Okay, so for much of this year I've struggled with the decision to: (1) Just maintain my car and enjoy it, taking on repairs in the event they occur at all (failure is *not* as inevitable as we make it seem around here); (2) Pony up for Stage III and preemptively squelch fears of turbo failure while simultaneously increasing the fun factor, or (3) Sell the car while its still marketable, and I don't have a ton of cash tied up in it, then buy something which offers an arguably more care free ownership experience ... but at the cost of not being all the Avant is (to me).

As I've grappled with this, and find myself constantly defending any notion of selling my car, the following analogy occured to me.

I see owning the MADWAGN as being a lot like having a long-term relationship with a great woman. She's a natural beauty: not a supermodel, but not a pig in makeup either. She's intelligent, athletic, and has a sense of humor (how could we not think that when personifying *any* Audi?). And she fvcks like a porn star ... without coming across as a slut.

But she has a propensity for getting into trouble too, and you just never know when she might go off the deep end ... costing you your love *and* money. This uncertainty looms, growing with each passing year. She might mature like a fine wine, getting better with age, or she could become a complete train wreck.

So now I'm at a cross-road of sorts, the point at which I either step up and make a long-term committment, realizing things will be just fine if I simply "pop the question" (stg 3), or accept that we've had a good run, cut my losses and move on.

It's not that this woman (B5 S4) couldn't be everything you'd want in a long-term partner. It's just that lately, as your concern grows about long-term viability, you find yourself noticing other, younger women more and more.

Moreover, awareness of the few flaws your lovely partner has is heightened as you've perhaps begun taking for granted what a good thing you've got.

Worse yet, you find yourself thinking about "wandering' more often; going beyond just looking at other women (new cars) to actually flirting (test drives) and even considering offers to stray (bargaining with sellers). All of this even though you know instictively the one you're with is really right for you and would likely treat you right for the remainder of your relationship, especially if you made that big step and committed to staying together indefinitely.

That said, the lure of something younger (newer) and different (not an Audi) is hard to resist. You treat your partner extremely well, but also likes teh ladies (cars). Hell, you wouldn't have a problem dating several chicks at the same time if you could get away with it (afford it).

You also worry that a major committment means this is the only person you'll be with for a very long time. Buying that ring (stg 3) is a defining moment, a finite action from which turning back would be difficult (costly).

So in the end, you could keep things going the way they are, tackling relationship issues as they come but never really committing to solidify things for fear she'll freak out. Or you could make the investment in your future with this great woman and hope it results in a happily-ever-after. Or ... you could take the chance that there's ultimately something better out there; maybe not be the girl-next-door-who-fvcks-like-a-porn-star like you have now, but someone who'll make a better mom when it comes time to have a family. ;-)

Had to get that off my chest. :D