My beater. Total investment, less than $2500

Salvage title
2.7t
6 Speed
4motion


2.8 heads and cams
Used 2.8 head gaskets (with copper spray!)
3rd time using the head bolts
Stock (used) 175k pressure plate and flywheel with 6 puck ceramic disc
Smashed up 1-2 shift collar, filed down by hand
Custom driveshaft (using loooong allen bolts and 2 extra CV joints stacked up to make the correct length)

4.4l BMW X5 MAF (used, probably bad)
APR charge pipe (used)
China k04s
China downpipes
China sidemounts
Bunch of China stuff
Stock fuel pump + China 044 fuel pump threaded to fit where the fuel filter used to be - yup, no fuel filter.
EV14 550/630s
FSI Coils (used) w/Touareg adapters


25psi
Flame-shooting antilag launches everyday....not sure how the turbos are still good.

H&R coilovers (used)
S4 front brakes
TT front seats on *custom* brackets

Everything works as it should - somehow.

This is exactly the kind of thing I love to see!

Mine's been the same.  Threw some fresh bearings at it, some rods and use a stock head with 150k now on it.  Homemade manifold and abusing 25psi daily with loads of flames too.

Cannot kill the fucker.