and the A6 saloon received a maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP safety testing.
It benefits from anti-skid and stability control, anti-lock brakes and six airbags front and side, plus front foglights.
The SE trim offers a lot of kit but the car I tested was fitted with optional extras taking the total cost to more than £35,000.
A £1,250 luxury pack adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, rear parking sensors and an interior light package.
A further £1,850 adds a communications pack that includes satellite navigation and CD autochanger.
For £725 you can have adaptive lights, Xenon headlights, headlight washers, plus fancy 12-spoke design alloy wheels, while £1,500 secures adaptive air suspension - already highlighted as a must - and £750 provides electric front seats.
Are they worth it? Well if you've got the cash to splash then yes, but the 'basic' SE provides all the amenities I'd expect in an executive saloon including climate control, cruise control, a CD player and automatic headlights and wipers.
The luxuries on the test model are undoubtedly thrown in to impress - but really Audi needn't have bothered as the A6 is capable of winning hearts and minds all on its own.
FAST FACTS
Audi A6 2.8 FSI SE 4dr
Price: £29,020
Mechanical: 210bhp, 2,773cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 7spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 148mph
0-62mph: 7.9 secs
Combined mpg: 32.1
Insurance group: 16
CO2 emissions: 209g/km
BiK rating: 28%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust