[SlowToady]

I knew I'd get well thought out replies from OT:-D One thing I like about this board is people almsot always stop to take and the time to really think about an answer, and seem to consider the OPs situation.

the, 2.0 Golf put out ~100HP at the crank. I think the NA 944 put out about 150 at the crank. So I guess it's really a 50HP difference. Feels like a 100 though.

I'd like to find a TDI, I wanted one at the time. However, I needed a car RIGHT NOW because I had school and work and basically bought one of the first cars I saw that I could afford and that I got a decent deal on. I would have prefered to wait, but that wasn't an option.

The current longer term plan is to buy a used C4S once I get a Real Job(tm) after college, but gas prices where I live are already $3.0/gal and not going down any time soon. I guess the upshot is I won't be living anywhere close to there once I get out on my own fully (one of the richest counties in America). So, basically, what I think is that the current gas fiasco is going to make fast sports cars a thing of the past for all but the well to do. I guess buy it now and have fun...who knows.

Masraum, that's one of the reasons I'm tossed up on it. I don't want the engine grenading, or excessively wearing prematurely.

What I would prefer to do is to sell it and get a beater Neon or Corolla and buy a Duc 748/916 and mod that..but, that's not going to happen.

I'd be lying if I said I was slightly envious of the other guys my age running around in Mustang Cobra's, 350Zs, Mustang GTs, WRX STi's, etc. DD74, an RX8 or even a new Civic is out of my price range. I guess I could afford it, but I HATE monthly payments..even as small as mine is, I don't want to make it any bigger. You're right about the Golf not being much of a performance oriented car, another reason I'm not sure about modifying it. A 951 would give more fun, at less (at least initial) cost. Don't think dad would let that happen.