Interesting! Is it you or your wife who wants to go Volvo?

I'd stay with Subaru if I were you. I have a V70R AWD MY 2000, cost me 32000. CDN used at 80,000KM and I don't treat it like a drag racer, although I could if I were willing to burn out the clutch packs and bevel gear and turn the oil black. The all-wheel-drive in the 2000 performs wonderfully in cold, slippery and snowy weather here in Southern Ontario, but with the trouble I've had with some expensive things ( Marelli throttle module..remember this is a fly-by-wire car) being fixed, I'd up the budget and go newer Subaru if I were you. They're gradually getting their body design and interior design acts in gear,( in the view of the author, who has automotive design training) and thank goodness, their AWD pieces seem very robust. I'd go, if I were you with the advice of a private mechanic who advised a complaining VW owner.." I told you to buy Japanese!"

Hisself