DROPPING a line like 'Oh, I drive the motorsports edition of such and such a car' at a dinner party will undoubtedly elicit a few 'oohs' and 'ahhhs' from the other guests. But what they don't know is that you are probably going 'aarggh' most of the time because the suspension of your impossibly stiff ride crashes over broken tarmac.

Reason? What works on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans might not cut it on the horrible roads around Tanglin Village.

Enter Audi's S range. The S nomenclature is reserved for the flagship variant of each model in its line-up. Yes, the S cars might have more power and stiffer suspension, but as Audi's international communications manager Graeme Lisle reiterated recently over lunch at Audi's headquarters in Inglostadt, the S cars are not meant to be hardcore driving machines.

'An S car is not meant to compete against BMW's M cars or Mercedes-Benz's AMG range. An S car is simply the top-of-the-line specification for each model range. The RS range is our more focused and extreme 'enthusiast' models.'

To get the point across, we were given a chance to sample the S3, S4 and S8 - all with quattro permanent four-wheel-drive - over varying roads around Munich. First up was the all-aluminium S8 with a 5.2-litre V10 engine - sourced from the Lamborghini Gallardo - pumping out 450 hp under the hood. The S8 limousine is the ultimate sleeper car. Apart from its six-caliper ceramic brakes, massive 20-inch rims and discreet S badging, the S8 could pass for a run-of the-mill A8.

Onto the autobahn and immediately, one of my teenage dreams was fulfilled. No, not the one involving Vivien Chow but going flat out on the autobahn. At 250 kmh, when nudging against the speed limiter, the S8 felt as effortless to pilot as it did at 150 kmh. What is most impressive is the sublime ride.

For the S8, Audi's adaptive air suspension has been retuned and it manages to offer a plush ride at low-speed, good-body control in bends, and rock-solid stability at high speed.

From the S8, I jumped into the S3 hatchback, and here you can tell immediately that the 'target audience' is different.

There is more aural accompaniment - the exhaust and turbo whistle are allowed to permeate the cabin and the seats are heavily winged items borrowed from the RS4.

The S3 is the only car in the S model line-up with a turbo-charged engine - the two-litre four-cylinder unit produces 265 hp. Think 'hot hatch' but with more power and poise. For some, it was the most 'fun' to drive as the power delivery was the most abrupt, and it sounded good from the inside - not just on the outside like the S4 and S8. But for me, I wasn't as enamoured because I was still bowled over by the S8 experience.

After the S3, the S4 sedan seemed a bit sedate and boring, even though it was definitely the most eye-catching with its Imola yellow paintwork.

Yes, it might have 75 hp more than the S3, but the way it goes about its business is completely different.

There is no waiting for a turbo to spool up here; just prod the accelerator and the brawny 340 hp 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 offers immediate response. Like the S3 and S8, the S4 is best enjoyed when the roads are clear and it is given a chance to stretch its legs.

None of these cars is meant to be driven at the ragged edge but they all felt sure-footed enough. Push harder and all you get is safe understeer.

After sampling the S3, S4 and S8 back-to-back over a period of five hours, I'm beginning to understand Audi's rationale behind these cars. Yes, there are faster cars out there for the money, and more fun-to-drive ones as well. But for those who have driven a two-litre A4 or an A8 3.2 and think the S4 and S8 driving experience is basically the same but with more power, I beg to differ.

Traction is never a problem as all S models are equipped with Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system. Braking systems have also been suitably upgraded, suspension fettled, and all the niceties you'll want in the cabin checked off on the options list. If you had to live with just one car on a daily basis, there is probably an Audi S model with your name on it.