We took the Q3 Audi back after testing it for just under 100 miles. It’s ok but as Chadbag wrote previously the smaller Audis are just glorified VW’s. The bigger Audi SUV’s are way more vehicle than either of us want. I think the current EV’s are just the beginning phase but there is better to come. I could get behind hydrogen but I doubt in 10 years it will even be where the EV is today.
I checked out in the showroom a couple different sedans and before I could tell Terry I had no interest she came up and said let’s stick to the SUV’s.
SNIP
But coming home from dinner out tonight Terry did ask if I wanted a pick up truck. Oh boy… I need to think on that!
The nice thing is we're all different. I much prefer a sedan or station wagon or hatchback. I have no use, myself, personally, for an SUV. Others prefer an SUV. That's the nice thing, we still have the options for all of these, though sedans and wagons are limited now to mostly the imports.
BTW, being glorified VWs doesn't mean I think they are bad. I love my Audi A3 hatchback (e-tron sportback PHEV). But it really is like driving one of my VWs but with EV capability and fancy leather inside. Older VWs were just as nice as my Audi. Newer VWs -- especially the American made models have been cheapened a lot -- our 2019 Jetta is nice inside [we have SEL Premium trim] but doesn't have the feel of my older VWs. Cheaper seats, dash, etc. But I wouldn't buy the Audi now as you pay a huge premium over the VW for not a lot of value besides the slightly better visual design. To me (personal opinion) the Audi is much nicer design than Mercedes or BMW -- more understated and cleaner. But you lose value on them quickly and they probably don't drive any better.
I've had VW almost exclusively in cars since 1988. All new except one. nnew 89 Golf in 1988. Used 88 Jetta in 93. (My Golf I took to Germany when I moved there and it was totaled in an autobahn pileup -- my last year I was there I drove a way old used Mazda GLC I bought for 750$ -- the 88 Jetta was when I returned to the US). 89 Jetta GT. 2006 Passat. Twin 2013 Jetta Sportwagen TDI. (Wife drove the automatic I drove the manual -- bought the same night). Buyout for dieselgate and we bough the Audi and a Volvo V60. Volvo was totaled in 2019 by an idiot not paying attention and we replaced with the 2019 Jetta. So, except for the short lived used Mazda in Germany, because it was cheap, and the Volvo, and two Dodge RAM trucks in parallel with the VWs its been all VW / VW Group (Audi)).
If you want an SUV you may want to check out the smaller Porsche SUV. Whatever they are called. Despite having the same underpinnings as the Audis I've heard they're much better, nicer, etc driving and handling. Of course they cost $$$. The Volvos are well regarded based on comments from friends or co-workers who have them.
On the truck side, I am excited by the Scout truck supposedly coming in 2027. I have the EREV version on "pre-reservation" -- we'll see what is finally released and at what price point but the announced price point is nice and the EReV version looks to be a great vehicle, It is an EV with a shorter range battery (175 miles supposedly) and a small engine that acts as a generator so that it will recharge your battery as you drive so that ou can get a 500+ mile range out of it and can extend that further with just a quick fill up. But most of us don't need that range except on occasional road trips so you get the advantage of almost all your daily driving with cheap EV power and still have the performance etc but have the long range. My Audi is 8.333 years old now and by then will be 11 and I will be looking for a new vehicle, most likely. So we'll see what actually happens and if they screw up teh Scout or not. They have an SUV and a truck version planned in both pure EV and EREV versions. Hopefully they don't screw it up with forced one pedal driving, subscription based features that should be normal features, and cloud based features that are important and normal features (no need for an Ocean debacle).
For me it's European, Asian, and then American. Scout is an American company but is owned by Volkswagen parent company. But it's US based and inspired by the IH Scout legacy so is probably more American than not. I'd never buy a GM, personally, and none of the other American makes has anything interesting or appealing to me. Especially now that they've more or less abandoned sedands and hatchbacks and wagons except for their sports car/muscle car lines. I really don't have much interest in Asian either but would buy a Mazda before any American car. My dad was a Honda man since the late 80s and I have his Fit he drove until he stopped driving (he has since passed on). My kids use it and its fine for that.
soapbox off