What to pick for <$3500?

1211 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by The Ninja, Nov 30, 2001

Crispyfritter

Discussion Starter · Nov 29, 2001

Volks,
I'm selling my 98 Olds Intrigue and looking to get into a cool vw for under $3500. My options right now are either A1 GTI, A2 GTI or Jetta, Scirocco,B3 Passat, or cabby. I think any one of those vehicles would make for great fun. Here's the need. It has got to be dead reliable, fairly quick (I have a car with 200 hp right now), and it has to look pretty nice too. It also has to be moddable (is that a word).

Would I be better off finding one that already has a few mods, or should I start with a virgin?
Thanks for the help.
Chris

[Modified by 200HP4dr, 4:06 PM 11-29-2001]

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gtivr4

· #2 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (200HP4dr)

You can pick up a nicely modded A1 or early A2 GTI for that kind of money.
Last year I was looking at an 84 (A1) with a 2.0 ABA (or whatever the current 8v block is). NOthing major in engine mods (so very reliable), but since it was so light, it was pretty darn quick. The guy got $2800 on ebay for it (I was outbid).
I ended up picking up an 88 scirocco 16v a few months later. It has been lots of fun, but I still wish I had gotten the GTI. But my rocco has been very reliable (even with 138k).

OWGTI

· #3 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (gtivr4)

You can pick up a nice clean turbo all wheel drive Talon/Eclipse/Laser for that kind of ching, and then have a car that is capable of handing vw's their collective asses.

daredvl2b

· #4 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (200HP4dr)

I would suggest a GTI/Jetta 2.0 16V. Fast stock adn comes with BBS and Recaro seats stock. Nice all around get up and go car. Any car can be modded. It's just how far and how much you want to spend. For your budget, a 16v jetta/GTI would be cool...

RJetta8V

· #5 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (200HP4dr)

An A1 with a 2.0 ABA and cams is quick. Quarter mile in 15 seconds or so. The ABA is also very reliable. Its a real dog in the Jetta, but if you chip it and cam it, you'd have yourself one pretty quick rabbit.

A4Jetta

· #6 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (200HP4dr)

Mk2 is nice-looking, comfortable and its easily modded. The GTX/GTI 16V can get you standard Recaro and sweet BBS alloy wheels.

Crispyfritter

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (OWGTI)

Not a bad choice, but I will have to buy a DSM with over 100k miles that will probably need a timing belt and some other crap. And it will cost me $3500 to even get into one, and then the mods will cost me. I love them though, and my friend has a very fast FWD Talon, but he has had to do a lot to it to get it where it is now.
Chris

AKADriver

· #8 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (200HP4dr)

Of those choices I'd go with the A2. I noticed the '92-'95 Civic is a choice, and while I like them, if your car budget is $3500 all you're going to get are dirt slow, white-bread-bland CX and DX models.

FCdemon

· #9 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (AKADriver)

It's not on the list, but get a G60 Corrado. They look cooler, are more tunable, and are faster than the A2 GTI. They just aren't even nearly as utilitarian. As far as reliability, I'd say the 16v GTI is about equally as reliable as a G60 though... which is to say, not reliable.
I know what you really want though is a '91 or '92 240SX

[Modified by fastfour, 9:52 AM 11-29-2001]

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daredvl2b

· #10 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (fastfour)

quote:[HR][/HR]It's not on the list, but get a G60 Corrado. They look cooler, are more tunable, and are faster than the A2 GTI. They just aren't even nearly as utilitarian. As far as reliability, I'd say the 16v GTI is about equally as reliable as a G60 though... which is to say, not reliable.
I know what you really want though is a '91 or '92 240SX

Hmm, I bought my 89 Jetta 16v for $1,200 with a salvage title. It had 116,000 three years ago. It needed a front motor mount and a tune up. Granted it didn't come with the BBS rims but it did come with the Recaro interior. Had a problem with the wheel bearings but had that fixed right away. Absolutely no problems other than that. Still drive it today with 179,000 on the odometer. I think it's reliable for the money considering it was even salvaged! Ya just have to look around for those good deals. Be patient...And being slow? I can hang with a buddy of mine who has a 16v that pulled a 15.7 in his cab. Not bad eh?!

[Modified by fastfour, 9:52 AM 11-29-2001][HR][/HR]

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Crispyfritter

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (fastfour)

I love the Corrado, but there is no way I can get a decent looking one for $3500. Unfortunately.

I also had no idea that other people could add to my list of choices. The only ones I stuck in there were the VW's. I don't want a fiero, because I have to be able to get into and out of the car and carry more than one other person. Don't like Civics at all. It has to be a stand out. Something you don't see everyday. You know?
Chris

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TabulaRasa

· #12 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (200HP4dr)

I'm going to be devil's advocate and say E30 325E or E28 528E.
p.s., why are you selling the Olds?

FCdemon

· #13 · Nov 29, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (daredvl2b)

quote:[HR][/HR]Hmm, I bought my 89 Jetta 16v for $1,200 with a salvage title. It had 116,000 three years ago. It needed a front motor mount and a tune up. Granted it didn't come with the BBS rims but it did come with the Recaro interior. Had a problem with the wheel bearings but had that fixed right away. Absolutely no problems other than that. Still drive it today with 179,000 on the odometer. I think it's reliable for the money considering it was even salvaged! Ya just have to look around for those good deals. Be patient...And being slow? I can hang with a buddy of mine who has a 16v that pulled a 15.7 in his cab. Not bad eh?!

[HR][/HR]

It's great that you got a reliable 16v, but I had a 1.8L 16v GTI, bought for $4000. In the 2 years that I owned it, I spent close to that much fixing and maintaining it. Every time I'd fix something, something else would go wrong. And it only had 90K when I sold it, if I remember correctly.

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Crispyfritter

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (TabulaRasa)

I like the 3 series Bimmers, but I've yet to find one that still looks decent around here or even runs right. I like them alot, but parts are pricier and harder to find. At least around here.
Chris

The Ninja

· #15 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: What to pick for <$3500? (200HP4dr)

GTI 2L 16v is the way to go.

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