ASTON MARTIN DB11

A beautiful, beautiful car. Which it really had to be. Aston had no choice. Looks are one of three priceless ingredients that have kept this mercurial company afloat in much bleaker, more profligate times. The engine note is also completely, deliciously, fabulous. Good job again, as that’s the second vital ingredient that has kept the wolf from the door over the years. The third being the Aston Martin badge itself, the ultimate get-out-of-jail card for a car manufacturer with more lives than Top Cat, Garfield and Bagpuss put together. And – stop the presses! – my kids can actually fit in the back without losing all feeling below the knees.

Is this therefore also the world’s first genuine Aston Martin 2+2? Fancy starting a family, Mr Bond?

Price as tested: €334,000 imported