Okay -

I am going to be buying a used Euro-wagon in the next month.

I had all but settled on a 1997 Volvo 850 GLT. I want reliability, performance, and safety in pretty much equal measures. (I'd really like to have a stick, too ... but can't get that in anything but the base model.)

But then ... I started to notice that the A6 Avant Quattro could be had at very similar used prices and in similar trim. Hmmmm ... I checked on the availability of a third-row seat (that is a deal-killer since we are replacing a 7-passenger minivan) ... and surprisingly enough the A6 has it as an option.

So ...

Tell me, Volvo enthusiasts ... (by the way, I am leaning Volvo!) ... why should I choose the 850 GLT over the A6? (and for the purposes of this discussion, we will ignore the fact that the Audi has AWD ... I *know* that I could have used a V70 AWD to compare instead, but I like the reliability odds better with the 850 than with the V70 (especially the AWD) from what I hear ... feel free to weigh-in on that as well.

Would love to hear any & all comments!