Gordon,

Yes, thanks for the input. I don't know what area you are from, but from your
post it sounded like you had sweated the decision between 1.8T and 2.8V6. I'm
in San Jose CA.

I've been test driving over the last week. I just turned down a black, fully
loaded `98.0 2.8Q at $26,500. Maybe it was a mistake, but it had 31,000 miles
on it and his story didn't quite check with the service history I got from his
dealer. Anyway, I'm getting sucked in to the better torque at low end and the
power seats, but the price is so much better for a fully loaded, brand spanking
new 1.8TQS. A test drive in a chipped 1.8T would really help my decision.

This is going to be a commute car because I'm moving 45min. away from work, so
I want comfort and luxury. The audio upgrade and sport package are a must, and
I like the power seats, yet maybe I should dump the automatic tiptronic? The
1.8T with automatic does feel a little slow from a dead start, and a manual is
cheaper/lighter. And I like the idea of adding the TAP stage 2 chip w/exhaust
for 225hp/$1500. Hell, this really is a tough decision.??????

Nice choice in color - I'd choose the Santorin blue, but I'll settle for black
if I can't find blue.

You're right, this discussion should go on the forum, so I'm going to post it
tonight.

Cheers,

Chris Eddington

1.8TQS or 2.8QS wanna-be

Gordon Martin wrote:

> This is a great question for the forum itself - but let's see if I can
> help...
>
> No one seems to have any complaints about the 1.8T. It is TUNEABLE. I
> also agree that if you want performance you have to keep the weight down.
> I test drove the 1.8T and the 2.8 - both were very smooth - but the 2.8 had
> a better sound (IMO). Very little turbo lag (if any) in the 1.8. There do
> not seem to be any reliability issues with either engine at this point (you
> see the occasional turbo failure - but it is the exeption and not the
> rule).
>
> I probably sound like I am selling you the 1.8T. In fact, that was my
> choice if I was buying new. I just couldn't justify an extra 6K for a
> slightly more powerful engine, power seats, and wood grain (although the
> idea of those things did appeal to me).
>
> I ended up buying the 2.8 used because it was a good deal. I got my 98.5
> 2.8 for about the same price I would have had to pay for a 99 1.8T - and it
> had all the options and colours I wanted! How could I say no? I used 98.5
> 1.8T would have only saved me 1-2K once I was in the used arena.
>
> I guess I will just have to bite the bullet and buy a PES supercharger ;-)
> You definately want more power for this car. Not because the car is
> underpowered - but because the power you do have just doesn't push the
> envelope of the rest of the incredible technology in this vehicle. You
> can't spin the tires (even in snow it seems) and braking is a non-issue
> (I've done 150K to 0 in like 10 feet with no cares in the world). You do
> want to feel like you have the option of making a tactical mistake - and
> more power might give you that ;-))))
>
> Regrets? None. This car is not a smart car to drive from an economics
> standpoint - but once you drive it you just have to say "what the ****!"
> (sorry). You'll plow through tires like butter - you'll guzzle gas like
> water - and your ticket count will go way up - but it's all your own fault
> ;-)
>
> Well, I hope I've helped.
>
> Your lucky to have caught me checking my e-mails. You have another 10
> minutes for a reply and then I'm off to bed - I'll check for you tomorrow.
>
> Gordon Martin
> 98.5 2.8QMS (Santorin Blue)
>
> P.S. Why did you pick me? - Where are you located?
>
> ----------
> > From: Chris Eddington <chrise@8x8.com>
> > To: gordon.martin@sympatico.ca
> > Subject: 1.8T or 2.8
> > Date: Monday, August 02, 1999 11:57 PM
> >
> > Hi Gordon,
> >
> > I just noticed your email post on the www.a4.org forum. It seems like
> > you may have gone through the decision process which I'm facing - buying
> > a 1.8T or 2.8 V6. The tunability, lighter weight, lower cost, and
> > better gas mileage of the 1.8T are enticing me, but my instinct says
> > that the turbo may be a maintenance problem and in general I like the
> > idea of a smoother V6. What kind of information do you have comparing
> > the two (reliability especially)? What finally made you go with a 2.8?
> > Any regrets or problems?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chris

I test drove both (long with no dealer) the 1.8T and 2.8 both 99.5's with sport packages. My wife new how bad I wanted the A4. I did the 1.8T first and had a huge grin when I showed up at my house to show my wife. What a huge difference from my Acura 2.5TL. Then I went back to get the 2.8 and while it was slightly quicker and smoother, it wasn't as dramatic as going from my Acura to the A4 1.8T.

So why did I choose the 2.8? I was not inclined to "tune" the 1.8T, IMO the 2.8 was quiter and smoother and like my wife said "you waited so long for this make sure you get everything you want with no regrets". So getting that green light I picked up a 99.5 2.8QMS/Bose/Leather/Moonroof/Trip Santorin Blue w/Clay Advance about a month ago from the dealer's lot.

I love this car but Gordon is right about wanting even more (PES?) because the car is engineered so well that more power would only make it better. About 20% of the time, I wish I was more patient and more thrifty so I could have saved more for an S4. But overall you should be really satisfied with either model. A good friend of mine just picked up a loaded 1.8T about a week ago and his e-mail's have been estatic about the car.

Hope this helps...
-->Arch57

You must answer these for yourself before you make up your mind.

If the answer No. 1 is manual transmission, then the 1.8T is very competitive and a solid choice. I personally wouldn't have bought a 1.8T Tiptronic (even with the idea of chipping, though some have chipped 1.8T Tips on this board and been very pleased with results). If you want the Tip, I'd lean hard toward the 2.8.

If you want both a manual and want to chip, then in my mind the 1.8T is a no-brainer. A stage 1 chipped 1.8T is faster, lighter (slightly better handling, IMO), and more fun to drive than a manual 2.8. But you have to be willing to deal with the idea of potential warranty hassles involved with chipping.

I just was not all that impressed with the engine in the 2.8. I was coming off a '95 Maxima SE manual, and frankly, the Nissan V6 was quite a bit better in most every respect. (Don't get me wrong, the A4 2.8 is a far superior car to the Maxima in every other way. Just not the engine). I wasn't all that impressed with the 1.8T in stock form, either, but I knew I would chip it and I'm absolutely thrilled with the tuned 1.8T powerplant. It's a blast.

The other consideration, luxury, is also a no-brainer. While the 1.8T interior is very nice, in my opinion it does not compare to the leather and wood trim in the 2.8. If this is very important to you, then I'd recommend the 2.8 manual loaded to the gills with goodies.

BDW
'99 1.8Tqms (Wett, K&N)