Hello everyone at a4.org, <br>After having been in the market for a new car for the better part of six months now, I've finally decided on an Audi A4. I don't feel the need to reiterate all the great things about this car that I have heard and read because all of you are already well aware of these, but I would like some input from owners who can give me a perspective different from that of my friendly local Audi salesman. <br>1. Anybody out there have any experience with Audi dealers in North or South Carolina?<br>2. I am interested in the 1.8t with front wheel drive, manual transmission, sport package, and sunroof. For you 1.8t owners, how has this engine held up for you as far as long-term reliability and maintenance? Aditionally, are you running synthetic engine oil, a turbo timer, and all those other things that the performance magazines preach?<br>3. Last, what do you like least about your cars and what improvements would you like to see that maybe I am not aware of?<br>Any and all responses, input, and general observations from you would be greatly appreciated.<br>Thanks and Happy New Year.

You wrote:<br>>I am interested in the 1.8t with front<br>>wheel drive, manual transmission, sport<br>>package, and sunroof. For you 1.8t owners,<br>>how has this engine held up for you as far<br>>as long-term reliability and maintenance<br>>Additionally, are you running synthetic<br>>engine oil, a turbo timer, and all those<br>>other things that the performance<br>>magazines preach?<p>I've got 30,000 miles on my '97 A4 1.8Tqms. The car has been great except for a broken turbo wastegate rod @ 28,000 miles. A new turbo was installed under warranty. I wouldn't worry as much about a new A4 as the '97s were known to have problems with the wastegate rod and the problem has been corrected on newer A4's. Also, my car was chipped @ 22,000 miles so that *may* have contributed to my problem, I'm not really sure.<p>I run Mobil-1 synthetic 10w-30 in winter, 15w-50 for the rest of the year. Synthetic has been used since first oil change @ 7,500 miles. IMHO, synthetic oil is a necessity in a turbocharged car especially if you like to drive hard ;-)<p>Turbo timer -- the general consensus on this forum is that these are not needed on the 1.8t engine. The main problem is that the factory alarm will not arm when the turbo timer is on. If you drive particularly hard, let the engine cool down for a minute or so before shutting it off. Otherwise, you can just shut it off.<p>Hope this helps.<p>Andy Hedin<br>'97 A4 1.8Tqms, Wett 1.0 Bar Chip, ABT Filter, Euro Headlights with<br>PIAA SuperWhite's, A!AvantGarde Grill, Smoked Side-Markers,<br>Clear Corner-Markers, Tint

I have '97 1.8T, FWD, manual. 1.0Bar Wett Chip (Best modification you can make; really changes the car's personality).<p>Be sure to get the sport suspension; that's the next mod I want to do. Non-sport is just a little too soft; still corners nicely, but you get a little too much back and forth when you shift. I'm glad I stayed FWD, avoiding the weight penalty. That's valid for Oklahoma, where it seldom rains or snows. In the Carolina's, you may wish you had Quattro: when it IS slick outside (1-2 days / year!), the chipped FWD car "lights 'em up" real easily!

I have a 98.5 1.8T FWD, manual transmission, and sunroof with about 21K on the clock. I have had only two very minor problems that were completely resolved under warranty. The outside temerature sensor was replaced when it was reading 45 degrees during the middle of summer in New Orleans, and the headlight washer pump had, according to my dealer, "split" and was also replaced. <p>The car has always run like a watch, and has never failed to start, or overheated or had any other serious malady. You will find all kinds of opinions regarding synthetic oil on this board, but I don't use it, hence I have no first hand knowlege in that regard. Turbo timers are not needed. A tip I picked up from this forum is to open the door with the engine running after you have parked the car. When the open door chime stops, you can shut the engine down (about 60 sec.)<p>My main complaint about the car is the poor cupholders, a really minor thing. <p>Hope this helps and happy motoring!!<p>Chris<br>98.5 1.8TM FWD<br>

If you are interested in the kind of car that A4 is, just go ahead and buy it. There is no drawback serious enough to prevent you from falling in love with it. Promise.