Surely it depends on how and where you drive? I didn't opt for the quattro because I spend most of my time in London but hit the motorways now and again with only an occasional country blast. I clearly wouldn't push it in the wet like you could a quattro, but it's such a small part of my driving it doesn't matter. If I lived in the sticks I would have opted quattro. There a slight performance advantage in a straight line in the dry over the quattro as well as better economy.
I find the handling is decent enough with the multi-link suspension even with just front wheel drive. I'm opting for a remap in the mid-range which should up mine to about 220 with a bit more torque at lower revs (will uprate the diverter valve too). That's as much as I would want to put through front wheel drive.
Styling-wise I prefer the B6 over the B5 and (dare I say it) the B7. I think the B6 evolved into a very accomplished design, whereas I find the B7 a bit over-engineered. The interior is much more modern than the B5 without being over-fussy. But then I would say that!
agreed - fwd is plenty for most of the time... only time it really comes into it's own is accellerating out of short A-road onramps into 50mph traffic (especially in standing water!), which I have to do quite a lot (yes, in London!)... after that: snow! But then you'd probably be better off with £400 spent on winter tyres than £1k extra on quatttro: then you can have a lighter car, save money on the FWD on petrol most of the time and on your insrance excess in cold weather and snow.
Just my opinion (on the saloons, in particular):
B5 = light, nimble, pretty on the outside, but getter a bit dated on the inside.
B6 = a step change: safer and more solid, fantastic front styling, debatable rear on teh saloon and a pretty special interior (especially in leather + brushed metal trim!)
B7 = same chassis, etc, so not much difference: I like the 2.0 and 3.0TDI, rear stylign is better but really don't like the front styling though
B8 = another incremental improment on the B6, much more acceptable styling... only thing not to like is the price ATM
Just depends on wether I can splash out for an A5 Sportback or "settle" for a B8.... 3.0TDI probably