[jprhodes]

I have a 330xi and love everything about the car but the suspension. The steering feel is poor -- the car feels disengaged -- and there is a significant lag in car response to steering input. As well, car rolls and floats in turns and floats on the highway. (All of this is in comparison to the A4 with 15" wheels and the 1.8T engine that I previously owned.) The BMW AWD does work well, though I think the Audi's is superior.

If you are really worried about the snow and really want a high performance sports sedan, get an A4. The Subaru is a great car in many respects but the turbo lag and lack of low end torque (test drive it if you don't believe me) take the pleasure out of everyday driving in my opinion. As well, while mechanically the Subaru is a great car, you get a lot of refinement, interior features, etc., in the BMW -- and you pay for them! -- that the Subaru, pure performance aside, does not offer.

Another option is to buy a BMW xi and to upgrade the suspension yourself, which is the path that I am going down. The problem with this approach is that the BMW is already more expensuive than the Audi and if you upgrade the suspension you're tacking another $1500-2000 on between parts and labor.

Maybe you should wait to see where you'll be living before buying a car. If I didn't have to worry about snow, I'd definitely get the BMW over the Audi and Subaru if you can afford it.