How does one know when to buy a car? (kinda like trying to defend why your favorite color is the best). I just turned 22, and am driving the parents car. I make a a working professional, and make the income to match. I've been thinking about the A4 since around March and would buy one, but the current car works fine (the auto 87 camry doesnt quite do it for me...) and i dont know what the 2000 model will have in store (more options? new design? etc.) <p>I guess what Im asking is for all those people who have been in this situation before, buying a new car, what made you decide to go for it when you had a car that worked already? (saying that you needed a second car doesn't help me as it doesn't apply). Can anyone add some words of wisdom that could shed some light on the issue?<p>And please don't flame me for being stupid... :)<p>-Tony

...but there is no such thing as a stupid question.<p>First of all, ANY time is a bad time to buy a new car (same with computers). If it's just fresh, it is full of bugs as it has not been tested quite as thoroughly yet. If it's established, the new model is around the corner and you may be buying "outdated" stuff. And in the middle they are throwing in nice new features every year. So in this respect, get a bike or a bus pass.<p>Other than that, I can speak only for myself. When I was 13 and saw this brand new Audi Quattro (1981 coupe, back in Europe), I decided that one day I'd own one. Naturally life came a bit different, with school, college, etc. When I graduated from grad school last year I had this pretty decent 94 Accord, nothing wrong with it at all. But this past year has been treating me quite crappily, and so I decided to buy myself a b'day present for my 30th, to fulfil my long dream. In line with this year's crappiness, of course I lost my job two weeks after placing the order for a $35k car, but that way I could at least put quite some mileage onto it this summer :-) Now back in business, each time I drive to work I am glad that I did what I did, even though it was probably the most "stupid" and "irresponsible" thing of my life.<p>Did I need a new car? Hell no, less than you do. Would I rather have the 99.5 than 98.5 model? You bet, it has a cup holder! But will I enjoy my A4 less because of that? No way.<p>Just my $0.02...<p>- Stan<br><ul><li><a href="http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Travel/Yellowstone/index.html">My summer adventures in my new A4</a></li></ul>

Stan - I love your story! Did you find that you had enough room in your A4 for all you toy toting and fun? I love the A4, but feel like I need more room, and I DO NOT WANT THE AVANT. Therefore I am thinking of the SAAB 9-3 with a hatchback. What do you think?

Some time ago there was a thread on the amazing carrying capacity of the A4. Last Friday, I loaded a month's worth of groceries in the trunk of my A4. It wasn't quite as easy as loading them into my wife's Taurus wagon and did require a bit of forethought, but they all fit and there was nothing in the back seat. Bottom line, if you pack by throwing stuff in the rear, the Saab is better. If you pack by arranging stuff in the back, the Audi is great.<p>In terms of interior room, it's about the same as the Jetta (A2) GLI 16V 2.0 that I had before. The kids sometimes whine that they don't have enough legroom, but guess which car they want to drive when they get their licenses?<p>Quattro vs fwd: I understand that the fwd in the Saab is one of the very best for snow driving, maybe even 5-10% better than Audi fwd. But quattro is 100% better than Audi fwd. Absolutely no comparison.<p>Repairs: Yes, this is just empirical data, but the friends that I have who drive Saabs have very -err- regular relationships with their service facilities. I have yet to require any service beyond the 5k oil changes.<p>Remember, free advice is worth what you pay and all this is IMO!<p>Steve <br>1.8tqms

The A4 can indeed take some. My first rule of travel is: everything has to fit in the trunk. There is nothing on the back seats. This because usually during the trip one accumulates things or needs to store things quickly (rain), and so there has to be some extra space. So I always load until I reach trunk capacity.<p>This much said, on the trip I had with me:<p><ul><br><li>two camera bags, one of which is bigger than carryon luggage<br><li>two tripods<br><li>tent, sleeping bag, therma-rest mat<br><li>bag with clothes<br><li>box with cooking equipment<br><li>box with lots of film<br><li>4 gallon water container<br><li>two pairs of hiking boots<br><li>camping lantern<br><li>laptop computer with power-inverter and other equipment<br><li>some other goodies I can't think of anymore<br><li>10-dics CD changer is mounted in the trunk<br></ul><p>When I traveled with my girlfriend the same "trunk only" rule applied, of course making the allowed photo gear slightly less :-) The only time when I wished for an Avant was when I wanted to load my boxed 21" monitor or when it was raining and I just wanted to throw things into the car - kinda harder with a classic trunk.<p>- Stan<br>