Audi A6

With Halloween just past, you're probably sick to death of spooks and ghouls turning up at your door demanding cash or goodies - or else! It seems that the age-old custom which was supposed to be a bit of fun for the kids has got out of hand in recent years. In some cases, the threats made on the doorstep are more sinister than actually meeting a ghost 'in the flesh'.Well this year, I've had a run-in with the little devils, as the trick-or-treaters turned their attentions on to our new long-term A6. The Audi is a bold car, with its strong lines dominated by the trademark huge grille. Our 3.0 TDI quattro is particularly striking with its Night Blue pearl-effect paint.
But it wasn't looking so clever when I emerg-ed from home one morning to find it covered in smashed eggs! The local louts had cracked a box over my daughter's Ford Ka for good measure, too.

Now I like eggs - my colleagues will tell you I eat too many egg mayo sandwiches for my own good. But you try getting dried yolk, white and shell off gleaming paintwork without scratching it. A trip to a hand carwash was called for... and £14 and an hour later, the A6 was looking more like its old self.

Despite this initial 'shell shock', taking charge of the Audi is proving to be a real treat. I'm a confirmed fan of the four-ringed brand, and have been waiting with anticipation to meet the newcomer. When I first saw spy pictures of the A6, I thought it was a bit of a beast. But in the metal it's a beauty with real road presence. It drives well, too. The diesel unit is smooth and powerful, with huge torque reserves. And refinement is state-of-the-art; the car is whisper-quiet both inside and out.

Our car costs £31,930, but as this is our first opportunity to test the new A6 over an extended period, we decided to spec it up and see if some of the far-from-cheap options are really worth the extra outlay. So, to the six-speed Tiptronic box we added the £320 three-spoke multi-function sports steering wheel, complete with gearchange paddles. Other extras include an acoustic parking system (£475), electric sunroof (£850), adaptive headlights which see round corners (£1,100), leather seats (£1,250) and DVD-based sat-nav (£1,600). Added to a few other extras such as 18-inch alloys, this takes the price up to an eyewatering £42,510. Wow!
For that cash you'd expect the A6 to feel special - and it does. Sitting in front of the gearstick is arguably its most challenging element, the Multi Media Interface (MMI). Audi's take on BMW's iDrive system, it controls the set-up and communications functions via a rotary dial and menu buttons.

Now I'm no techno-whizz, so before I first got to grips with MMI, a deep breath was called for, plus a prayer for some divine guidance. I needn't have worried! While I've found the BMW version difficult and curse-provoking to use, Audi's set-up is logical and simple to master. My only quibble is that I still prefer a good old-fashioned push-button radio. And for that matter, give me a proper handbrake, too, rather than a fancy electronic one. Elsewhere, first impressions include a well built and comfortable cabin, a huge boot and, even at this very early stage, good fuel economy.

Downsides are an unexpectedly firm ride, vague steering which lacks real feedback and Audi's trademark grabby brakes. Oh, and I'll be going to the gym even more now to develop bigger biceps to shut the A6's incredibly heavy doors. Don't miss our regular updates as we clock up the miles on motorways, B-roads and in the city - and explore the Audi's tricks and treats in more detail.