A4Q considerations, power enhancement

[Achille Riviello <acriviel@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu>]

Hi all,

As an owner of an Audi for the last 10 years, I am not deterred by the 5000
bad press and am considering purchasing a 1986 A4 Quattro.  I've test driven
it twice and mostly like what I feel.  The salesguy even told me to take it
to a dirt/gravel road--so I did.  What grip on loose dirt!!

Anyway, there are a few questions I have.  First, a minor one.  This A4Q's
blower fan was ***really*** noisy at high fan speed settings.  Anyone seen
similar things or is it just this unit?

More seriously, the 172 hp just doesn't seem as peppy as I thought it would.
A bit to background first.  My 83 4000s has 200k+ miles on it, a bike roof
rack on the top.  When 2 bikes are loaded up there and I hit a stiff
headwind, I'm lucky to be doing 60!!  Granted, the car is a bit old and
worn, but I simply cannot hold 5th gear in such conditions.  The low-end HP
and torque just won't cut it.  I guess after a couple of years of suffering
from this has given me a power complex. (I feel like Tim Allen....)  I have
briefly looked into a "hot-rod" chip (engine retune chip) for the A4Q and
have found one that boosts the HP and torque approximately 10% across the
rpm range ($500).  This sounds good off hand.  As a matter of fact, I have
found a package that will boost the HP up to 240!  Runs about $4000.  The
question:  what will this sort of modification, particularly the chip, do to
the factory warrenty?  Does anyone have experience with such chips?  Should
I toss it to the wind and get an M3?  (Don't you wish they made an M3x?)  If
I could get a BMW540i in 6-speed manual with all the bells and whistles for
(only) $10k more than the A4Q, should I go with that?  I've been looking now
for a while and have narrowed the choice down to those 3 cars.  Any
suggestions?  

Achille Riviello
acriviel@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu
83 4000s, 200k+ miles
potential A4 Quattro