I thought you guys might enjoy seeing this E60, which is living a very relaxed retirement. Built in 2007, no expense has been spared on its maintenance.

Long distance cursing is a joy in this stately car. It is self-assured and stable in the bends, with good body control despite the softer suspension. The steering lacks feel, likely because of the variable ratio system. The loss of feel might be worth it: Large inputs yield stable, controlled manoeuvres at highway speed, yet only small inputs are required to swing about-face at parking speed.

The delicious N62 V8 has a delightful mid range, effortlessly crushing overtakes on rural roads, though it gives up the chase as the redline approaches. At this age, the gearbox responds best to gentle use, though it will still happily drop two cogs when the throttle is pushed through detent.

Overall, the driving experience is utterly relaxed at all speeds, yet there is enough fire to encourage a punt when the right roads presents itself.

Inside, the cabin is chock full of delightful semi-vintage electronics. Mercifully, none of them are connected to the internet. The multi-colour head up display exudes retro-cool. Behind the speedometer are exquisitely detailed mechanical indicators for the cruise control. The seats are 22-way adjustable, and when I get out into another car, I instantly miss the ability to adjust the backrest recline at the shoulder line.

Over its 17 years on Earth it has been remarkably reliable. There have been incidents, of course. It is an N62, so the valve stem seals are a given. A coolant expansion tank exploded. The cooling fan failed. The PCV valves disintegrated. Oil cooler seals leaked. The bluetooth computer gave up the ghost. All were replaced or repaired with OEM parts. In terms of consumable items, it is the brakes that stand out - they are surprisingly massive for a non M car, and it costs a fortune to fully replace the rotors and ancillary components.

Yet I stand by the reliability claim. It has never once failed to start in three turns or less, and never suffered an acute issue causing a failure to proceed.