Haven't you been hankering after one of those since your UK trip years ago?
They're beautiful cars and have been on my wish list for a couple of years, ever since my D-I-L in Scotland got her A4. The sad thing is that I don't drive enough to warrant spending that much on a new car. I doubt that I drive 5K miles a year these days and those 5K miles are spread out over 3 vehicles.
I have always liked Audi vehicles, but yes, I did drive an A4 TDI around Wales & Scotland a few years ago and loved it. It was the perfect size for the narrow roads of Wales and had the perfect suspension for the winding mountain roads of Scotland.
Melen earned the right to take the VW Jetta to college. She just started her Sophomore year at the end of August, but due to summer studies, she is now classified as a Junior. Does not have a perfect GPA anymore, but still has very high grades. I have been driving her Jetta around town and loving it, and I would have been happy with an Audi A4, but the lovely Mrs_Bob wanted a somewhat larger sedan in the family as we often have 3 to 4 adults in a car so the backseat leg room was actually an issue to consider.
Oh, and with my middle-aged body firmly in place, getting out of the low seating position of the Jetta TDI at then end of a long day often requires me pulling myself up to get out. So a car with a somewhat higher seating position might come in handy about this time in my life.
Honestly I seriously considered the Toyota Avalon for its rear seat, its semi-sexy lines, but lack of all wheel drive eliminated it from consideration. Clearly I do not live in heavy snow country, but we get a lot of modest snows that make the roads slick in the winter, final cut list was Audi A6, Jaguar XF AWD, MB E250 4 Matic, BMW 5-series iDrive w/diesel.
The Audi and the Jaguar are both beautiful cars, in very different ways. The Jaguar has the nicest interior of the 4 vehicles by a mile. I simply question the reliability of the Jaguar and its AWD system, although adapted from Land Rover, is brand new. The MB E250 has a proven reliable/economical diesel that is more economical than the A6, but the A6 is plenty economical and will blow the E250 off the roadway in a race. The MB E250 also has a pretty boring interior and the exterior, especially the front end and its new sport look, appears to be trying too hard. That leaves the BMW 5 series. Good looking outside, good looking inside, probably 2nd nicest interior. iDrive is supposed to be only so-so in the snow based on folks I know personally who have driven/drive them locally. Like the A6, BMW has a diesel that is both economical and is also quick.
Honestly the sleek German lines of the Audi, the fancy electronics and the understated but beautiful interior, combined with 38mpg, and a 0-60mhp time of 5.5 seconds is a great combination. So for me, winner = A6 TDI
Oh and the Ash woodwork is simply amazing