Re: Bosal Tips

[Chris Woodward <cwoodward@earthlink.net>]

John Legelis wrote:

> Hi -
>
> IMHO, if you really want an A4 that performs, then I really feel that your current car is *not* the right one to start with.  Sure, it's got the 1.8T motor, which is a great place to start, but no Quattro, and and Automatic???  You can't begin to put gobs of power down with only FWD, and as good as the 5 speed auto is, it still eats up torque and turns it in to heat, instead of propelling you down the road.
>
> These are just my opinions, not a flame - I just hate to see people mis-spending their hard earned money.
>
> Oh yea - and watch out for Nitrous - a very quick way to melt pistons, if not done correctly.
>
> Been there...
>
> Regards,
> John Legelis
> Boston
> '97A4Q
>
> ps  And, if  you really want to learn how to drive, join a club that has track days and learn to go fast with the equipment you have, not what you can bolt on...

  John,

Don't get me wrong.  I don't disagree with much of what you're saying.  However, I think you may have misinterpreted most of what I said in my original message.  The comments about nitrous, a bigger turbo, etc.  were made in jest.  I understand that the FWD auto is not the ideal base for performance mods.  However, being a full-time student with no real job, I'm not doing too badly driving an A4 period.  The
fact that it's a FWD is because I live in the south and preowned quattros, especially A4's, are quite difficult to find.  And pruchasing a fully-loaded quattro brand new was just not going to happen on my budget.  The fact that it's an automatic (non-tip) was a mistake.  Auto was my choice when I purchased the A4, after owning 3 sticks previously.  I had decided that I was tired of shifting and I hoped the
5-sp auto would give me most of a manual's performance without the hassle of shifting.  Traffic sucks here in Atlanta, and you don't get to take advantage of having a stick that much anyway.  Should I have it to do over again, I would purchase a manual in a heartbeat, though.  However, I like what I have, and I think I'm just going to make the best of it.  My car, with Eibach's and 17X8 wheels shod with
Potenza S-02 Pole Position rubber handles MUCH better than stock, and I think some Koni's and a front stressbar would result in even more improvement.  As far as increasing power, I think I'm finished in that dept.  You are correct, there's just not that much more performance to be squeezed out of there with the sorry slushbox that Audi fitted on the '97 1.8T.  But shooting me down because I'm not lucky enough
to drive a quattro is simply irrational.  How many GTI's or Jetta's do you see in the various magazines with 250 or 300 horespower.  Tons!  It can be done with FWD.  This isn't a Chevy Citation.  The FWD is not THAT bad!!!!

Bottom line is, however, that I'm not going to throw away tons more money on silly performance mods.  I would never reap any benifits from them because I just don't NEED them.  I'm only aiming to have a fairly quick, excellent-handling, and distinctive ride.  And I think I'm close to (if I haven't already) accomplishing that.

As far as learning to "really" drive, I simply don't have time for driving school quite yet.  I also don't have time for flight lessons or skydiving school.  I don't even have time to fly the R/C airplane I built last year.  One day..........

Chris
'97 A4ta
11.1 psi TAP chip, Jamex Filter, Eibach Springs, 17x8 Borbet Type-Ts, Bridgestone Potenza S-02 Pole Position, BroSpeed Exhaust Tips