Terrible, terrifying and yet tremendous

"I could drive it to the moon and back and run over everything on the way," says Tom Exton about his Brabus Mercedes G500 4x42, also known as the G500 Squared. I don't doubt it. In addition to the 'regular' Squared's gains over the standard G500 (more than twice the ground clearance, thanks to the fitment of portal axles, a wider body, deeper wading capability, larger 22in wheels and steeper approach and departure angles), its Brabus-tweaked bi-turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8 produces 493bhp, up from 416bhp.

- JOHN EVANS

Not that Tom claims to care much about any of this. Instead, for him, that it can conquer almost any terrain is sufficient reason to own it: "You can drive up and down flights of stairs, through lakes and all sorts of useful stuff- although I've yet to experience any of that driving around Wimbledon Common."

He bought his G-Wagen almost three years ago but, despite its ability to go anywhere, has covered just 1000 miles: "It's atrocious to drive and not something you want to do long drives in. The steering doesn't really do anything and you're never sure where the corners are; you're just up there guessing.