The '84 will rust quickly, they didn't get the zinc dip of the 124 and later cars. The 96 is a good car, traction control? Heated seats? The aluminum head alone makes it a faster heating car and it will also start much easier in the cold if it is in good mechanical condition.

I've tried the beater route, did it when I was young. Eventually I figured out that I didn't want to leave cars that I love to drive in the garage for half the year and drive junk. The '96 is also the easiest to replace some day, just drive and enjoy it or find a reasonably late-model quattro for the winter with good hakks all-around and live it up.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff