After 20 years behind the wheel of various VW models, I finally decided to "graduate" to an Audi. I just got a 2006 A4 quattro, tiptronic. The look, feel, and performance of the A4 is second to none in its class. I test drove a Saab 9-3, Mercedes C-280, Volvo S60, the new Passat (which looks like a toyota), and Jaxuar X-Type, and the Audi was the most fun to drive and the best looking of the lot. The interior of the A4 is so refined and well-crafted; there's no turbo lag, and the car handles great around corners. Finally, the A4 won a silver medal in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for off-set front end and side impact tests. Mercedes and Volvo, the mainstays of automotive safety, were not among the winners. So, if safety is a concern, the A4 is the way to go. My only criticism is I find the suspension a bit stiff; I really feel the bumps, and here in NYC, there are a lot of them. Nevertheless, if you like superior German engineering and stunning good looks, at a competitive price, the A4 is the way to go.