Four door struggle....

So, the time has come again, and one of the toughest decisions to make is about to be made. It's time to upgrade the car...

Let me divert your attention to the beginning. My first. An 18th birthday present, a lump of concrete and pig iron was delivered to the driveway, with the keys describing it as a Volvo 440 "Sport" (Of which it most certainly was not!)
The perfect family car for a teenager without a family......hmmm.
This was the start of a very backwards string of car purchasing, for second up was another hefty Swede - the "Sleek and Stylish" - (Taken from the handbook), Volvo S70. Another 4 door family saloon. This was followed swiftly by an even heavier Scandinavian powerhouse with an outrageously eccentric engine, the S60 T5. Yet another family car (See where this is going...)
Since being weened gradually from the Volvo affixation, I matured into a fine steed with a penchant for coupe's and GT's. A car that would comfortably carry two, but if the need arose, a perfectly decent, sizeable pair were ready and waiting in the rear. Two Audi A5 Coupe's fitted the bill suitably and sufficed for the last four years without much of a grumble for my partner and I.
Now however, it all needs to change. The game has moved on, and I have a decision to make, for we will be starting a family soon, and the sheer thought of fitting a car seat into the back of a 2 door coupe sends shockwaves searing through my 6ft 3 frame.
In my GQ-Magazine-reading eyes, I had already penned my next car in. I'd already visualised it on the driveway, and imagined myself using it as my daily driver. The Audi R8 V8 was ideal! 2 comfy seats, and I'd be fulfilling a promise I made to Mr. James Hughes about my next car....about 3 cars ago.
Alas, this was no longer the case, for I would now require 4 doors and this meant a hearty return to the family sector, albeit with style!

Now I have had my fill of family cars, and thought I knew the market pretty well. Volvo S60, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and other standard generic German & Swedish characterless A-B transporters.
This was until I did some proper research, attended a Garden Party in Wilton, and laid eyes on a golden egg. The most beautiful 4 door saloon I'd ever seen. And it sounded epic!
The Maserati Ghibli had just wafted in, being driven by a suave gentleman in a navy peak lapelled suit, it screamed elegance and sophistication. Perfect!
The hum of a low range V8 petrol engine spread out over the meticulously manicured lawn of Wilton House, and I just had to go and see this majestic beast for up close and personal.
As I got closer, I noticed that the hearty V8 soundtrack was not coming from the engine bay. No, it was coming from the quad pipes at the rear. Maserati call it 'dynamic sound'. I say genius! For what everyone in attendance thought to be a petrol V8, was in fact a 3.0 Litre diesel V6! Mind-blowing!
This of course meant I had to have one. I mean, a Maserati, with the prestige and elegance of an Italian Supercar manufacturer, but with trick exhausts and a 40mpg diesel. No brainer!

The Maserati Ghibli (Left) vs the Audi A5

The very next day, the deposit was laid. Maserati Ghibli with the optional sports pack in 'Corsa Blu' and more importantly my new family car.
This was great for a few weeks, until Audi, knowing my new requirements, phoned me and invited me in to look at a few cars they had prepared for me. I accepted the invite, turned up at the showroom, and it seemed they'd had the very same idea as Maserati except, they'd done it first.
Their 3.0 V6 Bi-Turbo TDI pumped out more power, had more V8 soundtrack and looked far more aggressive than any diesel I'd ever seen! - And it had been around for a couple of years! There was the choice of the A7, Q5, or A6 all with this amazing new engine. I was suddenly that person who got the cold sweats when they'd done something they had regretted, but could still back out. The Audi was cheaper, better engineered, faster, sounded better, was more modern, wouldn't break down every day, and above all it was available now and not in a few months. Crisis!

The current choice Audi A5

Since this emotional roller coaster of events, I have still yet to decide on which machine will become my daily driver. The deposit has been returned on the Maserati, and I have narrowed it down to an Audi R8 V8 or a Range Rover - and anything in between. There lies the issue. Every car that now takes my fancy, could in some way be tailored to meet the modern way of living. R8's are a daily drive Gentlemans supercar, and the new Range Rovers are supremely quick.

For now, I'm sticking with the A5 and hoping that I don't have any children in the next 9 months!