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or . . .

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My quick, opinionated comparo:

Power: W8 (by about 60hp)
Transmission: W8 (six speed standard)
AWD: H6 (VDC better, lighter than Haldex)
Interior: W8 (GPS, anyone?)
Acceleration: W8 (should be by a lot)
Price: H6 (by about $5000 less)

There aren't many 8 cylinder wagons on the market - at any price. The W8's power looks to make it an easy choice over the H6 VDC.

Actually, the Passat uses the Torsen based Quattro all wheel drive system, not the Haldex system, so it should actually be marginally better than the Subaru's awd.

I'd take the W8 just so it's so damn cool, but the H6 is really in a different class, given its considerably lower price.

And for just a paltry extra $6000 over the W8, you can get the Audi S4 Avant (http://www.edmunds.com/roadtests/spinaroundtown/2001/audi/s4/45411/index.html?id=hprdt01avantB) .

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Edmunds article mentions the WRX no less than 3 separate times in the review. The WRX is almost $20,000 less expensive. Amazing.

Yeah, but I'd take the W8 over the S4. More bang for the buck, as you have stated before.

Now, the RS4 on the other hand . . .

WRXRob - according to the article on vortex, the W8 will use the Haldex system. Did they get it wrong?

IMHO, I don't think that the difference between $32,000 and $37,000 is enough to consider the cars in separate price classes.

For example, I consider the VDC and S4 ($32k vs. $43k) are in separate classes.

MMmmmm . . . RS4 . . .

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To quote a silly TV commercial: File that one under never.

Might as well hope for the M5 Touring to make it over to the U.S. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

I would be shocked if the W8 can actually be had for $37k. The VDC can be had for $29.5k. I do think they're in different classes since the price differential will be close to $10k. The VDC competitor is the V6 Passat 4Motion. I think the VDC beats the Passat V6 handily and cheaper too! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

good luck finding an S4 avant..i searched for one instead of the 'mir to no avail..i was too impatient to order and stand around waiting forever to have it arive to me http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Did you know the resell value on the Audi is typically really bad? After only a few years many Audi models are worth virtually nothing. I never understood why; I always thought they were great cars.

Hey, how does 273 ft-lbs of naturally aspirated torque at less than 2,800 rpm sound??? That's probably 3 times the torque from a 2.5 H4 at that speed. And a turboed WRX is barely starting to spool up. Sweeeet!

I think the VW is fugly. The tails are hideous and the headlights look ridiculous. The S4 on the other had is automotive artwork. I'd take the Outback over the VW and the S4 over both if I could get the cash.