[milkman383]

I just did kinda what you're looking at, and here's some things I went into this knowing, and so far I think I did well.

First off, decide what kinda stuff you want to fix, and what you can live without, what is your tolerance for getting a non-running car on day one and work out the mechanical bugs from there? If you're good at doing paint/body/interior revamp (or don't care) then look for a car that's weak in those areas and strong in others. Then you can find a cheap car and plop the cash into making it right. Any S3 that's "all there" mostly works and can be driven home could be $5k and worth every penny. That same car with a ratted out interior might be $2.5k, and that same car with ratted out interior, needs a timing belt, no AC, and the seat motors doesn't work might be $1.5k.

The 86.5 928S I just bought is my 9th car under licence and insurance (most are really cool beaters), and it's my new toy, I'm driving it everywhere right now. I've got a short list of stuff that's wrong, but none of that is keeping me from putting 600 miles on it this weekend.

Good luck, be patient!!! Enjoy!