Kinda have to agree about hanging on to the Contour.
I really thought that I'd like the Subie WRX, but with just a 2.0 turbo, If you tried to drive it agressively and mashed the loud pedal, nothing happened until the turbo spooled up and then pushed you into the back of the seat and then it was time to shift again.
I didn't have enough patience for a car with that much turbo lag. Perhaps it's gotten better since then and I understand the larger displacement 2.5 liters don't feel so boggy. I'm sure one could learn to be smooth with it and adjust for the oncoming turbo spool up, but it just wasn't for me.
Also, the maintenance woes (mainly having to do with suspension and alignment) from a lot of owners of the '98-99 A4 2.8 Quattro scared me away from them.
I really thought that I'd like the Subie WRX, but with just a 2.0 turbo, If you tried to drive it agressively and mashed the loud pedal, nothing happened until the turbo spooled up and then pushed you into the back of the seat and then it was time to shift again.
I didn't have enough patience for a car with that much turbo lag. Perhaps it's gotten better since then and I understand the larger displacement 2.5 liters don't feel so boggy. I'm sure one could learn to be smooth with it and adjust for the oncoming turbo spool up, but it just wasn't for me.
Also, the maintenance woes (mainly having to do with suspension and alignment) from a lot of owners of the '98-99 A4 2.8 Quattro scared me away from them.