Why You Should Buy This Car

Loverman: It comes with one of the world's all time great OEM engines. It goes way, way faster than however fast stink actually goes. The handling is ridiculously precise, the brakes are even better than the handling and to an untrained eye, the driver of said vehicle picks up dry-cleaning for S-Class-owning studio bigwigs. You'll win a lot of street races in the RS4. For the money, no car comes close — save the Z06, but you look goofy in gold chains. But most of all, you should buy the RS4 because it makes you laugh and giggle and constantly shout, "OH MY GOD!!!"

Johnson: Many Bothan spies died to bring us this engine. Audi should offer a Fleshlight option in front of the engine simply so you can commune with it properly. Because trust me, you will feel the need. The brakes are heaven-sent. Clutch and gear lever action are good at speed. But mostly, you should buy it because it runs like a stripe-assed ape.

Why You Shouldn't Buy This Car

Johnson: Because the seats suck and it pushes during attempted donuts. Those two roughly cancel each other out. This car is specifically designed for hoonage, but it pretends to be everyday-livable. It excels at neither of these, although it goes very fast and sticks like properly-cured epoxy. Yet there are other cars I'd much rather have, regardless of price. Oh, and the mileage is Valdez-horrific.

Loverman: It works for OPEC. You like the people you make sit in the back. Sherman-tank ride quality might make you bite your tongue off. The stupid yellow idiot light blinks at you the whole time you have the traction/stability control switched off. Turning said traction/stability control off raises your monthly life-insurance premiums. You enjoy having a valid driver's license. You don't think $70,000 cars should look like $30,000 cars. You don't enjoy driving.

Suitability Parameters:

Speed Merchants: Yes
Fashion Victims: No
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: No
Tuner Crowd: Yes
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: Yes
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals:

Manufacturer: Audi
Model tested: RS4
Model year: 2007
Price as Tested: $69,585
Engine type: 4.2L DOHC Aluminum V8
Horsepower: 420 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque: 317lbs. ft. @ 3000 - 7000rpm
Redline: 8250 rpm
Wheels and Tires: 19" 7-spoke wheels w/ 255/35 Pirelli high performance tires
Drive type: AWD
0 - 60: 4.6
1/4 mile: 13.2 seconds @ 107mph
Fuel economy city/highway: 14/20mpg
Observed fuel economy city/highway: 11mpg

– Jonny Lieberman & Davey G. Johnson

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Audi RS4 — He Said Supercar, He Said 'Meh' Part 1; Part 2 [Internal]

Why you should buy this car: All that watching "Top Gear" has you believing British cars truly are the best in the world. You want a classy, fast, comfortable full-size luxury car that doesn't have an aftertaste of bratwurst.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: It's four cylinders short of over-the-top luxury. Ford hasn't exactly fixed Jaguar's questionable quality issues. It's still a little too retro.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: No
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: Yes
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: Yes (rich ones)
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Also Consider:
· Mercedes-Benz S600
· BMW 760Li
· Audi A8 W12

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Jaguar
· Model tested: XJ Super V8
· Model year: 2006
· Base Price: $91,330
· Price as Tested: $91,995
· Engine type: Supercharged 4.2-liter DOHC 32-valve V-8
· Horsepower: 400 hp @ 6100 rpm
· Torque: 413 ft.-lbs. @ 3500 rpm
· Transmission: 6-speed manumatic
· Curb Weight: 4001 lbs
· LxWxH: 205.3 x 76.5 x 57.3 in
· Wheelbase: 124.4 in
· Tires: P255/40ZR19 Pirelli PZero System
· Drive type: rear-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60 mph: 5.0 sec.
· Fuel economy city/highway: 17 / 24
· NHTSA crash test rating: not tested

[by Mike Austin]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Jaguar XJ Super V8, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: Because it's a taut, brilliantly executed roadster in the tradition of great British roadsters — well, not exactly in their tradition. Think of the romanticized, open-top road car of your dreams, not the one whose parts fly off when it gets breezy. Also because you're also well-heeled enough, or willing enough to subsist on Top Ramen for a decade out of love alone, to float the $10,000 premium (plus $1,000 gas-guzzler tax) over a base BMW Z4.

