Why shouldn't I buy a b5 or b6 s4?

>not buying a b5 passat w8
wew

seriously though, get the b5

I haven't done anything to my b5 with 210k and it's still going strong. I've only replaced two clutches, a few CV axles, a fuel pump and some fuses

B5 is nice car unfortunetly quite understeery (like all audis but this is feels even worse than modern rs audis).
Expensive to own, but still cheaper than modded evos,
with k04 from rs4 and some bolt ons can make 550 at crank easiely.
If you earn around $1k a month you should be able to afford to own it,
as long as you do everything yourself or take it to specialist(this engine hates shitty mechanics, even it is quite bulletproof).
Everything has been explained on forums, and/or in manuals diagrams.

service position

What about as a platform for an swap? I was told they are kind interiors to the lanklet skellington crowd, could you fix up a roller with a cheap engine and have fairly little problems elsewhere, or is it German fall apart city all over?

Better of getting 1.8t quattro, much much cheaper to maintain can make 300/350hp at crank without bigger mods.
As told 2.7 bit is quite bulletproof, but has many little vaccum hosses that can be pain in the ass,
however most of things were already done and explained by other users.
If you wont launch it or do donuts (especially modded) then you should not have problema with drivetrain which is the only other expensive thing in this car.
If you want fast car that is decent in corners and easy to drive that you can mod up to high hp go for s4/rs4 as long as you can do DIY or have local specialist.
Want cheaper option then go for a4 1.8t with quattro, most things are interchangable between all quattro b5 anyway.
A6 c5 allroad 2.7 is also an option, heavier tad more space inside and under hood,
also comes with auto makes for great daily but due to being higher and heavier handles even more understeery and boat like.

> If you want fast car that is decent in corners and easy to drive that you can mod up to high hp go for s4/rs4 as long as you can do DIY or have local specialist.

Yeah I want that, specifically was asking if a swap was something that would save me that specialist maintenance as I'm not really married to the stock engine, just like the looks, cabin, drivetrain.

It dependends you can make normal a4 look like s4/rs4 and even swap it drivetrain in if you want.
If you study guides online and have some patience you can do 90% of stuff yourself, s4 b5 is one of cheapest cars you can make over 500hp in, but still far from cheap.
As i said you can either go 1.8t route or 2.7 one more expensive but allows you to make more powerbif modded.
Other than those 2 there are No other real alternatives, in case of 1.8t you can allways swap s/rs drivetrain in if it wont be enough for you,
but as i said if you make over 1 grand a month you should be able to be able to own it ( this is how much i made in my previous wagecuck job and while living with parents had enough money to maintain it and tune it to 550hp wile doing only easy stuff myself and test at shop).

>if you want a AWD VW, buy a R32. If you want a AWD Turbo sports car: Buy a $2000 WRX with a popped motor and build a motor or a $10-14,000 Evo/STi.

Eww, R32 uses haldex, WRX is shit and people will think you're a zit-faced amerimutt teenager sipping on monster and hotboxing your shitbox with vape.

B5 and B6 or Ur-S4 with AWD or bust, even the base 1.8TQ A4 is a very nice option if you want comfy commutes and fun on ice.

Specialty tools? Oh you mean that $15 brake tool that you need to use on fords and saabs as well as any VW? OH BOO HOO!

>caring what people think about you while you get on their ass until they give you a pointby

VW/Audi owners make Subaru guys look like PhD scientists, remember which car community made stance culture mainstream? It wasn’t ricer kids in WRXs launching them at every light but teenagers in MKIVs and used Audis with DOPE stickers on them going to Waterfest and H2Oi. And you’re missing the point: B5/B6s are HEAVY for their size, they’re compact cars that weigh as much as a full size sedan. They have a big V6 Twin Turbo engine hanging right over the front axles. They’re not cars built to corner on a tight mountain road but to go 100+ mph on the autobahn for hours.

The aftermarket is EXPENSIVE even compared to Evos/STis: it’s still a Audi and the aftermarket is more limited too.

They are not reliable: it’s a 20 year old german car. The buy-in cost might be cheap (you can buy a Twin Turbo AWD Sports Sedan for $6-9000) but wait until you’re chasing turbo leaks, redoing the cooling system, refreshing the clunky worn out suspension, etc. Itll add up enough that you wish you bought a Evo/STi (simpler, cheaper, newer). And even a A4 1.8T isn’t as fun or fast as a 2.0 WRX. Both have weak rods (up to 300-320whp) but the Subaru weighs 400lbs less and has shorter gearing.

B5
>cramped as fuck engine bay
>lol blown turbos every 100k
>turbo replacement means pulling the engine
>front control arms every 100k

B6
>TIMING
>CHAIN
>GUIDES

Both
>pigfat
>audisteer

If you want an unreliable German compact sports sedan, get an E46 M3. At least those are actually good when they work.

Exactly, well said

Don't. They break if you look at them wrong.

If op wants a S4 he obviously doesn't care about toogays so stop complaining about audisteer.
Everything about it has been explained in this thread but I can add that if you want V8 sound that doesn't cost an arm and a leg look up C5 S6. Idk if it's aviable in the States. It's reliable (apart from auto trans) and has the bulletproof 4.2 with cambelt instead of chain. Planning to upgrade from my C5 A6 to the S6.

You don't even need the S6 to get the 4.2, but the S6 makes more power.

Also you had a choice of the 2.2 20VT and the 4.2 V8 in the C4 S4/S6 in certain markets.

And then there's the D2 A8, which is a different beast to maintain but its engine options include the 4.2 V8, a 6.0 W12 and a 3.3 twin turbo diesel V8.

Why would you want anything powered by this?

what the fuck is wrong with germans

Audism

What are the most reliable audi then?

>
B3/B4 Audi 80 1.9tdi or 1.8 carburettor

I know, I almost want to sell my car because of that shit

>b5

You're buying a rebadged Passat.

>b6

You're buying a rebadged Passat.

...

We can't have one thread without this bullshit can we. If there was a passat with torsen permanent awd and a v6 biturbo or 4.2 V8 I'd buy it but somehow I have not seen one yet.

In the case of the B5 he's almost right, as it uses the same front as the A4 (even came with the same 2.8 V6, for which the biturbo is a straight swap) but AWD ones use the A6 floor pan and rear suspension setup, both narrowed to match the A4's track width. You could get them with permanent mechanical AWD (parts even say "Audi" on them) and there was the 4.0 W8...