What car to replace my '87 4kq? (long)

[thejimrose]

a hearty nod for a b5 or b6 a4. i had a b5 for about 6 years and it's a
great all rounder. torqueless which is a drag [har har] in a hilly city
like sf but otherwise a non issue. great motor, easy to improve with a few
$'s/hours, easy to work on, parts everywhere, etc. decent poke, decent
mpg's, back seats fold down to make it a mini suv [2 downhill mountain
bikes no problem]. that can't be overstated - very few sedans do this which
makes the car SO much more useful.

the b5's have their well documented and easily remedied issues [control
arms, abs pumps, etc]. but it's a modern feeling, near luxury car. i would
trust its reliability much more than a v40/50 but for no real data driven
reasons.

i think my other pick would be a gti. 3-4k would be a 1.8t mk4 if you hunt.
also known issues but a good looking, fun car to drive that will check all
the right boxes.

if all you need is a decent appliance i'd look at a camry. i know.. i
know.. but it's a lot of car that budget and will be the best bang for buck
by a mile. i picked up a  clean 97 v6 a couple years ago when i totaled my
b7a4 and i kinda loved it in an 'i love not liking you' sort of way. very
much a pushbutton motoring appliance, which can be liberating. door dings,
meh who cares? really a comfy highway cruiser. much roomier than the b5 or
b7.