Why you should not buy this car: Because you think the Bangled design is better suited to a shopping mall in Leipzig than a roadster. Also, because you're way too into driving not to buy the coupe.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
· Porsche Boxster S
· Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG
· Honda S2000

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: BMW
· Model tested: M Roadster
· Model year: 2006
· Base Price: $51,300
· Price as Tested: $56,400
· Engine type: 3.2-liter DOHC 24-valve inline six with VANOS variable valve timing
· Horsepower: 343 hp @ 7900 rpm
· Torque: 269 ft.-lbs. @ 4900 rpm
· Redline: 8000 rpm
· Transmission: 6-speed manual
· Curb Weight: 3,273 lbs
· LxWxH: 160.4" 69.5" 50.8"
· Wheelbase: 98.3 in
· Tires: 225/45 ZR18 - 255/40 ZR18 Continental ContiSport Contact
· Drive type: rear-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60 mph: 4.8 sec.
· 1/4-mile: 13.6 seconds @ 105 mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 16 / 24
· NHTSA crash test rating: 4 /4 / 3 / 5

[by Mike Spinelli]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 BMW M Roadster, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: It's one of the most stylish, fast, and comfortable cars available on the market. And it's got more technology in it than the Space Shuttle.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: The A6 isn't nearly as fun to drive as the performance number or price tag would suggest. Also, for anybody that can't afford a $65,000 car, it's not worth a second mortgage.

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: No
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: Yes
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Also Consider:
· BMW 550i
· Mercedes-Benz E500
· Infiniti M45

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Audi
· Model tested: A6 4.2 Quattro
· Model year: 2006
· Base Price: $53,770
· Price as Tested: $64,640
· Engine type: 4.2-liter DOHC 40-valve V-8
· Horsepower: 335 hp @ 6600 rpm
· Torque: 310 ft.-lbs. @ 3500 rpm
· Transmission: 6-speed manumatic
· Curb Weight: 4145 lbs
· LxWxH: 193.5 x 79.2 x 57.4 in
· Wheelbase: 111.9 in
· Tires: P245/40R18 Continental ContiProContact
· Drive type: all-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60 mph: 6.0 sec.
· 1/4-mile: 14.5 sec. @ 98 mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 17 / 23
· NHTSA crash test rating: not tested

[by Mike Austin]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Audi A6 4.2 Quattro, Part 1; Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: It's exactly what the car you need, even though you think you need a midsize SUV. That, and you've had an attachment to Volkswagens ever since that weird guy who hung around your high school parking lot offered you a ride home in his microbus.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: You are single and lack the requisite number of mountain biking or kayaking racks and stickers to make a wagon look like anything less than a family truckster. Or, you're not really a fan of extra visits to the dealer service center.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: Yes
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
· Mazda 6 Sportwagon
· Subaru Legacy 2.5i Wagon
· Dodge Magnum SXT

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Volkswagen
· Model tested: Passat Wagon 2.0T
· Model year: 2007
· Base Price: $26,175
· Price as Tested: $26,805
· Engine type: Turbocharged 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline four
· Horsepower: 200 hp @ 5100 rpm
· Torque: 207 ft.-lbs. @ 1800 - 5000 rpm
· Transmission: 6-speed manumatic
· Curb Weight: 3512 lbs
· LxWxH: 188.0 x 71.7 x 59.7 in
· Wheelbase: 106.7 in
· Tires: P215/55R16 Continental ContiProContact
· Drive type: front-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60 mph: 7.5 sec.
· Fuel economy city/highway: 22 / 31
· NHTSA crash test rating: front: 4/4 (driver/passenger); side: no info; rollover: 4

[by Mike Austin]

Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Volkwagen Passat Wagon 2.0L, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: You always wanted a German performance sedan but care too much about what others think about you to get a BMW; you really like Audi but the wife won't let you get "that station wagon," also known as the A3.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: You've got a little too much "flava" to go with the automotive equivalent of a fine gray suit. After all, there are a lot of choices in this price segment.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Also Consider:
· Infiniti G35/G35x Sedan
· BMW 3-series
· Mercedes-Benz C-class

