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HOWEVER, I am biding my time and waiting for something to break, as I've been warned a million times.
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Bide your time long enough until you really get the use of the Quattro System. . .you'll never go back to anything else and the minor breakages that happen with ANY car will pale in comparison to the amazing stability a Quattro offers :)

I'm not too worried with Audi maintanance since most parts marry with VW parts... unlike Porsche to a large extent.

However, from a guy who "learned cars" on a 77 Chevy Malibu (where I could almost literally step under the hood and work on the engine), it is pretty daunting under the hood, to say the least.

There was more steel in that Chevy then in 100 new cars!

OK, as one who drives and deals with all of these cars mentioned every day, here's my 2 cents: (putting on my professional car dealer hat)

- if you appreciate handling/power and like to feel the road, go for German (Practical: Audi A6, Fun: BMW 328i 5-speed) Mercedes can be disappointing, although we just got a 2003 CLK 55AMG in, and it was beyond even Mercedes in quality, craftsmanship and thrill meter - a fluke for MB these days. Mercedes people are often very full of themselves and too serious, Bimmer people are fun and don't take themselves too seriously. When things break on a Bimmer or an Audi, it's usually major, you take it in, get it fixed and that's it. When things break on a Mercedes, they are little things. But all the trips back to the dealer gives you the feeling as though you are being pecked to death by chickens.

- if you want something that "drives itself" with an easy feel of the suspension and handling (cloud feel) then Acura and Lexus can't be beat. Resale is EXCELLENT. Style and "eye" are impressive.

- Foreign SUV: Hands Down, the Acura MDX with Touring is tops for handling, comfort, room, style. It replaced my obsession with the X5 (which, by the way is AWESOME, but the MDX has more cargo room and is much easier on gas, plus lots of cupholders that actually work). Power not as good as X5, but there's no choice in engine as with the X5. Lexus RX-300 is nice, but not "exciting." Mercedes ML320/430 is a major disappointment for that kind of class of vehicle (handles like a Blazer), sucks gas like a Mack Truck.

- Yukon Denali: Well, I took mine out on the beach this past summer. The Hummer behind me got stuck, my Yukon did not. Great for excessive room, major disappointment after your husband just took "your" MDX to the auction. Like driving a bus.

-American SUVs - Nyet

- Hondas: AWESOME, all around, but the resale market is very soft...too many out there right now. Don't trade yours in for a while or you'll take a bath. Good, practical, reliable. C+ on excitement. A+ on reliablity.

Toyotas: Awesome, good resale and reliability...a little more exciting than a Honda (and just a tad nicer in comfort/plushness/eye appeal).

Volvo - I'm biased, love 'em, great resale, if I had to pick what kind of car to be in an accident in, it's in the Top 5.

Audi - I am *really* biased. Audi Quattro, Audi Quattro, Audi Quattro. Snow and ice? Walks through it like it's a piece of cake-up hills and down hills. Hydroplaining is next to impossible in one. Very comfortable to drive, but lots of giddy-up (in the 2.6L +, the 1.8 turbos are weak...spend the extra three grand and get the 2.6). VERY safe in an accident (recently saw a new Jeep Grand Cherokee rear end a new Audi 2.7 at about 40 mph - Jeep people were lifeflighted, Audi lady got out of the car with some whiplash. Jeep totalled, Audi $25K in damage, but not enough to total it.)

Porsche - can you spell VW?

If I had to "own" an American car, it would be the Lincoln LS or Oldsmobile Intrigue. Chrysler 300M is a distant 3rd. Everything else is rickety, squeaky, rattly, feel like you are going down the road on a skateboard. I used to be major Pro-American Car person, until I really got to "experience" just about every make, model and year of other cars out there. By far, the German cars feel the most solid.

As far as things breaking, I don't care if it's new or used - there are over 5000 moving parts in a vehicle. Things break. Your dishwasher breaks, your computer breaks, your cell phone breaks. That's what warranties are for. Now, as far as service goes, the service department in every dealership is different. It's the people running it, not the manufacturer. While this should be a reflection on the manufacturer, realistically, it can't be. There can be a fantastic sales dept and crappy service, or vice versa - it's how the dealership is run individually. It's not realistic to be angry with Mr. BMW or Mr. Toyota because the service department kept your car for an extra few hours. Unfortunately, I think this survey does reflect a lot of the non-critical complaints people make about their cars.

amazing stability a Quattro offers

You said it, the first month I had my car I was up in CT and got caught in a blizzard. That car was on rails. My only fear was that others seeing me speed along would think road conditions were safe and rear end me when they were unable to stop.