trailertravis13

I am currently looking at picking up a B5 S4 once my STI sells which looks to be in the next week or so. I like the STI but right now my payment is too high for me because I am trying to save for a house but still want something fun, yet with less of a car payment.

I want the car to be Stg.3 within a year or so of buying it, whether I buy a car already with Stg.3 installed or do it myself is the main question I am hoping you guys can help me with. I am worried that once I get the house I will never be able to go Stg.3 because of money needed for house maintenance and stuff like that. Am I better off buying one that is already done or am I better off doing it myself?

It will probably be an extra $100/mo. on my payment for a Stg.3 if my math is correct.

Does anyone have any insight on this? If you bought stock and went Stg.3 would you do it the same way? If you bought a Stg.3 do you think you would rather bought stock and went Stg.3 on your own?

Thanks for any help/input.

trailertravis13

I'm not concerned with the house/mortgage making the funding difficult. I am saying I am worried about putting money to the side to go Stg.3 eventually then having to use it towards something for the house and never getting the car how I always wanted it. I am wondering whether the extra $100 or whatever each month will be a better route since I will get the car I want and make budgeting my money easier since it will be a fixed cost spread out (including interest unfortunately) instead of a lump sum all at once. Does that explain better? I apologize if I was a little unclear.

I forgot to mention I have 2 friends with Stg.3 S4s who do all the work themselves so I have some help with just about anything that will need to be done.

The S4 won't be a daily driver either, I have a beater for my 80 mile commute which will help keep costs down on the S4. So as much as I would hate to see it happen, if push came to shove and something broke that I couldn't pay for right away it could stay parked until I could.

The price of Stg.3 S4s right now is what's making this a tough decision. I have seen 2000s for as low as 16-17k and then 2001-2001.5s in the 23-25k range depending on mileage and stuff.

trailertravis13

Is blue book value even an issue though? From some of the research I have done, most places won't finance a car as old as a B5 S4 under an auto loan. A used car dealer will, but not if you are buying privately. It seems like you have to take out a personal loan which can be used for anything, but usually at a higher rate (because you aren't securing it with any collateral or anything like that I guess?)

Either way, if buying a car that is Stg.3 is my better route and I need to wait a few months then so be it. I'm not in a rush. I won't be looking to get a house for another 6-12 months but I want to start preparing and putting more money away. I am selling the STI now so I can get the S4 when I am ready.

Thanks again for the help.

Ram@S4-MTM

<ul><li><a href="http://www.s4-mtm.com/images/Audi%20S4%20Biturbo%20Buyers%20Guide%202001.09.200 4.pdf">S4 B5 Buyer's guide</a></li></ul>

Jason Sowers(rs6's)

You got mail on my car. I sent you the pics on snapfish.

trailertravis13

I got them thanks...mailed you back with some questions

trailertravis13

The 2 friends that I mentioned in the other post that are Stg.3 are Uli and Rolf. They tried to talk me into getting a B5 S4 instead of the STI to begin with but I was stubborn and preferred something new (big mistake).

Anyway, they have been helping me out a little bit with any questions I have had concerning what to look for in a car, but they can't provide too much insight to me in terms of what I was asking here.

Anyway regardless if I buy a Stg.3 or stock I will be by the shop at some point. I live too close not to come check it out once I have a B5 S4.