AUDI S4 Estate 2001‑2004

I have owned several cars ranging from an Austin Maxi to a Jaguar XJR and in my opinion, the S4 Avant is the best car I have ever owned.

It makes me smile just walking up to the car let alone driving it. Mine is the auto with the steering wheel paddles and it never misses a beat. Very reliable, although I would only ever recommend one with a full main dealer service history, very fast although for me these days, I have slowed down considerably from my yonger driving days. It has enough room for all of the computers I transport and I find it generally a real pleasure to drive.

Sure enough, being a V8, it is a bit juicy on the petrol front managing aroung 300 to 320 miles to the tank but lets face it, you don't buy a V8 car and then moan about the fuel costs do you.

The other thing I was a little dissapointed with was the quiteness of the engine. You can hardly hear it at all. I was expecting that V8 growl but no, very smooth and very quiet. I therefore fitted the full Milltek exhaust purely for this growl and now I have everything I wanted from a V8.

The handling is superb, especially in the bad weather. Make sure you put good tyres on the car the same as any car really and it does make a difference.

It has all the gadgets one would like to have in a luxury car - fridge, TV, Sat Nav, 6 Disc CD and 2 MP3 slots that in total, can hold enough music to last a full 24 hours. Silver Nappa leather that is heated and very comfortable, bluetooth, cruise control, electric everything including the sun roof.

These cars really are a lot of car for their money but without the heavy suspension reliability problems you get with the RS4.

A fantastic car! Quick and comfortable, the engine makes a great family car a proper Q car. It likes a drink but as I didn't do a whole lot of miles in a week it was no more costly to run then a more economical car used regularly are. Hard to find more bang for your buck.

Want fast but have to cart the kids around. Then an S4 could be the answer. However, with only 200 miles to a tank it wont be cheap. Buy second hand and the saving on depreciation might just offset. So probably cheaper overall than a new base model!

Great car, had it 6 years, great combo of speed and space, understated and fun! Not cheap on servicing or fuel but worth it for the pleasure of driving it.

This is my third S4 and sixth Audi so I'm a big fan. The 4.2 V8 engine as compared to the 2.7 twin turbo has more torque and power, but does not feel that much faster or more flexible. You do notice the drop in MPG, I get around 19mpg in the commute to work (all town) and can squeeze 27mpg if I am light footed and stay at or under 70mph on a long trip, the 2.7 turbo was at least 20% better.

It's a compact estate only just big enough for all the baby stuff you need to haul about on a weekend visit to grand-parents, but is plenty big enough day to day and for all except a full-on 2 week driving holiday abroad (I bought a roof box !)

Everyone that gets into it smiles from ear to ear, it's smooth, quiet, understated (I took the S4 badges off and thanks to local thieves changed the chrome door mirrors for self coloured ones) and fantastic to drive although a bit of under steer creeps in if you push the four wheel drive to the limits. I like this as I feel happier when my wife drives the car she isn't going to spin it.

It's a very easy car to drive slowly and quickly. If you want a family car with space which is as fast as a Porsche I don't think you can go far wrong

When I escaped the daily grind of commuting to the corporate HQ, the interminable meetings and the office politics, I wanted to lose the company box and get a car to enjoy. The answer is indeed the S4 4.2 Quattro.

OK, the fuel consumption averages 22mpg with 26 possible on a run and low teens if the roads are empty. But as I only need to drive any distance occasionally, it's a real blast and constantly makes me smile. After being wed to diesel for the last 15 years, this car has re-kindled my love affair with petrol.

The huge torque will pull sixth gear from 900 rpm at 20mph, all the way to a limited 155, apparently. The V8 burble becomes a howling roar through the Miltek tailpipes and that sound makes the hairs stand up on my neck. Audi's Quattro 4 wheel drive puts down the 344 bhp generating fuss-free and hugely impressive cornering.

This is a supercar in a family estate body and I love it. Next? Save up for the RS4!