New car and body kits

[TimelessRider]

How about a used 1998/2001 VW Passat 1.8t or its sister car, the Audi A4? Both look great and have a wide variety of aesthetic and performance modifications available. It'll never be a true speed demon but you could put some ricers to shame.

 

[Brian SD]

How about a used 1998/2001 VW Passat 1.8t or its sister car, the Audi A4? Both look great and have a wide variety of aesthetic and performance modifications available. It'll never be a true speed demon but you could put some ricers to shame.

I highly recommend the Audi over the VW, because of reliability issues with the Passat. And don't go thinking that you can't tune up an A4, because you totally can, and Audis can turn into some of the most untouchably gorgeous street cars. I would personally have to recommend the BMW M3, because it is hands down my favorite car that you can get for under $20k (used of course), and has mercurial class.

 

[kabert]

I'd second Brian's suggestion of the Audi A4 and BMW 3-series (1995-1999, for your cost limit).  I've owned both -- great cars, fun and classy.  However, if you're looking to modify with one of those body kits, which I personally detest due to extreme tackiness/cheapness of many of them other than perhaps AC Schnitzer's or Dinan's, then your best bet is probably Japanese as I think that's were most of the tuner/body kit, etc. aftermarket suppliers focus.

 

[jasonpraxis]

if you want the hot rod look, how about a used vw gti? or you could get a golf, lower it, change the turn signal covers, get a racing exhaust, etc...

I agree with matadorpoeta. I own a 2003 VW GTI (Anniversary Edition), and while it retails for a few thousand more than your price range, I would recommend it for consideration. The 2004 GLI might also be worth a look if a sedan is more appropriate. Keep an eye on the price drops, incentives, or deals over the next few months as the 5th generation Golf/Jetta begins to arrive at dealerships. I've found my VW to be both easy to maintain and upgrade myself, and the array of aftermarket products is stunning. I've done a 6 disc CD changer, Euro spec light switch, smoked side markers and indicators, K&N air filter, rear fog light, blue LED interior lighting (doors, vanity mirrors, map lights, rear domes, trunk), OZ Racing center caps, Enfig MotorSport antenna mast, Hella smoked tails, and Llumar 35% tint. For some idea of the variety of projects, check out VW Vortex, a great VW community website.

 

[Kai]

This (resurected post) smells distinctly of spam, and jennakortan smells like a spam purveyor.

 

[Flambeur]

95% of bodykits are ricey ugly horrible ****.

There are some very subtle nice ones that are tasteful but very few - now that I think about it, it's usually **** you find on german cars - AMG, ///M, modded porsches - GT2, GT3, TT, C4S, etc...

 

[Flambeur]

By the way, I agree that some VW kits are actually nice, tasteful and work well with the car. Once again - the german thing?

For some reason I used to really want a turbo passat wagon, lowered on tasteful rims and with that factory option bodykit (forgot who made it)

 

[acidboy]

 

[Flambeur]

Originally Posted by acidicboy

hot