Many test drives, restricting list to cars availaable in the US:
Diamante - yech! There was a 270ps (?) 3ltr here - 'orrible it was!
Volvo 850 T5 - torque steerus maximus - actually I tested it twice, first time dry and I thought OK, so did it again - it started raining luckily, the dealer drove it back!
Saab 9-5 - how could a lower powered car be this torque steery!
Audi A4 1.8T - too cramped, horrible pedals, slow, expensive.
BMW 5 series: not bad, but that tiny interior and trunk in that size car for that price - pllleease!
Considerations: seat 4 comfortably, reasonable trunk size, good safety, functionality, good enough as is (ie not much modding required
). Manual tranny and AWD was not a 100% pre-condition for me - but I ended up taking that route!
Now when is the Jag X-typeR coming out...and where's my lottery cheque?
Cheers.