[s-cars] POLE: wonderful dilema, S4 or Ultrasport?

[Bill Noland]

Aaron, if you read your email, you make a very convincing argument for going 
with the A4 -- better mileage, newer, more reliable, cheaper to repair, wife 
won't care, blah, blah, blah. Take your own advice and get the newer A4. If 
you want to throw some money at it, it is very tunable, though I would bet, 
you end up leaving it alone (see, wife won't care above).   :-)

Though I too am a manual tranny fan, unlike some members of the list, I 
don't believe this is a matter of heredity. I think it is safe for you to 
have children with your manual tranny-challenged wife, but proper upbringing 
will be key, if you wish to avoid the embarrassment of similarly challenged 
children. On the other hand, manual transmissions may be strictly museum 
pieces, by the time they are old enough to drive.

After years of driving manual tranny cars, my wife decided that the allroad 
should be a tip. (She still drives manuals in our other cars, so she hasn't 
gone completely over the edge.) I've found, when I drive the car, that I 
seldom "manually" shift the tip -- it pretty much stays in auto mode.

Bill Noland
shifty in Oakland


> The time has finally come. I am once again in the market for a new (to me) 
> car and was wondering what the all-powerful list would have to say. So 
> with my first baby now on the way my has FINALLY decided to get rid of her 
> beloved (to her) Limited edition, Luna Green 02 Beetle GLS for something 
> with a few more doors and some room for a car seat and stroller. Thank 
> GOD! She will not drive a stick so automatic is the only option here. I 
> know, I know, How could I live, let alone marry and have children with 
> someone who will only drive an automatic? Well, luckily she has many other 
> fine qualities that make up for this character flaw. My dilemma now is 
> what to get. My choices as I have narrowed them down thus fare are either 
> a 2001/2 B4 S4 Avant with about 60-80k miles OR a 2004 A4 B5 1.8T 
> Ultrasport Avant with about 30-50k miles. With some recent research I 
> figure good examples of each could be had for around $16-18k.