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Audi
· Model tested: A4 Sedan 3.2 Quattro S-line
· Model year: 2006
· Base Price: $34,840
· Price as Tested: $40,835
· Engine type: 3.2-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6
· Horsepower: 255 hp @ 6500 rpm
· Torque: 243 ft.-lbs. @ 3250 rpm
· Redline: 7000 rpm
· Transmission: 6-speed manual
· Curb Weight: 3649 lbs
· LxWxH: 180.6 x 69.8 x 56.2 in
· Wheelbase: 104.3 in
· Tires: P235/40R18
· Drive type: all-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60 mph: 6.5 sec.
· Fuel economy city/highway: 17 / 27
· NHTSA crash test rating: front 4/4 (driver/passenger); side: 5/4 (front/rear); rollover: 4

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: Audi A4 3.2 Quattro, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: Vee Dub's $25k cruise missile is the financially challenged pistonhead's Porsche. We're talking maximum bang for the buck (discounting the cramped MINI Cooper S and pricier, harder-riding Subaru WRX STi and Mitsubishi Evo). The GTI is also an ideal chariot for less adrenal enthusiasts with kids and an aversion to gas stations, who still like to fart around from time to time.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: VW's reputation for reliability disappeared about the same time luftballoon singer Nena declared "Denkst Du vielleicht grad' an mich" ("Back at base, bugs in the software"). Only time will tell if the new Golf has the ICBM-proof build the brand needs to reestablish the whole German-quality shtick.

Suitability Parameters
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: Yes
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: Yes
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: Yes
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Volkswagen
· Model tested: Golf GTI DSG
· Model year: '06
· Price as Tested: $23,880
· Engine type: 2.0-liter inline-4, fsi, intercooled turbo
· Horsepower: 200 hp @ 5100 - 6000 rpm
· Torque: 207 lb-ft @ 1800 - 5000 rpm
· Redline: 6500 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 17J X 17: alloy wheels, 225/45 R17W summer performance tires
· Drive type: front-wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 6.3 seconds
· 1/4 mile: 14.8 seconds
· Top speed: 130 mph (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 25 / 31
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not Rated

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews, 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Part 1; Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: When you were a penniless pre-pubescent pistonhead, a poster of a white Lamborghini Countach poster held pride of place on your bedroom wall, right next to the soft core porn shot of Cheryl Ladd in a bikini. Even though you eventually learned to see the Italian be-winged behemoth as a foul-handling, garish pimpmobile, you never got quite over the desire to nullify feelings of self-doubt by driving a Lambo (although Cheryl's recent appearance on NBC's "Las Vegas" has cured your onanistic affliction).

So now that you're made of money but still have to be somewhat careful (thank you first wife), buying a Gallardo (instead of a Murcielago) makes some kind of sense — even if the e-gear is e-gregious engineering and the brakes fade faster than your pre-teen's interest in Brittany Spears. In other words, the Gallardo is something you have to go through.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: Your left testicle isn't willing to sacrifice itself for the design, the cabin offers less of a sense of occasion than Caesar Chavez Day, there's not enough bottom-end grunt, the brakes fade, the e-gear ain't DSG, the Porsche Turbo exists, the Corvette Z06 exists, the Audi R8 is on its way and equivalently priced "pre-owned" F360s are out there (somewhere).

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: Yes
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Lamborghini
· Model tested: Gallardo SE
· Model year: '06
· Price as Tested: $194,850
· Engine type: 5.0-liter V-10, DOHC 40-valve aluminum
· Horsepower: 512 hp @ 8000 rpm
· Torque: 376 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
· Redline: 8100rpm
· Wheels and Tires: Pirelli P-Zeros 235/35 ZR 19 (front), 295/30 ZR 19 (rear)
· Drive type: AWD
· 0 - 60: 4 secs. (est.)
· 1/4 mile: 12 secs. (est.)
· Top speed: 195mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 9 / 15
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NA

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Review: 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo SE, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: The A3 has the world s best gearbox, and it isn t afraid to use it.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: $40k for a hatchback?

