Try searching for a VAG-COM tool in your area, theres a link out there, just search the archives, even though you may not have a CEL on, its possible there is a soft-code waiting for you to look at, it may be something simple that is fairly inexpensive, better to check the ECU for code then trouble shoot by throwing $$ at it. Oh and BTW, you can be a college student and own an Audi, FTW. Now being a college student with a Porsche, thats out of most leagues. Also, the tranny thing, I have a similar deal, I always use E-brake now, Seems its better to use the brake to keep the car from rolling forward then the tranny. If I dont, it will "POP" into gear, eitehr way, sometimes I have to press the brake down hard, and then gently shift into R_N_D_Tip to keep from popping sometimes. Tips suck, if I ever buy another Audi it will be a RS6 with 6M. Good luck kenneddw

'01 A6 2.7T Quattro
Performance: APR Stage 1 ~ APR Cat-back ~ EVO V-flow CAI ~ Vogtland sport suspension (Koni's) ~ H-sport sways front/back ~ Bridgestone Potenza RE760s 235/40ZR18 (summers) ~ Tip00032 ~ Apikol snub mount
Reliability: Samco TBB ~ Samco Upper Boost Hoses ~ Forge DV ~ Elf Synth w/ MANN ~ 93oct ~ Mintex Pads/R1 Concept Rotors ~ ATE SuperBlue ~ Timing belt/Valve covers/and plenty more (trust me).
Eye candy: 18x8 RS6(Achtuning reps) ~ RS6 trunk lip spoiler ~ OEM grille =) ~ B-Raudi6 Deutsch front tag ~ Smoked side markers ~ 30% Tint ~ A6 All-season rubber mats ~ LEDs-reds/hyperwhites ~ Smoked plate cover/Quattro logo frame ~ A6 debadged- 2.7T Quattro relocated to drivers side.
Future plans: Clear Corners, Milltek DPs, x-pipe catback, AWE ICs,