How about a shovel in the trunk? During the winter when it's unneeded you can take it off too! Can't do that with the AWD bits.
LOL, I don't know who you were talking to but me too. I've never been a big BMW fan but the BMW 335d looks good too. If I didn't need the car to be driven in the winter, I'd seriously consider the BMW.
Another benefit of quattro: when you're trying to find a parking spot after a heavy snow and the only empty ones are the unplowed ones. There's no way you can get in-out of them with 2wd.