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

[ricematthews]

Dinh:

I'm surprised that nobody jumped in here to answer some of your questions
yet.  Maybe the A4 list did.

Performance upgrades on the 1.8T cars are cheaper than the 2.8's.
Basically, a chip gets you a lot and a chip and upgraded turbo gets you a
whole lot.    I'm not sure of the costs involved with a replacement turbo,
but a 97-99 A4 1.8T can often be had for under 15,000 and a chip should be
sub-500 or so.  The 97-00 1.8T cars had 150 hp stock.  The 01 cars had 170.

That's not to say that the 2.8's aren't worthwhile, but the only serious DIY
upgrade I know for them (for the 30 valve 98-01 cars anyway) is the PES
Supercharger kit.  They claim something like 285 hp, but it'll set you back
4,000.  That on top of at least 15,000 for a '98 30 valve A4 2.8 more than
burns your budget.  The 96-97 2.8's had the 12 valve motors (172 hp vs. 190
for the 30v cars.  Good motors, but I don't think there is much out there
for them except a throttle body upgrade, air filter/intake upgrades and
exhaust systems.

As for interiors, leather wasn't available on the 1.8 cars - if that matters
to you.

For a great car that is upgradeable and in your range, I would scout out a
200Q - preferably a 1991 model or a 92-93 S4 and have a ball.  They are
becoming more affordable, the engines are bulletproof and upgrades for the
turbo 5 cylinder engines are plentiful.

For model specifics, go to www.audiworld.com.  Click on "Model Guide" and
then "Historical".  There are some good technical specs there.

For places to buy, check the Classifieds here (at Audifans), at Audiworld
and ar www.s-cars.org.

Good luck!

-Mark

'98 A4 Avant Quattro 2.8
ex-'86 4000CS Quattro
ex-'89 200 Turbo Quattro


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-