[Marshall Placid]

AWD cars, be it Quattro from Audi, 4matic by Merc, Symmetrical AWD by Subaru, etc... are usually $2,500 to $3,000 more.

That is the cost plus a slight markup for the manufacturer to sell to consumers.

So, the question is whether the extra $2,500 to $3,000 is worth it.

Vancouver rains, a lot.

The AWD system will help you during slippery conditions, and not just for snow.

IMHO, I would say you should go for the AWD cars.

For me, the AWD in the Audi's I've previously owned saved me from quite a few "slippery" situations that could have turned into my car hitting concrete barriers (no joke).

It's a good time to go for a B8 A4 because the B9 A4 will show up late this year or early next year in Vancouver, so the price for a B8 will be that much more negotiable.