A4 -- 1.8t and V6 owner experiences requested

[c a l i b a n]

I'd like to invite owners of A4s to discuss engine selections.  Background:
later this year I'm looking to add an A4 quattro to the Fisher scuderia, and
am trying to get a sense of the differences in feel, usable power, and
long-term satisfaction between the two powerplants.  The car I get will have
a manual gearbox and quattro, and will probably either have the factory
Sport suspension or get aftermarket shocks soon after I purchase it.

I know the basic specs on both powerplants, and we currently own a '93
100CSQ with the 2.8L and 4-speed autobox, so I've had the occasion to
experience the highs and lows of the 12V, at least -- love the way it revs,
hate the big hole in the gearing between 1st and 2nd, but that's not the
engine's fault (and this is, and will stay, my wife's car).  The ease of
"fiddling with" the 1.8t -- a chip here, a larger intercooler there, a
bigger turbo later, etc. -- is very appealing to me, and I understand the V6
has far less aftermarket stuff available for it, but may need it less (with
190-200 bhp, depending on year, in the 30V version).

	the 2.8 has decent useable power - you'll see.  i only drove
	the tip, though, i bet the manuals are way better because of
	the weight.  what it lacked, for me, was oomph - the rush, i
	guess.  i'd have gone with the 2.8 if the 1.8t had turned
	out to be louder or more vibratey (higher rpm's) but it's
	quite a refined, calm, SUPER quiet car.

Of course, a lot will depend on how it feels to drive the cars -- I won't
make a final decision without driving each car, obviously.  But I wanted to
ask existing A4 owners a few questions about your engine choice from the
perspective of having owned the car for a while, and having the benefit of
hindsight.  So if I may...

	i have a 2000 a4 avant quattro 1.8t - winter package, sport
	package, convenience package, xenon hid's, navigation system,
	premium audio, every option available except tip and cd changer.
	delivered in mid feb 2000, and i have about 18k miles on it now.

What influenced your decision to choose the engine you did?

	ease of tunability, and i love turbos.  i have an urquattro
	and got addicted to the rush of a chipped turbo.  also, i can
	untune (remove the ecu and replace it with my stock one) in
	case i have to deal with the dealer or want to sell it.

	also, the 2.8 is $5k more - rip off, imo, since getting more
	out of it would cost another $5k (supercharger), be noisy,
	and *much* harder to remove without a trace.  i could afford
	a 2.8 with a supercharger, but that's crazy when an s4 costs
	about the same amount.

	if i wanted a tipper, i'd go with the 2.8, because 1.8t
	stock tippers really feel slow.

Do you think you made the right decision?

	yes.  the only thing i ever wonder about is if it would have
	been better to wait a year for the s4 avant to come out - i
	would have ordered one of those had they been available.  at
	the time, though, i needed a car *now*.  and i could get one
	now if i wanted, as my avant is still worth about $33k.
	now i know, though, that not only do i want a 2.7t in my
	avant, but i want more interior room and greater towing
	capacity and i want kick ass clearance - basically, an
	allroad.  my gf has been very kind in helping me to resist
	ordering an allroad.  if the markets turn around and i
	start getting large piles of cash thrown at me again, i will
	probably order the allroad though.  that car seriously needs
	chipping, and to be manual - the tippers are what, 800 pounds?!

What's your favorite characteristic of the engine you selected?

	well, i already professed that i love turbos.  other things
	appealed too - the trim for instance!  i dislike the silver
	window trim/roof rack on the 2.8 enough that if the 1.8 came
	with silver and the 2.8 black i'd have paid extra for the
	dealer to change my avant to black.  but overall it's the
	turbo and the mileage that i like.

What's your least favorite?

	no leather seats! :(

Do you have any modifications (chip, bigger turbo, intercooler, exhaust,
etc.)?  Do you wish you did?  Do you wish you hadn't made some of the mods
you have?

	i bought an apr chip with an ecu.  the only regret is putting
	the "apr tuned" sticker on the car as i bet that's prevented a
	cop or two from letting me off with a warning for speeding ;)
	as is, the car satisfies me now.  i don't want to deal with
	exhaust and turbo changes and stuff - that's why i have an
	urquattro ;)

	oh, actually, i run snow tires on OEm urquattro rims in the
	winter, i guess that's a mod.

	next plans are OEM bra, OEM rubber wather floor mats, OEM
	mudflaps.

Completely aside from the engine discussion: what's your favorite thing
about the A4?  Least favorite?  First thing you'd change (or first thing you
did)?


	favorite?  the look of the avant, and the uniqueness of the
	avant.  and quattro of course.  the least favorite thing for
	me is the overall roominess - back seat is small, and it's
	small to get in and out of, though only as far as me scuffing
	the lower door panels with my shoes, just another thing to
	detail.

	first thing i did was get a yakima rack system, then came the
	chip.

I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a gigantic flame-fest, with the turbo guys
beating up the V6 owners because they can't get another 40 bhp just by
dropping in a chip, and the V6 owners beating up the turbo guys because they
HAVE to, or... you get the picture.  Respond to me or to the list, whichever
you think is appropriate, and feel free to go beyond the questions I've
asked here -- if there's something you particularly like (or dislike) about
your choice, let me know.

	yeah, my car is nearly perfect - for *me* :)

-- 
 rocky mullin - chaotic good
 http://caliban.sf.ca.us/
 two strokes are faster than four!
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