When Jesse Adams left this publication to join the ranks of a leading newspaper supplement, we considered it quite a loss — writers like that don’t just come around everyday.

But there was one thing about him leaving that left us grinning from ear to ear. As you would have read in the first update, he won us an Audi S3 long-termer by performing the fastest lap time around the Aldo Scribante circuit on the launch of this potent hatchback.

After a bit of confusion over whether the prize would move with him or stay with us when he jumped ship, Audi’s powers-that-be decided that the car would remain a Cars in Action long-termer. Thanks guys. Sorry Jesse.

But that should have been of little concern to our man as he could look forward to some VIP treatment at his new post. A week before his last day here, his boss-to-be called and told him not to worry about transport to work on his first day, as he’d arranged for a test car to be delivered to the CIA offices on the Friday before.

"So is it a Rolls Royce?" Jesse enquired with more than a hint of passion in his voice.

“It’s a surprise,” was his new employer’s calm retort.

That mystery was revealed early the following week while I was making future test car arrangements with the guy that runs the press fleet for Fiat. “Oh ja, and tell Mr Adams that we’re delivering his Uno on Friday.” So while Jesse looked forward to a weekend in his flashy Fiat, the rest of us savoured the prospect of getting more wheel-time in this white rocket, and getting to know it a whole lot better.

I’ve driven lots of so called ‘hot hatchbacks’ in the last few months, but none manage to tick all the right boxes quite like the Audi does. From that brilliant TFSI engine, with massive grunt delivered from low down, composed steering, unflappable cornering poise and an all-round sporting demeanour that makes us just want to get in and drive it — S3 is still the king of hot hatches.

But there is a catch, and that’s the car’s sticker price. At R336 500, minus options, it’s also one of the least attainable.

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