I agree that the price is too much for the 98. It really looks good but I would go for the 03. I do know the 02 B6s had a few problems but were ironed out by 04 really. I also love the style of them. Do your homework on the 03 as well. They still have belts needing to be replaced which is the most important thing. Around $1000 and if hasn't been replaced use this a haggle price to lower it. Carfax then call the dealer or shop it was serviced at and ask them directly with the vin #. I did prior on my 97 and they faxed over four pages of work. That sold me .

 

It all depends what you are looking for. If you want to have the capability to mod your car you will want the 1.8T. If you want an engine that is reliable and lasts forever (I know a guy who has almost 400k with no engine work) go with the 2.8. I myself think the B5 is one of the best looking cars on the road and am planning on keeping it for at least another 10 years. What do you mean by messed up interior by the door? Seat and trim or door panels are easy enough to replace. Are both of these cars manual. If either of them are Tiptronic I would avoid them like the plague. Tiptronic is a travesty to anyone who really knows how to drive. I am from Germany and the only people who drive automatics are old cripples from the war who only have one leg or parapalegic grandmothers. Also, Germans are notorious for building shitty automatics since they only really do it for the American market

 

they are both manual and quattro. im not modding, other then a chip and thats even a maybe. i obviously want reliability. the 2.8 has scratches by the driver and passanger door. its the cloth that surrounds the power window switches. both r gonna need a new timing belt and both are for $6400. i like the red more but the 1.8T is newer. and i dont know anything about a turbo. like wats in it, wat makes it works, etc.

 

Timing belt and serpentine belts are pretty much a DIY job. Took me about 7 hours doing it my first time, do to me not having the right tools and not expecting to have to tear the whole front end apart. I'm not sure about the b7s, but thats the way the b5s are set up. And the turbo is a standard k03. If you do get a performance chip and you want reliability,try APR. Remember to get a diverter valve, the increased pressure on the turbo w.o. an aftermarket dv could cause issues.