Which Audi? (Performance, Upgrades, etc..)

[Dinh Bowman]

Howdy All,

I'm currently in the market for an Audi and I'm having a hard time
trying to decide which one to get...

I have a couple problems.. I want to really upgrade the car...  I want a
platform that I can really build on.. Turbos, etc..   I want quattro.  I
want a nice interior ( I want to do some internal functional upgrades
also.. I.e. my own computer system etc..)  I also don't have ALOT to
spend.. I think I can barely afford something in the $15k range to start
off with...

So I need some advice...  I currently have an '87 BMW 325iS which is fun
to drive (except in the rain..) but isn't cosmetically a show stopper..
(dings, rust, etc.)  So I'm having problems justifying putting more
money and time into it in upgrading. I am sort of wanting a Nice car to
begin with and then make it supurb.

The newer S4's are pretty amazing but I think those are out of my price
range right now. So I'm looking at A4's...  My questions are:

* What are some major differences between the A4's & S4's.. and between
A4's and A6's->A8's.

* Is there a website that gives a timeline for manufacturer
modifications per/year.. I want to know the difference between a 2000 A4
and a '97 A4. etc..

* What is a better performance platform to work on for A4's? The 1.8 or
2.8? (Since I think the 3.0's are out of my league).

* How much headache is there in setting up a biturbo in either the 1.8
or 2.8?

* I haven't seen much talk about turbos on 2.8s for A4's? Am I just
missing something or is this just NOT done.. -> "You get a 1.8 to do
that stuff with..."?

* What's the consensus on HID lights? When did they first appear? It
sounds like they're a $1500-2000 upgrade to existing non-HID cars...?


Thank you kindly,

-Dinh Bowman-