Looking to buy an AWD
Discussion
Hey, I'm looking to buy a dirt cheap awd beater to mess about with. My current list is down to a pre-2001 Subie Impreza, Audi TT 1.8 2001, Audi a3 2.0 2005, A4 3.0 2002, A6 1.8 2000 or a VW Golf 4matic 2.8 2002.
I'm more inclined to go with the Impreza due to the subie AWD system being great, although the reliability of pushing high HP through a boxer engine scares me. A golf or A3 would be nice too due to their smaller profiles, so lighter weight.
I'm from the UK so I chose most of these cars due to my £5.5k current budget and the awful car tax due to emissions (Which is why most cars listed are small displacements).
If I could get any advice on which cars would be ideal for choosing which car to buy it would be extremely appreciated, I only plan to go as far as stage 1 modifications, turbo, suspension, brakes, wheels, gutted interior and a rollcage most likely.
I'm more inclined to go with the Impreza due to the subie AWD system being great, although the reliability of pushing high HP through a boxer engine scares me. A golf or A3 would be nice too due to their smaller profiles, so lighter weight.
I'm from the UK so I chose most of these cars due to my £5.5k current budget and the awful car tax due to emissions (Which is why most cars listed are small displacements).
If I could get any advice on which cars would be ideal for choosing which car to buy it would be extremely appreciated, I only plan to go as far as stage 1 modifications, turbo, suspension, brakes, wheels, gutted interior and a rollcage most likely.
OP, forget about pre 2001 cars, 5.5k won't get you anything decent (jap imports), older cars that have been in the UK will be rusting in the rear wings and behind the bumper, won't be cheap to repair either, plus with the mods you want... totally the wrong engine to play with.
Post 2001 would be a better starting place, better gearboxes and engines in the STI's (the one you want to go for), 5.5k wont get you much there either but you can tune the standard car to around 350bhp on its factory turbo (400+ on an uprated turbo, injectors etc), it may be heavier but its also got better parts fitted.
As for the Audi's, as far as im aware, if it says quattro then its perm awd, if it doesn't then its not.
Post 2001 would be a better starting place, better gearboxes and engines in the STI's (the one you want to go for), 5.5k wont get you much there either but you can tune the standard car to around 350bhp on its factory turbo (400+ on an uprated turbo, injectors etc), it may be heavier but its also got better parts fitted.
As for the Audi's, as far as im aware, if it says quattro then its perm awd, if it doesn't then its not.
tonyb1968 said:
As for the Audi's, as far as im aware, if it says quattro then its perm awd, if it doesn't then its not.
They're all permanent AWD in the sense the system is always there to send drive to all four wheels, you can't manually disengage it, but the longitudinal engined cars use a design very similar to Subaru, while the transverse engined ones use a Haldex system to modulate drive to the rear axle.tonyb1968 said:
OP, forget about pre 2001 cars, 5.5k won't get you anything decent (jap imports), older cars that have been in the UK will be rusting in the rear wings and behind the bumper, won't be cheap to repair either, plus with the mods you want... totally the wrong engine to play with.
Post 2001 would be a better starting place, better gearboxes and engines in the STI's (the one you want to go for), 5.5k wont get you much there either but you can tune the standard car to around 350bhp on its factory turbo (400+ on an uprated turbo, injectors etc), it may be heavier but its also got better parts fitted.
As for the Audi's, as far as im aware, if it says quattro then its perm awd, if it doesn't then its not.
Thanks for the heads up on the pre-2001 scoobies. The only post 2001 I could buy would be the 2008 1.5l hatchback Impreza due to tax (https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/subaru/impreza/first-drives/subaru-impreza-1.5-r), but the engine displacement seems rather lacking compared to a pre 2001 2.0, as well as the amazing look the older subies have compared to the new style smaller hatchbacks. I'll have to think more on it, I do favor newer cars due to updated suspensions and stronger frames for the most part, but at the same time "There's no replacement for displacement"Post 2001 would be a better starting place, better gearboxes and engines in the STI's (the one you want to go for), 5.5k wont get you much there either but you can tune the standard car to around 350bhp on its factory turbo (400+ on an uprated turbo, injectors etc), it may be heavier but its also got better parts fitted.
As for the Audi's, as far as im aware, if it says quattro then its perm awd, if it doesn't then its not.
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