89-90 200Q performance

[Brooks Ellis <brooks@fortnet.org>]

    I have pretty much decided to buy a 200 Q of '89 or '90 year, but as 
I was test driving them, they just didn't feel that hot. They were 
extremly sluggish from the line, but once I got >3k RPM, it raced (pretty 
well) through the RPMs until I shifted, then it would start again... A 
Little push, then all of the sudden a big (short) rush of power until I 
shifted. It was a HOT day (~95 or so), but it was dry. The AC was 
pretty much on the whole time - could this be the major factor in my 
dissapointment? I didn't get a whole lot more performance with it off, 
but it was better. ( it was really really hot though. my 130hp 100Q felt 
like it had the full timing retard giving me a good hundred HP )
    This led me to reconsider my decision to get a Turbo 5-cyl...I 
considered simply putting a hotter cam in my 100Q, and praying for speed. 
I am now reconsidering the 200q, but I was wondering what mods list 
people have done, or know of ( preferably low cost ) to bump up the 
power. I could deal with the low-low end torque + HP is the top end was 
better, or the turbo spooled up faster.
     Things I am considering :
    K&N filter (for sure), I would assume that this would help the turbo spool
up faster, thus improving response. I assume it would help a little bit with 
off boost performance, but not enough to really matter.         
    An intercooler sprayer (probably at WOT), I think this would help, 
especially in the hot weather.
    A homemade Ram-Air system, I have heard on the list that this doesn't 
work well with the 5-cyl cars, at least the normally asperated cars. I 
was thinking that it would work with the turbo, since it does go through 
the intercooler and compressor first...has anyone tried this? Is it a 
lost cause? Or maybe an OK idea? ( I might go ahead and try this with my 
100Q 5cyl, but that's going to be a whole 'nether post. (but, if you 
think I will fry my engine trying this, by all means, tell me ))
    an Intended acceleration upgrade. I think that this will be a stage 1 
upgrade up ~60HP or so..I don't think the stage 2 will work with this 
engine, but I may be wrong. (besides, the highest octane I can get is 91)
I was also wondering how the different upgrades work, because I am 
considering the stage III as soon as I can afford it, and was wondering 
if I would get some kind of credit for the stage I upgrade. ( $1500+ is a 
chunk o change). I was also wondering what the stage III upgrade is 
exactly - I would imagine a stiffer wastegate spring, upgraded computer, 
and an upgraded turbo. (?)
    A turbo upgrade - I was wondering what would happen if I put an S2/S4 
or a RS2 turbo vane in the old 10v engine..good, bad..what? would I get 
improved low end torque? just improved high end? not enough of an 
improvment to justify it anywhere? Anyone tried this turbo upgrade?
    A NOS kit. I would see if I could get a NOS controller to dump the 
NOS in for a couple of seconds, until the turbo spooled up, when I hit 
WOT. I would use small NOS injectors and a timer so I didn't stress my 
engine, and don't use too much NOS, and don't run on NOS all the time 
instead of my turbo. ( you know I would if I had enough NOS ) 
  
 I think (whew..!) that that is about it. I hope you read this far, and 
have something to help me out in my quest for AudiKnowHow. ( I was going 
to post a bunch of different messages, but hey, lets face it, its hard 
enough to read ONE of my messages, much less four or five of them )

Thanks in advance, 
Brooks