Audi R8 V10

Of course you'll be wondering just who on earth goes out and buys a £100,000 supercar in the middle of a recession. I'm wondering too, as the 518bhp Audi V10 soars past its peak power delivery and on to 8,500rpm. I clack the steering-wheel paddle through to third gear and watch the next soaking-wet corner speed towards me.

"Oh, bankers, city types, celebs; the usual suspects," said an Audi PR when I popped the question a couple of months ago. Anyone with the wherewithal, frankly. Mostly men aged 48-50, with lots of money and a couple of other cars, according to Audi's blurb. They like skiing, golf, sailing and cycling.People who can afford to spend thousands personalising their R8s, that's who. Audi even charges buyers £500 for the privilege of picking up their car from the factory at Neckarsulm in Germany.

They're all something of an endangered species these days of course, although Audi claims to have more than 960 deposits for this car in the UK, with deliveries starting next year. But then Audi isn't doing this recession as others are. Last year it sold a record number of cars and expects to do so again in 2009, its centenary. When Rupert Stadler, Audi's chief executive, was asked how his company was preparing for the downturn last autumn, he replied: "We heard about it, so we had a board meeting and discussed it thoroughly and have decided not to participate."http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/carreviews/supercars/4570410/Audi-R8-V10-review.html