Besides a German-bred V10 under its hood, the all-wheel-drive 2007 Audi S6 packs a bounty of standard features behind its $74,020 base price (including a $720 destination charge and $1,300 gas guzzler tax). As befitting a pricey luxury car, there's a leather-wrapped power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with memory, a power sunroof, a dual-zone climate control system to keep the driver and front passenger comfy, high-grade Nappa leather on the seats and door panels, power front buckets with memory for the driver, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Sounds good, but that's just the start – the S6 buyer also gets rain-sensing wipers, Audi's MMI central-control interface, a 13-speaker Bose sound system with a six-disc CD changer and MP3 player, heated windshield and headlight washers, Bluetooth connectivity, and the safety of front-side as well as side-curtain airbags for front and rear passengers. Of course, the usual array of luxury features such as power windows and mirrors are covered, too.

Genuine grey birch trim is standard fare on the S6, though it can be replaced by carbon fiber inlays for $400. Buyers seeking a more personalized ride may also opt for a black leather dash ($1,275), Sirius satellite radio ($550), rear-side airbags ($350), a heated rear bench seat ($225), or intelligent cruise control ($2,000). The Warm Weather Package, which includes rear sunshades and a solar roof panel for $1,190 may be another item of interest, as may the $3,900 Technology Package with its voice-activated controls, keyless ignition, rear parking aid system, navigation system, and Sirius satellite radio. If that's not enough, another $750 will buy an S6 dipped in Phantom Black Pearl or Sprint Blue Pearl paint. However, you can save the $750 by going with Brilliant Black, Light Silver, Brilliant Red, Quartz Gray, or Ibis White instead.