have you checked the carfax? I'd wager it has a salvage title for that price.

 

thanks for the advice. i didnt think to check that because i figured id ask to see the title before i commit to buy, to make sure it didnt say salvage.

got someone on a forum to get the report for me, and there is nothing out of the oridinary.

it was a lease vehicle for the first 2 years of its life (5/18/00-4/30/02) and that owner put an astonishing 60k miles on it!!!
then the current owner purchased it and has owned it ever since. considering it has 120k miles, thats only 10k a year put on by the current owner.

its getting towed tomorrow morning to a local mechanic who works almost exclusively on Audi/VW. he's gonna check it out for me since he knows the common issues with this car. if all goes well it will be mine by monday/tuesday

 

thanks for all the input. i ended up buying the car for $4500. i dont have it in my possession yet, but i started a thread in the welcome are where i'll post a lot more pics when i get it.

here it is: https://www.audiforums.com/m_867714/.../tm.htm#867714

thanks again,
Zach