[s-cars] Summary: Replacement car for urS4

[Wayne Dohnal]

Last month I asked the group for replacement car suggestions as my urS4 is 
showing more and more signs of old age.  I appreciate all of the good 
suggestions.  I've had the urS4 a bit over 10 years.  When people ask me 
what I think of it, I say it's a great car, the most comfortable I've ever 
had, but needs a lot of attention to keep it going.  Over that 10 years both 
the car and I got 10 years older, it needs more attention, and I have less 
energy to give it.  I would like to replace the urS4 with a large sedan, 
AWD, no stupid automatic (DSG or CVT might be ok), and a diesel engine. 
Right now no such configuration appears to be available  for the USA market. 
For the short term, I'll try to keep the urS4 going until somebody builds or 
imports what I want.  Here's a summary of the feedback:

1. Get a Subaru.  By far the most frequent suggestion and I would already 
have gone this way if Subaru would sell their diesel in the USA.  We had a 
'95 Legacy for over 10 years.  It ran and handled great but didn't come 
close to the comfort of the urS4.  Over the 10 years it needed less new 
parts that the urS4 needed every year.  The 4EAT auto was so stupid on hills 
that I often found myself cursing it out loud.

2. Look at the new A4, they're as big as the urS4.  I didn't know that and 
would love to go that way.  Trouble is that a new one is beyond my budget. 
When I punched up certified used A4s, every single one was an automatic!  I 
just don't get it....

3. Look at a ~2004 Passat 4motion.  Good suggestion and I should keep my 
eyes out for one.  They're pretty rare.  Closest one I've found so far is 
700 miles away.

4. Look at the Golf R.  Didn't know about this one either.  Looks good but I 
want something larger.

5. Spend a few thousand to fix up the urS4.   A valid suggestion but at over 
200k miles, I'm reluctant to put that much money into it.

6. Look for a lower mileage urS4.

7. Keep the usS4 as the winter car and get an additional summer car.  If it 
were my only car that would be a great move, but I currently have 4 vehicles 
to maintain, buy insurance for, etc., and don't want to increase that.

Right now my list is to wait for:  1) Subaru diesel, 2) 4motion added to 
2012 Passat, 3) find a reasonable ~2004 Passat 4motion or low mileage urS4.

Wayne
1994 S4