Suitability Parameters
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Audi
· Model tested: A3 3.2 quattro DSG
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $37,700
· Engine type: 3.2 liter V6 DOHC
· Horsepower: 250 hp @ 6300 rpm
· Torque: 236 lbs-ft @ 2800 -3200 rpm
· Redline: 6500 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 17-inch 5-spoke cast alloy wheels with 225/45 all-season tires
· Drive type: Haldex quattro all-wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 5.9 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 14.4 secs.
· Top speed: 130 mph (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 21 / 27
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NYR

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Audi A3 3.2 Quattro DSG Part 1 , Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: You love Mercedes! The big EZ makes you feel safe, secure, satisfied, loved, respected and admired. The sedan s four-wheel-drive let s you believe you don t have to pay for/install snow tires every year.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: You enjoy driving, perhaps more than you should.

Suitability Parameters
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: No
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Mercedes
· Model tested: E350 4Matic
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $52,300
· Engine type: 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6
· Horsepower: 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6
· Torque: 258 ft-lbs. @ 2400-5000 rpm
· Redline: 6000 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 225/55 HR 17 all-season
· Drive type: four-wheel-drive:
· 0 - 60: 6.9 secs.
· 1/4 mile: NA
· Top speed: 130 (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 18 /24
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: 4/5/5

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Mercedes E350 4Matic, Part 1

Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Mercedes E350 4Matic, Part 2

Why you should buy this car: The new M5 is a supremely capable corner carver with epic thrust available at the top of the rev range. It s as close as you ll get to a four-door Ferrari — at least until the Aston Rapide and Porsche Panamera blow into town.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: The gearbox blows.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals
· Manufacturer: BMW
· Model tested: M5
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $94,965
· Engine type: 5.0-liter DOHC 40-valve V10
· Horsepower: 500hp @ 7750 rpm
· Torque: 383 ft.-lbs. @ 6100 rpm
· Redline: 8250rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 255/40ZR-19 (front) 285/35ZR-19 (rear)
· Drive type: rear-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60: 4.5 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 12.8 secs. @ 119 mph
· Top speed: 155 (electronically limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 12/18
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NYR

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 BMW M5, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: You live in a world of snow, sleet, rain and loose gravel; you love BMW s, you don t have kids, you don t drive fast and you re never, ever going to sell your car.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: The 325ix may get you out of/through the muck, but it drives like an alcoholic after root canal surgery: slow and numb. Anyone who ponies-up forty-large for a fully-specced 3-Series sports wagon is also looking at the kind of cliff-face depreciation normally reserved for Ferraris and 12-cylinder luxo-barges. You have been warned.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals
· Manufacturer: BMW
· Model tested: 325xi Sports Wagon
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $43,140
· Engine type: 3.0-liter DOHC 24-valve inline six
· Horsepower: 215hp @ 6250 rpm
· Torque: 185 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm
· Redline: 7250 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: Bridgestone Turanza E42 205/55R-16
· Drive type: four-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60: 7.7 secs.
· 1/4 mile: NA
· Top speed: 130 mph (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 20/27
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NR

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 BMW 325ix Sport Wagon, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: The Cayman S is the world s safest, best handling sports car.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: The Cayman S is not quite sexy enough to win your heart and not nearly enough powerful enough to exploit its inherent capabilities. Corvette s significantly faster and identically priced (once options are factored in) Z06 and BMW s forthcoming M Roadster are worthy alternatives.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Porsche
· Model tested: Cayman S
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $69,910
· Engine type: 3.4-liter flat-6, aluminum block and heads
· Horsepower: 295hp @ 6250 rpm
· Torque: 250 ft. lbs. @ 4400 - 6000 rpm
· Redline: 7200 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2; F: 235/35ZR-19 (87Y), R: 265/35ZR-19 (94Y)
· Drive type: rear-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60: 5.1 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 13.4 secs. @ 105 mph
· Top speed: 171 mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 15/30
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NYR

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Porsche Cayman S, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: It s faster than a BMW 330i and looks sharp enough to draw blood.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: Driving a 300-horse sports sedan without adequate chassis control or progressive brake feel is like dating a bulimic supermodel.

