skip to main content
  1. Five of the best cars you shouldn't scrap
  2. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Class on a budget
  3. Audi S4 Avant, Space and pace
  4. Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Grand old duke
  5. Jaguar XK8, Foxy old cat
  6. BMW M3, Bavarian dynamism

Audi S4 Avant, Space and pace

How does a twin-turbo 2.7-litre V6 with 261bhp and 295lb.ft of torque strike you? And how about adding the practicality of an estate body shell? And all for £5,000? That's a possibility now with a circa-1999 Audi S4 Avant. A second-generation Audi S4 is well within reach these days for supermini money, and while it never garnered a reputation for the type of pure handling dynamics that made the BMW M3 such a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts, the four-wheel drive S4 Avant has lots of grip (particularly in the wet), is hugely practical and is very quick. The 0-62mph dash comes up in just 5.6 seconds for example.

There was an RS4 version too - only available as an Avant, in fact - which was a whole heap quicker because its engine was fettled by Cosworth, but it lost all of the S4's tasteful discretion and was extremely expensive. The plain old S4 Avant is much cheaper to buy and marginally cheaper to run. These things are relative though - you'll still be lucky to reach the twenties in mpg terms. But predictably, Audi build quality means you'll have far less to worry about in terms of potential trouble than should be possible with a decade-old car that's so very fast. A highly recommended purchase.

Mark Nichol