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As the years have passed, we find that the eyes went first, hearing second,memory third, and just about everything else finished in a dead heat forfourth.

So physically we have difficulty jumping on bandwagons anymore, such as theone most media are lining up for as the Audi A6 sedan passes by.

The car is even among the finalists for ’98 North American Car of the Yearhonors along with the Chevrolet Corvette and Lexus GS300/400.

Since Audi added models beginning with the letter A (A4, A6, A8), theGerman automaker has been on solid footing on U.S. soil after having beenmired, up to its nostrils, in the swamp when news broke in the ’80s that a fewAudi 5000s tended to accelerate on their own without warning.

The charge was never proven, and the government dismissed the hysteria,saying cars head forward when those driving press the accelerator rather thanthe brake.

Still, Audi suffered, but never gave up and has made a strong comeback inthis country with well-built A sedans in front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-driveQuattro form.

But just as Audi got itself in trouble by putting the accelerator pedal tooclose to the brake–so those less nimble of foot would press both–so, too,does it have a few annoyances with the A6 sedan that need fixing in order thatit be considered a serious rival to other $33,000 sedans.

None of the shortcomings are serious. The one that troubled us the mostcould be solved by simply ordering a new interior. The car came with terracotta-colored cloth seats. To be blunt, terra cotta looks like satin mud.Blue-plate fashion. Terra cotta gotta go.

Another gripe is Audi’s attempt to save a few cents on the mirrors. Thiscar was blessed (for $1,650–no such thing as a free blessing) withall-wheel-drive (Quattro) for year-round performance. It’s going to be calledupon to make aggressive maneuvers. Yet Audi stuck a set of mini mirrors on theoutside that make side and rear vision a tad tricky. In mirrors, big is betterand wind noise be damned. Besides, if done right, wind noise should be noproblem.

Considering Audi had the dough to equip the car with cupholders front andrear and the rear-seat armrest holds a first-aid kit, there’s no reason fornot spending a couple more bucks for grownup mirrors.

And the sedan could be driven even harder and the maneuvers would be morespirited with a few more horses–or if Audi had focused on more off-the-linetorque from the 2.8-liter, 200-horsepower V-6.

The 2.8 is teamed with a 5-speed automatic with Tiptronic, which allows youto move through the gears manually without a clutch should you desire to playboy racer and should the local roads allow movement from first to thirdwithout encountering a construction barricade or a bumper sticker in rush-hourtraffic.

Chances are Tiptronic will seldom be used. It’s basically a system used tojustify the vehicle for both sexes. The female gets automatic, the male getsto shift manually. (Most males will spend more time using automatic, too.)

Another woe–the key fob. The “open” button is too small, which may be whywe seldom got it to work.

And the stowage compartments are along the bottom of the front doors–thetype that open when you exert light pressure against the front of thecompartment. When your foot kicks the door when getting out of the car, forinstance. The compartment opens, and you get caught in it.

Another gripe is that, though the cell phone cleverly pops up and out ofthe center console, we couldn’t check out reception or ease of use because thephone was off. OK to test a $30,000-plus car, but don’t take any chances thata journalist might make a long-distance call. Just as well, there are enoughfolks on the road who can’t steer and talk without adding one more.

Last complaint is that the car starts at $33,750, but the test vehicle hadalmost $7,000 in options.

Some of the goodies were simply frills, such as alloy wheels. There alsowas a cold-weather package with heated seats and heated steering wheel. Andthough gloves are cheaper, we have to admit grabbing onto warm leather is apleasant way to start a chilly day. And the rear window sported a powersunshade (and the sunroof solar glass) to keep the sun from baking occupantsand to keep the interior cooler when the vehicle is parked. Fun to play with,as are most $1,500 toys. The sound system was upgraded to Bose with acompact-disc player.

All nice touches–at hefty prices. These items added about $4,000 to thesticker.

Yet some items, such as Quattro and sunroof, at about $3,000, were morefunctional than frilly.

With options and a $500 freight charge, the sticker topped $41,000 and thatput the A6 in the Mercedes E-Series range. Though very nice, the A6 is not anE-Series.

The A6 is going gangbusters for Audi. Brought out last month, the ’98 A6helped Audi record its best November sales in nine years. With a few days togo, the A6 has allowed Audi to top the 30,000-unit mark for 1997 versus salesof 27,400 for all of 1996.

>>1998 AUDI A6 Wheelbase: 108.6 inches Length: 192 inches Engine: 2.8-liter, 200-h.p. V-6 Transmission: 5-speed automatic with Tiptronic clutchless manualshifting EPA mileage: 17 m.p.g. city/26 m.p.g. highway Base price: $33,750 Price as tested: $40,657. Includes $225 for 16-inch alloy wheels; $1,300for audio package with Bose sound system and compact-disc player; $750 forcold-weather package with heatable front seats and steering wheel andexpandable ski/storage sack in rear seat back; $1,500 for convenience packagewith power tilt/slide sunroof, outside memory mirrors and driver’s seat andauto dimming rearview mirror; $1,500 for warm-weather package with power rearwindow sunshade and solar panel sunroof glass; $1,650 for Quattroall-wheel-drive. Add $500 for freight. Pluses: Any Audi with an A after the name deserves an A for effort androom and comfort and technological innovation. Excellent snow/wet roadtraction. Very good interior layout. Quattro means you go when others don’t. Minuses: Abundant, and costly, options. Terra Cotta interior color isTerra Bull. Tiptronic may never be used. “Open” button on key fob way toosmall. >>