A4 1.8tq auto trans

[Steve Manning <stephenm@ix.netcom.com>]

I have a friend w/an early '97 A4 1.8tq with the auto trans who is looking
for more power.  Does anyone know if there is the same issue with the auto
trans on the A4q as there was on the 5k/200 turbo fwd cars in terms of
absorbing power?  It's pretty common knowledge (?!) that the turbo fwd cars
w/an auto trans were limited in how much extra power they could absorb
without breaking (i.e. the electronic limitation of boost in 1st gear,
etc.), but how much of that was due to having only two driven wheels vs.
four, and how much was due to an overstressed trans?

In other words, if you are going to hop up a 1.8tq (say maybe to around
250hp), should you be doing that only to a 5-speed?  All the A4 tuner cars
I've seen written up have been 5-speeds, but no one has said the auto was
unusable in high horsepower conditions.  Any experience from anyone?.......SLM

Steve Manning:	stephenm@ix.netcom.com (Metro D.C. area, USA)
.....Mainly Mopars, an '88 Audi 90Q, other stuff