Ive spent probably £2000 ish on mine but the Miltek set me back £1100 which was needed as my original exhaust was shot it.
When it comes to adding my persoanl tastes, i dont think about how much the car will get me back from resale I just see it as a treat. I work damn hard and to be honest I dont get to drive my car as much as I would like but when I do, I enjoy every minute of it.
Im in the Flooring Game so I can earn some real good money and when i get the chance, I take a much as possible, dont get me wrong, sometimes I have to work some crazy hrs and unsociable at that and sometimes its **** easy but its worth it and since Xmas 2008 Its been mental, Im all over the place working so I spend 75% of my driving time in my Van so I always look at it as Treats for myself. I dont blow all my cash on the Car, obviously I have to splash between Myself, Mrs & my 2 boys....aswell as doing my house up but why Not..you cant take it with you if god forbid something happens to me.
So yeah some are a little crazy when it comes to these upgrades but ive always been like that since I could drive, Ive probably had over 40 different cars in the 13yrs ive been driving and half of them have been "J7uss" stamped and I love it. I know when to stop though which is a good thing, Im not the sort of guy to start entering crazy worlds where you spend like 4 times what the car is worth - Heeelllllll No!!!
As for just buying a newer motor, its like others have said, New cars these days are either just too boring and dont do it for me or they are just way too expensive and unaffordable to the average guy plus I have always seen the B6 as the best looking A4 out there apart from the B8 but like I say - Too expensive to justify for myself who only does 3000mls a year if that!