Consumer Reports.....(8/92) "The new Audi 100 doesn't quite cut it. Among its several unpleasant idiosyncracies we found the erratic shifting and awkward shifter of the automatic transmission most irritating. The workings of some operating controls must be learned through experience and memorization rather than simple logic."

(8/94) (854T) "The Volvo outscored the BMW by a narrow margin, thanks mainly to it's spacious and comfortable rear seating and roomy trunk. Those may be deciding factors if you often carry passengers. The Volvo also has the fastest acceleration in this group."

CR actually liked Volvos until the last couple of years. In '95 they rated the 850 in second place "medium cars over $25,000".

BTW #1 was the Toyota Avalon....which is what your friend should actually buy.

-Groundhog