Amazing how much you come to rely on rear parking sensors when you’ve had them, isn’t it?

Last week I found myself reversing a car, waiting for the beeps to get louder and closer together, before suddenly remembering that this car didn’t have them fitted.

Thankfully I remembered – otherwise, I would have been walking into the office shame-faced with a very poor reason for reversing into a wall.

And I can bet a substantial amount of money that my neighbour wishes she had parking sensors fitted to her Audi A4 Cabriolet.

Reversing out of her drive recently, she failed to check behind her and reversed straight into the A5.

A very low-speed bump resulted in buckled and dented bumpers on both cars. She admitted liability straight away so it was left to the insurers to sort things out.

A few weeks later and a quote for £756.26 arrived – causing much inhaling of breath when I informed my neighbour.

Labour accounted for £168 of that, with parts the main expense at £356. Paint and sundries came to £233 and the taxman got his £98.64.

More than £700 for a new bumper and various supporting brackets is a lot of money, not helped by the fact that the A5’s rear bumper has parking sensors fitted, which bumps up the cost.

Once back to new condition, Audi called asking for the A5 back, which is a shame as it is a sleek, comfortable and gorgeous looking coupé.

The blow has been softened by the arrival of another A5, the new Sportback.

You can look at this as an A5 Coupe with two more doors, or as an A4 hatchback, but either way it is impressive.

It looks good, has a huge boot and pillarless doors front and rear.

Under the bonnet is a 170bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel unit fitted with stop-start technology. Allied to a six-speed manual gearbox, this car already feels faster than the 2.7 TDI with the Multitronic gearbox.