Just got a $500 '98 A6, no compression
 

New to this forum The A6 ended up in my lap last week.
Seller (mechanic, owns shop) says the previous owner was driving and the car just quit on her. He said he measured no compression. I didn't ask if he did all cylinders or just one bank.
Timing belt intact.
Car will crank but that's it.
I'm thinking belt skipped some teeth and bent some valves?
If its bent valves, would you rebuild the head or just swap a used engine?
And if I do swap, I know the Passat also used the same 2.8 6, but what about looking for a wrecked Jetta, did they use the same 2.8 in those? Thanks in advance.

Actually VW and Audi engines are the same...for example the 1.8 Audi A4 turbo engine is same as the Jetta 1.8 turbo. Not only that, the chassis platforms for those two cars are identical. Same with A6 & Passat. Audi TT & VW Beetle platforms the same also.

I do agree however with your other two points...pinpoint where the engine went south and either fix or part out. The car has 17" OEM alloys with good tires, so when I went in for $500 I knew I wasn't going to be losing money in the worst case part-out scenario, just may take a while to make my money back, and then some.