The RS6 or the V8 Offroad?

[Roger M. Woodbury]

Well, all this is very exciting.  Now there are at least three candidates
for my next vehicle.  I really love my V8, but actually, some sort of wagon
is a much more versatile vehicle for me.  But to give up the grunt of the V8
would be difficult.  I am attracted to the following:

1.  I really am appealed to by the BMW X5.  I REALLY do not know why but I
am.  I have never (not yet) even sat in one, but it is a very interesting
vehicle from what I have read, and the option of putting down the rear seats
and gaining more room than in a conventional sedan with pretty good
performance for such a large sort of thing is interesting.

2.  All Road V8.  I am very appealed to by this vehicle.  The adjustable
ride height would be useful on occasion, as I need to be able to go onto
rough surfaces from time to time.  The downside is that I have NO idea who
will actually be able to service these things, especially as they age.  In
this state, there are three Audi dealers.  At the one that is closest to me,
you have to stumble across 470 Ford Focusses, 278 Taurusses and a partridge
in a pear tree before you get to the Audis.  At  the biggest dealership in
this state,  Audi is surrounded by Mazdas and Volkswagens and the occasional
Porsche, and my one experience with the service department there wasn't
encouraging.  The third dealership is VW/Audi/ Mazda and for the older Audis
has always been good, but they have never made the investment into the
necessary allignment equipment required by Audi to sell the A8, and I wonder
how much technician training they have paid for for the newer Audis coming
along.  The best that I can think of is that NO WAY would I buy a used one
of these things, so the only way tha tyou can possibly survive acquiring one
financially, is to lease it, and plan on seeing it gone when the warranty
and lease period ends. VERY expensive transportation that way, if you have
no legal way to write off the lease payments.

3.  Probably the most interesting new vehicle to me, is the new Volkswagen
"Cayenne" spin off.  I might get very excited about this vehicle, IF (and it
is a big, "IF") they import it with the new W10 TDI engine.  There is a VW
dealership in my town, so the thought of maintenance doesnt' require a three
hour trip one way, at least.  (then of course, later on, is the new Audi SUV
type thingy...and there is little indication about what that will REALLY be
like.).

My former favorite mechanic is the new Porsche specialist at the big tech
training school in Atlanta (United Technologies).  Thus the maintenance
prognosis for my two Audis is very much in question.  If Steve's business
continues, then I will not be concerned, but should it close, then I dunno
what is next....maybe horse and buggy!

Roger