So, it's political season here in Michigan (as it is just about everywhere else, I suppose) and I was taking some time out of my official duties to put up a few yard signs for my boss. A local farmer had agreed to let us put up a big one on the corner of his farm -- conveniently overlooking the Interstate -- and I was the one who was going to put it there. The farmer had given me very specific instructions on where to park ("between the big maple and the little white pine..."), where to walk ("make sure you stay on the winding path and not the one with the corn stubble..."), and where to put the sign ("line it up between the big post and the pile of hay, as you're looking towards the farm..."). Thinking his instructions needlessly detailed, I promptly forgot them.<p>It was raining -- as it had been all night -- when I pulled my '98 A4 1.8tq up to the farm. I found the corner that I thought would be the best location for the sign and looked for a spot to pull off the road. Vaguely remembering something about trees, I tried to do a quick u-turn to head for a flat hard-packed spot near a strand of what could have been maple trees. I ran out of road midway through my u-turn and didn't think twice about letting the car head off onto the shoulder to complete the turn. As soon as the front wheels left the pavement, they sunk to the hubs into what turned out to be slick, soupy mud. I stopped the car half-off/half-on the pavement. Because the car was basically out of the way of what little traffic might happen down the road, I left it, grabbed my sign stuff, and plodded through the mud to the great sign location.<p>When I got back to the car (I was completely covered in mud, but that's another story), a small crowd of local farmers had formed around my car. They wanted to see what kind of idiot could have managed to get his fancy foreign car stuck so badly in crap. One of the farmers had a Ford Behemoth truck, which he offered to use to help pull me to freedom. I shook them off. "I've got four-wheel drive," I told them, "this shouldn't be too much of a problem." They laughed out loud. As I made my preparations to get back into the car (I ripped up some signs to sit on...didn't want to get mud on my snazzy leatherette) I could see the wagers being made. The smart money was definitely on me staying stuck. The Behemoth driver went so far as to hunt around his cab for his tow rope, knowing for sure that I'd need it soon enough. <p>Imagine my total satisfaction when I started the car, engaged the clutch, and pulled myself up out of the muck with nary a chirp of protest from the tires. With a wave and a nod toward the farmers, I was off and on my way.... <p>God, I love this car.<p>Peter<p><p>

I have had many similar experiences in the heavy New England snowfalls we get, and often have to drive around stuck vehicles -- including BMWs. Sure, Bimmers are fun to drive, but quattros are a blast to drive all year round!<p>StevenN, '96 2.8 qm