Audi's future

[Michael McLaughlin]

This whole discussion has made me think a fair amount about the 
eventual replacement of my car. I have a 1995 90 Sport Quattro, and am 
looking at replacing in within the next 12-18 months. My assumption all 
along was that another Audi would be an ideal replacement (probably a 
2001-ish S4 or A4 2.7T). However, now I'm starting to wonder about 
that.

 From what I gather on this list, Audis just aren't made like they used 
to be. And it seems that the biturbo V6 has some potential issues. I 
also gather that the newer V8s are great engines, but the manual 
transmission attached to it in the current S4 has issues of its own.

 From following this list and talking with some owners of newer VAG 
products, my Audi-replacement plan is up in the air. I'd love to have a 
newer, faster, nicer Audi, but am not sure that's the wisest course of 
action. I even find myself contemplating spending a fair amount of 
money to upgrade my current 90, but that has its downsides as well 
(foremost being there's probably no way in hell I could do an engine 
swap myself, and also sinking serious cash into a 10-year-old car). The 
VW R32 is appealing, but, being another VAG product, it concerns me. 
The new Volvo S40 has a lot of appeal, and with a five-cylinder 
turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive, it's very Audi-like.

So I don't know what to do. Any thoughts on your part would be 
appreciated.

-Mike