[FastCarFan]

We picked up my wife's new A4 Avant last night. I love it. It is perfect for our needs. We do not want an SUV, but we need to get a kid & all of his stuff to college, take family vacations, go skiing, carry bikes on the roof & transport Shelby the yellow Lab. The cargo area is on the small side, but we only have 1 child at home now & he goes off to college in a year, so it should be fine.

The car is gorgeous -- quartz gray metallic, S-line front fascia (part of a special edition they are offering to help move cars in the final model year for this style), good looking wheels, etc. We got the 2.0 direct-injection turbo & it provides plenty of power for my wife. I really think it is the best looking wagon on the market. Most importantly, my wife loves it! After all, it is her car.

I acknowledge the problems Jim & others have had, but also the enthusiasm many others have for Audis. I truly believe Jim got "a bad one", which I think can happen with any brand. I am hopeful that we got "a good one", which I think is far more likely. Plus we are leasing it so we will not be stuck with it if it turns out to be a lemon.

Thanks everyone for the advice.