formerGMguy

Good news. I just went to a local transmission shop and got some rough quotes on getting some work done. It looks like I'm looking at about $500-1000 to get the 2nd and 3rd gear synchros replaced. If I bring it in as a bench unit I'm looking at $400 in labor plus parts. The synchros were only about $45 a piece, so assuming there's not a lot of other damage to the gears it could be a fairly reasonable repair.

It looks like I could probably do the suspension work myself for somewhere around $800 in parts if I just went with Koni's front and rear and skipped doing the rear coil over setup for now.

And if I get a custom 2.75" or 3" exhaust I was quoted about $350. I priced it using a Magnaflow (not sure on the model muffler).

Throw in about $1500 in body work and perhaps the car is worth keeping. If I'm not mistaken I the car should be worth $10,000-12,000 when done?

formerGMguy

I've borrowed my friend's 02' A4 with a 5 speed and the 1.8T motor and I thought that thing was a blast to drive. It tends to plow a bit due to the 60/40 AWD setup, but I would assume this condition was taken care of in the S4. I would seriously consider the S4 over the TT since it has a back seat, and all around its a faster car, but I'd still want to drive one at the limit before purchasing. Then there's the fact that an S4 isn't much heavier than a Quattro TT. Frankly I'm a bit mad at Audi for making the coupe TT's so damn portly. I know Quattro adds a couple hundred pounds but where's the other 300 lbs. hiding???

Whatever I end up getting, if anything, will have to have track-ability. I've only gone three times but I'm hooked.

JEC_31

I voted Keep The 951, and now you've gone and posted exactly why you should!

Audi products: ugly, heavy, less than stellar reliability. I will discuss them no more.

Boxster: peppy but slow, great configuration, beware the evil RMS... oh and you think the depreciation slide will stop? Go look at the used ones on Delta's lot, there's a $10,000 price difference between a 2000 and a 2003!!!!!!

951: known and loved, huge upgrade potential for both handling and power, excellent track car. Beautiful, too, IMO.

Crazy throw-out suggestion:
928S: despite it's weight penalty, the handling ability (especially when upgraded!) makes these quite capable trackday cars while still being comfy long-haul cruisers. Same front-watercooler + rear tranny configuration and 2+2 seating, but twice the engine and very responsive to upgrades. Supercharger kit = 400 rwhp and near-infinite torque...

Finally, no matter what you do you're going to have to spend some money.

BTW, do you run at Grattan or Gingerman? Or both?

formerGMguy

I've actually run Grattan once now and Gingerman twice. I just did a VW club track day about two weeks ago at Gingerman that was a blast. This summer I'm going to try and fit in a bunch of Tuesday/Thursday night Test and Tune sessions at Gingerman.

As for the 928 suggestion, I've already been down that road. I had actually been looking at 928's when I bought the 951. The thought of maintenance on a high strung 32v V8 scared the **** out me. Plus they have a horrible reputation for electrical problems.

I'm at a loss for what to do. My neighbor stopped by while I was cleaning up the 951 tonight and we got to talking. He mentioned that he had test driven an new 951 back in 87' but ended up passing on it. Turns out though that he may be interested if I sell it. I told him I'd probably put it up for sale starting at $10,000 and hope for $8,000. Even with the mechanical problems its an exceptionally clean car with low miles (just hit 70,000) so I think I can get $8,000 out of it.

Giantviper

I have never diriven the Boxter S but i can compare my N/A to my grandfather's boxter and I like the way my N/A drives better but that is all personal prefrance (I do not know if the N/A to first gen boxter is fair to compair with 951 to boxter S).

But if you must i agree stay in the family and go with the boxter S

H2

Since it came uip, anyone want to buy my '02 TT? Amulet red. Coupe. 6 speed. Really low miles. $22K, extended warranty, xenons, Bose, etc. etc. Or trade on a 928 GT.

Harvey

RI Fast Eddie

I am suprized to hear no talk of the M3. I had an 98 M3 and loved the car. It compared very favorably with the two 951s I have had. You should be able to find a decent shape version of the last generation in your price range (not the current but the late 90s version). As for the choices you have given, I would say stick with the 951 if you want to track it. You can work on the car yourself for many of the problems you will have, the handeling is second to none, and you can you mod the heck out of it.

Marc Gelefsky

Yeah, my S4 spent more time at the dealer than my driveway, it had a whopping 43K miles on it, Turbo's tend to fail as well.
I would not have been happy with that as a track car.. a real pig, the A4 has a much lighter feel to it.