Suitability Parameters
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Lexus
· Model tested: IS 350
· Model year: 06
· Price as Tested: $35,440
· Engine type: 3.5-liter V6 DOHC 24 valve, VVT-i
· Horsepower: 306hp @ 6400 rpm
· Torque: 277 ft.-lbs. @ 4800 rpm
· Redline: 6600 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 17 X 8 aluminum alloys, [optional] Michelin Pilot Sport 225/40YR18 (front) 255/40YR18 (rear)
· Drive type: rear wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 5.3 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 14.2 secs.
· Top speed: 142mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 21/28
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: NR

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Lexus IS 350, Part 1; Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: You're committed to buying a great-handling $30,000+ sports sedan, but the BMW 3-Series is too much money and the Subaru WRX STi is too much car. Being behind doors as thick as a bank vault's keeps your panic attacks at bay.

Why you shouldn't buy this car: Being behind doors as thick as a bank vault's has the reverse effect of causing panic attacks. Swedish design makes you shudder in your Stride Rites and $33,000 cars on Ford small-car platforms make your accountant shudder in his Bass loafers.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: No
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals
· Manufacturer: Volvo
· Model tested: S40 T5 AWD M
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $33,720
· Engine type: 2.5-liter, five-cylinder turbocharged, DOHC
· Horsepower: 218 hp @ 5000 rpm
· Torque: 236 lb-ft @ 1500 - 4800 rpm
· Redline: 6500 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: Michelin Pilot MXM4 P205/50 VR17
· Drive type: all wheel drive
· 0 - 60: 6.5 sec
· 1/4 mile: 15.2 sec @ 93.0 mph
· Top speed: 149 mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 22 / 31
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: drvr. 4; pass. 5 / drvr. 5 pass. 5/ 4

[by Mike Spinelli]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Volvo S40 T5 AWD, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: Because you re not a getaway driver, but you d sure as Hell like to be.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: Once you get on the 911 ownership express, you can t get off. Don t get me wrong: sexually, you re still good. I mean there s nothing else on four-wheels worth buying — except more expensive variants: C4S, Turbo, Turbo S. And then they re-engineer the model and it starts all over again. The C4 may not be dangerous, but it s a dangerous addiction.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: Yes
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: Yes
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Porsche
· Model tested: 911 C4 (997)
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $77,100
· Engine type: 3.6-liter DOHC 24-valve flat-6
· Horsepower: 325 hp @ 6100rpm
· Torque: 273 ft.-lbs. @ 2750 rpm
· Redline: NA
· Wheels and Tires: Pirelli 295/35ZR-18
· Drive type: all-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60: 5.2 secs.
· 1/4 mile: 12.9 secs
· Top speed: 174 mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: 13/27
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not tested

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Porsche Carrera 4, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]

Why you should buy this car: Audi makes the world s best car interiors. The A4 Avant is an Audi. Ingolstadt s mini-hauler offers fit and finish fetishists an unparalleled opportunity to satisfy the strange demands of their incurable affliction. Even drivers who couldn t care less that all the car s switches respond with the exact same click will be swept-up by the Avant s aesthetic consonance and haptic happenings. Beware: the car s ergonomics will preclude full enjoyment of any other brand s interior, save Brother Bentley.

Why you shouldn t buy this car: Because you re an American who [quite rightly] believes that station wagons should be larger than a breadbasket. Also, like the rest of the Audi lineup, the A4 Avant is shadowed by serious questions about its R&R: resale and reliability. For the same money, you can buy yourself a dynamically superior, more financially prudent BMW.

Suitability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: No
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: Yes
· Hairdressers: Yes
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: Yes

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Audi Avant A4 2.0T Quattro
· Model tested: A4 Avant 2.0T Quattro
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested:
· Engine type: Turbocharged DOHC inline 2.0 liter 4-cylinder with FSI Direct Injection, variable valve timing and intake manifold
· Horsepower: 200 hp @ 5100 - 6000 rpm
· Torque: 207 lb-ft @ 1800 - 5000 rpm
· Redline: 6850 rpm
· Wheels and Tires: 16-inch 5-spoke grooved design cast alloy wheels with 215/55 all-season tires
· Drive type: Turbocharged DOHC inline 2.0 liter 4-cylinder with FSI Direct Injection, variable valve timing and intake manifold
· 0 - 60: 7.4 seconds
· 1/4 mile: 15.5 sec @ 92 mph
· Top speed: 130 mph (limited)
· Fuel economy city/highway: 22/31
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: 4/NA/NA

[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 A4 Avant 2.0T Quattro, Part 1, Part 2

Why you shouldn t buy this car: Because you don t have enough money.

