>Embarrassed to report that I drive a great land whale of complicated Bavarian machinery with an antisocial engine. 'Tis to transport our dog pack, or at least that's my excuse.

Now you peeked interest of my early biz life - dog pack hints at station wagon, but neither Audi A6 or BMW 5 station wagon are "whales". "Complicated Bavarian machinery" might fit Audi quattro 4wheelers, .a BMW 7 engine might also fit that description - 7 has no station wagon but begins to fall into "whales", unless it is one of the V12 in long version - then whale *does* fit and you could claim it as collectors item also if it was E or F series, as only very few were sold, Audi A8 exists as station wagon only as manual change from normal A8 and I would not guess you would order such a change just for pack of dogs ?

SUVs from both are not from Bavaria - although A6 is neither IIRC, but Neckarsulm is quite near to Bavarian Ingolstadt - and I don't know if they are built in China as well, which is much closer for shipping.

So what car are your dogs treated to ?