I go up to Syracuse a lot and the winters up there can be brutal. I could get by without AWD...but I would prefer not to.

After more research I seem to be down to STI, WRX, BMW 5 series, or Audi A6. Everyone has been bashing Audi's reliability but all the reviews list the A6 as one of the most dependable cares on the road. Maintenance costs will be higher on the BMW and Audi so I think the Suby's are in the lead. A Subaru Legacy could be an option as well... I like the look of the new WRX concepts. I will have to wait to see what the final version looks like for 2014.

I tend to get bored of cars fast. The only cars I didn't get bored of were the STi and the Cayman. I am worried that if I get a WRX I will get bored of it. I know it doesn't make sense considering I drive slow almost all the time. Where are you guys seeing that the WRX and STi put the same power down on a dyno? Just logically this doesn't make sense plus I don't see mention of it with a quick google search. The consensus on the Subaru forums (NAOSIC, iwsti.com) seem to be that the STi is worth it just for the 6 speed transmission and the brembo breaks, suspension, center diff control, etc are all bonus.