My father owned for a while an Audi 2.0T Avant Quattro, principally because the local Audi garage understands how the male mind works.  They know that if they keep chipping away with "special" offers to those who can afford them, then eventually they will make a sale.  This Audi came to my father that way, after they persuaded him to come and try out just such a special offer.  Luckily, nobody ever writes to me with special offers like that, and that's probably for the best!  At any rate, he owned a car that can probably be summed up in one word - fantastic.

It has a 200 BHP engine, four-wheel drive, a six-speed gearbox and all of the luxuries that you would expect in a quality Audi car.  According to the manufacturer's claims, it should be capable of 145 MPH flat out and 0-60 in 7.5 seconds.  I've never driven the car in anger myself, but it feels responsive and powerful enough that those claims are not silly.  The Audi also has a feeling of quality inside that is probably unrivalled.  For example, nothing rattles, and everything works just the way you would want it to.  As with all Audis - at least in the UK - this car will retain its value very well.

About the only faults I can find with the car are these.  While the engine is undoubtedly powerful and gives the car a turn of speed, it only has four cylinders and there are times, when accelerating, when the car sounds like something a lot less prestigious.  In other words, the engine, in my opinion, does not befit this class of car.  The other thing I notice, in comparison with my Vectra, is how hard and firm the ride is.  Personally I like a reasonably soft ride, but of course the upside is that the stiff suspension helps the car handle properly on the twistier roads.

The four-wheel drive probably doesn't do much for the car when driving at normal speeds in dry conditions, and it's doubtful that this Audi will ever find itself in a position where the all-wheel drive is required.  On the other hand, it is reassuring to know that it is there, and it would certainly help when pulling quickly out a junction in damp conditions.  With powerful front-wheel drive cars it's all too easy to spin the wheels and panic as a big lorry bears down on you.  Anyway, if I were asked if I would like to do a straight swap of my Vectra for this Audi, the answer would definitely be "yes"!