Let’s think about that for a moment: 253mph is faster than a Formula One racing car or Concorde. The Veyron’s power unit, open to the air behind the driver, is four times the size of the engine in your regular saloon and, boosted by four turbochargers, 10 times as powerful. And the price is 50 times that of the average car.

Of course it doesn’t make sense. Nobody needs a Bugatti Veyron. But that doesn’t diminish its status as an ultimate in technology. It is a billionaire’s prized possession, the automotive equivalent of one of those hideously expensive Swiss watches. And it will be the stuff of dreams, the bedroom poster for a generation of young boys.

Everyone wants to know what it can do.

I drove the Veyron on motorways and mountain roads in Sicily and experienced it on the Enna-Pergusa racetrack. I reached no more than three-quarters of its top speed but that’s okay; my American colleague Csaba Csere of Car and Driver magazine had verified its 253mph maximum at the VW test track in northern Germany.

Within the limits of normal if lightly populated roads and sympathetic local police this is still a car that transcends previous experience; there has never been a 1000bhp production model. Yet it has none of the temperament of supercars that are derived from racing machines.

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Climb in, press the starter button, engage D on the gear selector lever and off you go. Neither accelerator nor brake is fierce, the steering is accurate but requires no great effort. The engine dawdles if you want to, docile and undemanding, yet when a clear road opens ahead it is ready for acceleration that is beyond normal comprehension.

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The Veyron can reach 62mph from a standstill in 2.5sec and 122mph in 7.3sec. When 0-60mph in 7sec is the mark of a quick car, this one is out of the world as we know it — all two tons of it.

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When you press the accelerator to the floor — and you had better be prepared for the rocket-like response — the needle on a dial to the left of the instrument panel flicks round to 1001. It’s a power indicator and it has absolutely no use except to give the driver a sense of awe. It should be called a “boast gauge”.

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The 240mph McLaren F1, the previous speed champion among road cars, is much lighter but was designed in the 1990s with a different philosophy that deleted all non-essential features, including many of the safety systems that VW made obligatory in the Veyron. The F1 is an expert’s car.

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The Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT and other recent pretenders to the supercar throne are essentially racing cars adapted for road use. The Bugatti Veyron is not intended for racing but holds a trump card compared with these: its seven-speed DSG transmission. It works brilliantly and contributes to the Bugatti’s ease of progress and level of driving refinement.

So, the best car in the world? It depends on your attitude. For all its phenomenal range of capability this is not a car for the shopping run (do billionaires go shopping?) or even a weekend away. Its boot can carry just a briefcase, the engine is always noisy, visibility anywhere but directly forward is restricted, it is more than 6ft wide and parking is a nightmare. Oh, and there are no roads where you can do 250mph.

You could also argue that a car that costs so much should be perfect. To do so would be churlish. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is a magnificent achievement.

When you decide to sell your vehicle, unquestionably the most important thing you need to figure out is exactly how much it is worth. This isn’t as straightforward as it might seem, as you could find that you end up with various different quotes. Fortunately, you can use the services of an online car valuation site in order to find out what your car is worth. They will be able to give you a precise quotation using a number of industry standards.

A few sites offer estimates for information only, for example, if you are planning on selling your car privately. They will give you a an average figure according to the make, model and year, and then it’s down to you to actually make the sale. Other companies can offer you a more specific appraisal, considering such things as mileage and the condition of the car. It’s very critical to let them know as many details as you can in order to receive a precise quote. Remember to include any highly prized accessories, for example, a high class music system or new rims.

These companies might want to buy your vehicle, and often will make you an offer there and then via email. This is why the particulars you give them are as accurate as possible, as they use the information to come up with the offer. If you overstate the details, they may refuse to buy the vehicle when they actually see it. On the other hand, when you forget specific details, you may find that you end up selling your car for a lot less than the actual value.

Selling your vehicle using this method will help you to avoid a lot of the problems involved if you sell it in the traditional manner, such as advertising on the web or in your local newspaper. You also won’t have to deal with multiple people showing up your house to view the vehicle, and them wanting to pay a lesser price. With a car valuation site, once you decide to sell, they will collect the car from you at a time that is best for you, making a payment in full.

Prior to deciding to sell your car in this manner, you should really get a number of quotes from various companies, and also find out as much as you can about them. Ensure that it’s a well-known company, and don’t pay any fees up front to get a quote. A trustworthy company will give you a quote at no charge, and there will be no unforseen costs that abruptly appear when it comes to actually selling the vehicle. Ask for a quote in writing via email, and print out a copy. If they suddenly decide to offer you less than the initial valuation, remember that you aren’t obligated to go through with the sale. If something seems off, maybe it is! As previously stated, there are lots of great companies online that will give you the best price possible.