Sounds like you've driven enough different cars to learn what you really prefer. I haven't followed this thread that closely though, so forgive me if you've already talked about it, but do you track your cars?
That's where I can see these handling characteristics being more pronounced. For daily road warrioring, I find a LOT of cars appealing, but if I were to track a car, I'd personally maybe want a more tail happy car. That's just me, though. I don't race, so I'm just blabbing on. I think I know how you feel about transverse front engine cars. Brother's a huge Audi nut and has multiple S variants. Although they DO handle beautifully, are agile and nimble, with lovely powerbands, I could see where you're coming from. My faster cars have all been front engine/rear wheel configurations like my CTS-V, which I personally prefer (for Southern driving that is). My Volvo is a champion on the snow where it lived most it's life, though. Transverse inline 6 if you can believe it. On dry roads, understeers like a mofo, but on a snow covered high altitude mountain road? That's where I could really rally it and kick out the tail on demand and whip it back straight as I pleased. That's where I believe Audis TRULY shine as well. Wet or snowy roads, they can absolutely rock and you feel like you're carving a windy mountain road like you're on rails. They're pretty damned impressive on those roads/conditions. Taking a highway cloverleaf at Mach 10, though? I'll take a Porsche, or a FR car any time. Fastest I've EVER experienced that was in a Porsche 911 Turbo with a salesman who I was working for (I used to work at a Porsche dealership). Absolutely blew my mind what that missile was capable of. Gives me goosebumps even thinking about that. What a car!
