S5 with a Stage 1 map.
Or a Mk6 R with a Stage 1 map
Or maybe a Mk7 Golf GTi ex demo in a few months?
Or a Porsche Cayman?
There's loads of great cars you can afford with that budget.
I'm leaning toward's the MK6 'R' as it has the 4 wheel drive,just waiting for the right one to turn up,5 door ,manual.
What about outside VAG? 335i/M3 etc. It's RWD so something different...Winter Tyres will help for those difficult conditions.
I'm currently outside VAG for the first time in a long time in a BMW 330. I feel cheap and dirty
And it's absolutely shocking in the wet. Ed30 can't come soon enough.
But that straight 6 noise must make up for some of it?
Are those tyres run flats? I'm informed that in general they suck a bit and owners do a 'Run Flat Delete'...being stiffer I guess they wouldn't be as good.
A worn suspension system might make things worse too.