$20k budget..what car to get???

[blocke]

Hi all!
New to the forum and looking for your guys opinion on what car to buy. Assuming I've got a budget of around $20 grand, would you guys go with an 06-07 GTI, or an 01-02 S4? If I went the s4 route, there are plenty of s4's in my area selling for around 10-12 grand. Granted the miles are high and the car will need the usual repair and what not... and I'd most likely end up replacing the turbos with the ko4's anyway... and i'd be right around my 20g budget. Or buy the GTI, and id have little or no money left for mods.

SO what to do?

[mario]

TDi ftw :)

i love my 2002 Golf GLS TDi.

[oc-audica]

cpo mk5

[blocke]

Not really a fan of the pre-06 gti body style. Anyone with B5 S4 experience that could offer any advice?

[JETTAone420]

bro!! im in the same exact shoes as you except ill have around 15k to play with when ALL is said and done i.e. (car + mods)

except my choices are an 04 R32 thats semi high mileaged but already has coilovers and just add my system and be done with it.

an s4 (b5)already tuned to how id rock it anyways. id just swap out the rims and add my system.

a high mileaged a3 and drive stock for awhile...a long while (but A3's are fresh so i wouldnt care, and its 4doors[somthin id prefer])

[ncttrnl]

There's a stage 3 TT in the classifieds for 16K

[jr_scheiBe]

get something thats certified pre owned if your in the audi world

[Streamline]

Don't get a B5 S4 unless your pockets are deep.
If you have no wrenching experience, and you're not willing to learn, the car will be in the shop a lot.
When I first got the S4, I never did anything on cars sans drive them; now I can easily change oil, suspension, take off an exhaust system, ripped out my entire entire and put it back in, work with most parts of the engine (besides the turbos), and mess around with electronics.
I have saved myself a couple grand doing the things myself.
If you really are worried about money, CPO GTi.

[blocke]

Wrenching on cars isnt an issue, ive been hooking up friends cars for years, and always done my own work. Thats actually why id be leaning towards the S4, ive been wqanting a car that i can work on and upgrade on my days off.

[SoCal_GLI]

TDi ftw :)

i love my 2002 Golf GLS TDi.


not at the price of diesel nowadays, the mileage difference isnt enough to justify it anymore, now if they actually got like 65 a gallong then yeah, but they are only getting about 40 realistically on a good day

i get 36 in my wagon

[EuroTunerGLI]

well check out carmax.com...if you find something in the area let me know...i can transfer it for you and check out to make sure its in good condition...if you have any questions pm me...(oh by the way i sell cars for carmax) haha

[mike]

B5 S4 is a car for a well to do person, Even if you can wrench, parts aren't cheap. If your budget is $20K, you need to set 1/4 of that aside for repairs, which will be gone when you need turbos and a clutch, and since you have to pull the motor and trans to do them, you can't do it unless you have a shop, the cheapest Audi is the most expensive Audi.

Buy a CPO'd MK5 GTI with a warranty and great mileage and be done with it.

[Wilder]

No question at all - B5S4. I came from a B7 A4 2.0T and the S4 is just so much more fun to drive. Picked it up for $12,800 - $6k later I'm stage 3 and loving it. Under 20 grand..

I would get one with around ~80,000 - 100,000 miles, well cared for, with timing belt and waterpump done already. At this mileage, many have even had the control arms, tie rod ends, etc replaced as well, and just recently fresh brakes. Basically you avoid a lot of the little things you'd have to do anyways...

Many to be found between 10k and 14k right now. I waited a long time (almost picked one up in '05 for ~$27k...glad i waited) to get the S4 and it was well worth the wait.

If you do most of your own wrenching you're good -- it's just a B5. With a badass engine, of course.

[RollinInGreenz]

get a Mk1 for $1,000 and spend the remaining $19,000 on a B5 S4 motor, STG3+, H&R ultralows, most expensive paintjob you can find (inside and out) and everything else i've left out.

oh a cupholder or two...you'll want those.

[zRockstar]

Wrenching on cars isnt an issue, ive been hooking up friends cars for years, and always done my own work. Thats actually why id be leaning towards the S4, ive been wqanting a car that i can work on and upgrade on my days off.

You shut up! Buy a car already! Thanks for helping with the intake.

[A4effort]

Not really a fan of the pre-06 gti body style. Anyone with B5 S4 experience that could offer any advice?

huh? thats just wrong IMO, I think the mkiv and the mk1 are the best body styles. B5 s4 is always fun. but with the age of the car you are going to be doing some matainence for sure.

[jwill'sMK4]

get a Mk1 for $1,000 and spend the remaining $19,000 on a B5 S4 motor, STG3+, H&R ultralows, most expensive paintjob you can find (inside and out) and everything else i've left out.

oh a cupholder or two...you'll want those.

what about swaping out the drivetrain too

[A4effort]

I totally agree with jwill
you will definetly need a cupholder!

[Rento_VW]

Would it be considered idiocy to say 87 Buick GNX?

[oc-audica]

a real GNX is upwards of $40k++

[RAUDI S6]

Jusy my .02, but FTW with the B5 S4, you can find stage 3's out there now for around that budget, and I have seen some stock ones in the 45K-50K mile range for around $16K-$18K. I am a little Audi biased. I might be selling my 2001 Stage 3 S4, Nogaro, 52Kmiles in a few months, I mainly drive my S6 now.

Be patient, you will find what you are looking for, and have someone that knows these cars check them out for you, and always check about TB, control arms, etc...

Good Luck!!!

[zRockstar]

huh? thats just wrong IMO, I think the mkiv and the mk1 are the best body styles. B5 s4 is always fun. but with the age of the car you are going to be doing some matainence for sure.

It's not just about the body style, but also the newer engine/trans combos are way better, especially since he is most likely going to get an auto if he gets the GTI, so obviously the DSG is more appealing.