FANCY one of Audi's almost legendary RS6 saloons but haven't quite got the budget for it?
If so and you don't really fancy going for the garish charms of a Mitsubishi Evo or Subaru Impreza and have your heart set on an Audi of some description or other then the A6 3.0T FSI quattro might well be worth a look.
This is a car that will live long in the memory for both its pace and sure-footedness.
There's a tendency to think of Audis as lacking the driving manners of their Bavarian rivals BMW but to do so belies the fact that Audis with four-wheel drive offer a very different driving experience from their front-wheel-drive stablemates.
Just as Evos and Scoobies were developed from rally cars the original Audi quattro made its debut sliding around the stages of the World Rally Championships to gasps of admiration. After considerable success its four-wheel-drive system made it into production cars and has been an Audi 'extra' on selected models ever since.
Here it helps what is after all quite a large saloon feel surprisingly agile and nimble, as well as offering the sort of grip that will rarely if ever be pushed anywhere near its limits.
The 3.0-litre TFSI engine is a real powerhouse but smooth too and the FSI technology means it is considerably more fuel efficient than one might expect a 3.0-litre turbo to be.
Amazingly it can return more than 30mpg on average - though be warned that if you have fun in it you're unlikely to get that sort of return.
And believe you me, you're unlikely to want to pootle along as a pedestrian pace - even if this A6 does double more than adequately as a sedate and comfortable saloon.
It's one of those cars one can't help but have fun in, to the point where after a week I was relieved to hand it back with no additional points on my licence.
It's the all-out pace of the car that really stands out, taking you from 0-62mph in a less than six seconds is an impressive feat. In standard drive mode the tiptronic automatic gearbox feels sprightly enough but in sport mode it is sprightlier still, to the point where it takes more than a bit of getting used to.
The sensitivity of the throttle is increased considerably, giving it a slightly jerky and jittery feel, that's fun but not recommended for three-point turns in tight car parks.
The picture is completed by a sumptuous and spacious interior.
Audi continue to lead the way when it comes to fit and finish of the very highest order and their attention to detail really takes some beating.
Precision and perfection are words that come to mind, thought the level of opulence in this particular car was considerably enhanced by more than just a few optional extras.
Even so, the standard S line specification comes with plenty of kit.
FAST FACTS
Audi A6 3.0T FSI quattro S line 4dr
Price: £37,835
Mechanical: 290ps, 2,995cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving four wheels via 6-speed automatic gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Combined mpg: 30.1
Insurance group: 17
CO2 emissions: 219g/km
BIK rating: 29%
Warrnty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles