Cheap Commuter: 2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T 5-Speed B5.5

The Passat has been Volkswagen's large family sedan option for many years and it is typically been based on a platform shared with the Golf and built in Mexico, but the B5 generation Volkswagen Passat was built on a Germany built platform shared with the Audi A4/A6 from 1997 through 2005.  This means that it used a longitudinal front-drive (and optional 4motion all-wheel-drive) setup and could be had with a number of engines, including a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder turbo, a 2.8 liter V6 and a 4 liter W8.  In an odd twist of things, the 1.8T 4-cylinder engine (chipped to 200 hp) and mated to a 5-speed with front-drive is actually the most fun to drive out of the powertrain options...and today's example comes slightly lowered and fitted with wheels from an C4 generation Audi UrS6.  Just make sure the seller has used synthetic oil and drive it for another 100k miles.  Find this 2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T offered for $2300 in Fremont, CA via craigslist.

Basic Fun: 2000 Audi TT

The Golf mk4 based Audi TT was released in 1999 with Bauhaus styling, room for 4 (in the coupe), and a transverse mounted 20-valve inline-4 that used a small turbo boost up the fun.  It wasn't a bad car but prices today are ridiculously low.  Find this 2000 Audi TT here on eBay offered for $2,900 buy-it-now or make-offer located in Brownwood, TX.

Choose A Volkswagen Bunny: '83 Rabbit vs. '89 Cabriolet G60

This next feature comes as words and a tip from Scott T:

OK, so our first contender is this solid roofed rabbit that someone has mounted a 1.8t motor into and started wiring it up and got far enough to try turning the key and getting no joy. Pictures show it partially assembled, the most recent of which may show a few tubs of parts. Entry price is only 3k, so, you could probably part it out for about that if you can't get it running. Body looks solid from above, and someone extended the shock towers...so they're definitely solid if they were done right.

Seller Submission: 2003 Audi A4 Avant

This next car comes as a seller submission from Chris who writes: if you decide that you must berate, belittle or badger me, i would ask that you please choose badger as i cant even remember the last time i had a good badgering.  Find this 2003 Audi A4 Avant with 1.8T and slushbox tiptronic transmission offered for $4,300 in San Jose, CA via craigslist.

1.8T B5.5 Manual: 2004 Volkswagen Passat Wagon

The B5 generation Volkswagen Passat was launched in 1997 for the US market but was restyled midway through the 2001 model year and re-released as the B5.5.  Regardless of generation, it seems that the Passat generates a love-it/hate-it reaction in former and current owners alike.  Some despise it for seemingly endless eletro-mechanical gremlins while others enjoy the Audi-esque driving experience offered for Volkswagen prices.  Find this 2004 Volkswagen Passat Wagon offered for $2,800 in El Paso, TX via craigslist.  Tip from Johnny Bouncewell.

Q is for Quintessential: 2001 Audi A4 1.8T quattro

Q is most definitely for quattro - that's right, with a lowercase q since we are referring to the all wheel drive system and not the vehicle of the same name in which it debuted. That car would be the Quattro, colloquially known as the Ur-Quattro or UrQ for short. The car below is a few generations removed, but still uses largely the same mechanical system for transmitting torque to all four quorners. In essence, torque is split 50:50 between front and rear axles until there is slippage at either end, at which time...bam!...the axle with more grip (less slip) gets more torque and keeps you moving in a forwardly direction. Even though the car it's attached to has a less than stellar reliability history, quattro is a classic system and we are all about an appreciation for depreciation here at DT. Find this 2001 Audi A4 1.8T quattro for sale in Tampa, FL for $4800 via craigslist.