Why you should buy this car: The Bentley Continental Flying Spur could well be the world s finest automobile. Although the Phaeton-based uber-sedan is not a participant in the luxury car gadgetry sweepstakes, nobody does the basics better.

The Spur goes like Moet at an upper class hen party, stops on a hatchback, turns like a Duchess glimpsing a working man s butt cleavage and offers a perfect shelter from the slings and arrows of outrageous capital gains tax. The floss factor is high, but the thoroughness of the car s engineering and the driving satisfaction it engenders earns the Flying Spur its right to be envied — for a long time to come.

Sutability Parameters:
· Speed Merchants: Yes
· Fashion Victims: Yes
· Treehuggers: No
· Mack Daddies: No
· Tuner Crowd: No
· Hairdressers: No
· Penny Pinchers: No
· Euro Snobs: Yes
· Working Stiffs: No
· Technogeeks: No
· Poseurs: Yes
· Soccer Moms: No
· Nascar Dads: No
· Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals:
· Manufacturer: Volkswagen — I mean, Bentley Motors
· Model tested: Continental Flying Spur
· Model year: 2006
· Price as Tested: $171,285
· Engine type: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve 6.0-liter W-12, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
· Horsepower: 551hp @ 6100 rpm
· Torque: 479 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
· Redline: Seems a bit irrelevant really
· Wheels and Tires: 275/40 R19 Pirelli or Michelin
· Drive type: Four-wheel-drive
· 0 - 60: 4.9 seconds
· 1/4 mile: NA
· Top speed: 208mph
· Fuel economy city/highway: don t ask, don t tell (10/18)
· NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: Not tested (they can t afford it)
[by Robert Farago]

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Part 1; Part 2 [internal]

Why you shouldn't buy this car: What the hell does a corporate lion like you need with a car that has to be driven? Mercedes-Benz's new 7G-TRONIC promises to shift circles around the Quattroporte's DuoSelect robotic manual — making the new S-Class much more palatable for sitting in Los Angeles traffic and yelling, "Make it happen, or I'll carve your ass into sashimi," into a cellphone headset. Plus, for the average CEO, the Quattroporte is far, far too stylish — just imagine him arriving at the club with a silk Gucci scarf tucked into his Bill Blass Premium golf shirt. And, dare we say it, the new Maseratis' reliability is still unproven.

Why you should buy this car: You don't need to work (anymore), your wife looks like Benedetta Massola, you hate golf, you'd have no problem ordering Campari at a South Texas roadhouse, you love to drive, and you hear the music of the spheres in the roar of a high-compression V8.

Suitability Parameters:
Speed Merchants: Yes
Fashion Victims: Yes
Treehuggers: No
Mack Daddies: Yes
Tuner Crowd: No
Hairdressers: No
Penny Pinchers: No
Euro Snobs: Yes
Working Stiffs: No
Technogeeks: No
Poseurs: No
Soccer Moms: No
Nascar Dads: No
Golfing Grandparents: No

Vitals:
Manufacturer: Maserati
Model tested: Maserati Quattroporte
Model year: 2005
Base price: $95,500
Engine type: 4.3-liter V8, aluminum block/heads, 16-valves
Horsepower (Sae Net): 395 hp @ 7000 rpm
Torque (Sae Net): 333 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Redline: 7500 rpm
Wheels: f: 19 x 8.5, r: 19 x 10.5 cast alum
Tires: f: 245/40ZR19 98Y, r: 285/35ZR19 99Y Pirelli P Zero Rosso
Drive type: RWD
0 - 60: 5.1 secs.
Top speed: 165 mph
Fuel economy city/highway: 12 / 15 mpg
NHTSA crash test rating front/side/rollover: na

Related:
Jalopnik Reviews: 2005 Maserati Quattroporte, Part 1, Part 2 [internal]