Andy Everett

Although it’s not quite time to pop open the champagne corks, we tend to forget that it is 18 years since the first A3 went on sale. Launched in the UK in September 1996, it went toe to toe with not only the 1994 BMW 3 Series Compact, but also the VW Golf which, in 1996, was still in its Mk 3 guise. While the two cars might have looked broadly similar underneath, however, the A3 was in fact based on the new PQ34 platform which would underpin the Mk 4 Golf, due to be launched in 1998. Styled by Dirk van Braeckel (currently chief designer at Bentley), the A3 was another ‘just right’ car from Audi. Van Braeckel had also styled the original A8 concept car that entered production almost unaltered.

Buying a B6 series Audi A4. This much-loved model can now be bought for less than £1,000, as Andrew Everett finds out...

Buying Guide. The BMW E28 M5 is one of the most iconic M cars ever produced and is still a brilliant classic choice.  The ultimate guide to buying and owning the original super saloon.   The original super saloon is a brilliant drive and while they’re becoming expensive it’s not too late to grab one while you still can. It’s a surefire investment and will be a hell of a lot more interesting than an ISA! Words: Bob Harper and Andrew Everett. Photography: Oli Tennent/www.olitennent.com.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that manufacturers were shying away from making coupés. The two-door format was dead according to many pundits – but how times have changed. 2016 buyers who lust after a potent BMW Coupé have never had so much choice and the range of exciting options extends to the used market too – with a healthy £20,000 budget bagging some serious machinery. You won’t regret buying any one of these three classy contenders…

Buying Guide Fancy a sweet handling normally aspirated sports saloon? Then how about looking at the E90 330i? Like normally aspirated straight-sixes? Need four doors? Then you’ll be wanting an E90 330i – the last of BMW’s non-turbocharged sports saloons. Words: Bob Harper and Andrew Everett. Photography: Dom Fraser and Max Earey.

Shark Attack. The sharknosed ’80s BMW saloon which offers practical retro appeal. Words: Andrew Everett. When it was launched in 1981, the motoring press were surprised to see that BMW’s all-new ‘E28’ 5-Series looked like little more than a facelift of the previous ‘E12’ generation, a car that had been around since 1972. The E12 had earned itself a fine reputation as a well made mid range saloon that ranged from the prosaic 518 to the hot rod 528i and M535i.

It might be 20-years-old but the E39 is still a great machine. Lauded in its day for being the ‘Best Car In The World’ the E39 Five can still be an excellent used buy whether you’re after a cheap 520i to use as a runaround or a last-of-the-line 530i Sport to covet. Words: Bob Harper and Andrew Everett. Photography: BMW.

F20/21 1 Series diesel models BMW really upped its game with the latest 1 Series and as it sold in large numbers there are a plethora of good value second hand machines on the market. Here we look at the pre-LCI diesels. Words: Bob Harper/Andrew Everett. Photography: BMW.

10 Minute Guide. This month the BMW E90 335i Saloon is under the spotlight. Not a hugely popular model in the UK as most opt for the coupé shell but there’s still plenty to like about the 335i Saloon.