I own a 01 A4 with a GT28R and a 04 A4 completely stock (DD) both 1.8t.
I have had no major problems or issues with either. Yes, I replaced one wheel bearing in the B5 no big deal.
The funny thing is I had a 01 Maxima that I purchased in Sept of this year and traded it in as a loss on my 04 A4. IMHO the maxima was a complete gas eating pos and I never felt comfortable in the car… I guess once you go quattro it’s hard to walk away from it. A M3 is nice, but how practical is that going to be in the Buffalo winters? I wish you luck on that if you decide to go that route.
My opinion on a A4 for a daily driver is a very good choice. The 04 comes in a 6 speed so you are going to get decent gas milage and a great car for the winter months…
my .02