Originally Posted by Jim B.

VWBuge,

Before you do anything -

You ought to look at the 2008 Subaru Outback L.L. Bean edition. It is their top of the line model. I just saw one of them at the SF International Motor Show and could not believe my eyes!!!

You can get a six with 245 hp now (That is even more than my 17 year old 560SEC has!)
Leather and wood inside of the Bean edition, kickin' audio, Bilstein Sport suspension, Sat Nav, take a look at one in Blue Mica and you'd swoon. It looks absolutely beautiful. Yet it still has a distinct unmistakeable resemblance to a Subaru of 10 years ago. But it is definately in luxury territory now. I was utterly astonished.
(Of course the asking price on the Bean is over $30k, too. But I think you would be really getting something for your money)

The reliability is 3rd on the charts now, after Honda and Toyota, I think I read somewhere. That is pretty good for a "niche" car that has a pretty big niche now, and some really good Motorsports experience. They have sure come a long way from the Justy days of the 1980's. l

I could not believe it. I never mention it much around here but I have one of those old Outback wagons, and it is not very flashy or charismatic (it is a '95 with the 2.2 litre Boxer motor, but it is anvil reliable, at 122,000 miles. Just goes and goes and goes. Never needs anything. Just does its job. I can depend on it in the occasional snow around here, and many of the dwellers think the same, as they sell like wildfire in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada around here, and are pretty much the Staff Car for Lake Tahoe residents..

Makes pretty polite sounds at the gas pumps, too, though you never get blazing accelleration. I suspect the '08 LL Bean would be a different story though.

I saw those Audis too, at the car show. In my opiinion, they are ahead of the rest of the pack as far as style. Slick, modern, high tech and beautiful.
The A6 and S8 are gorgeous.

For a short term leasing situation, or solution, I bet they would work just beautifully. I don't like that MMI inerface of whatever you call it though.