Guys,

I'm torn between a 1.8T manual and 1.8T Tip. I'm a young and sometimes
quite passionate driver, but no racer. Does the 1.8T with tip have enough
juice? I won't be racing anyone off the line, but I'm more concerned with
the feeling of not having purchased a car with enough power. Reasons
for not getting a manual:
1) Traffic
2) SF hills
3) Not used to driving stick (especially on 30 degree incline hills)

Any suggestions?

I should also mention that I want a quattro.

You're options are:

1) Get the stick, it really makes the 1.8T shine, a few weeks and you will be confident on any incline.

2) Get the 1.8T Tip, but my opinion only if you are willing to chip it. Many on this board have chipped Tips and report the car's giddyap is vastly improved. You can also buy a chip for the Tiptronic transmission as well, to make it shift faster. Quite frankly, an unchipped 1.8T Tip is a pretty slow car, at least I thought so when I tested it.

3) Get the Tip, but spring for the 2.8. Still not a burner by any means, but I could live with the Tip and the 2.8 combo. I think it is a much better match. I haven't driven a chipped 1.8T Tip, though.

Just my 2 pennies.

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

Driving on San Francisco hills with no stick driving experience can be quite exasperating. SF Bay area in general is a big tired left leg for operating clutch. I have a 1.8t tip and find it quite convenient with the option of putting it into tip for more control over what gears i'm in.
This of course is just my opinion, but drive both and see what YOU think.

Even with the automanual shifting it was slow. My normal daily driver is a 98.5 2.8M, so to me the 1.8T with tip would be unbearable. IMHO.

I can not believe how many people are willing to just accept someone else's opinion. I know that seeking advice from fellow enthusiasts is a major reason this forum was established, but buying the car should be based on personal experience. If I had not test driven all the cars I was interested in, I might have bought a BMW! (Heaven forbid)

I bought the A4 Avant 1.8TQ Tip and I live in the Bay Area, I'm quite happy with the Tip. I drove a 5-speed for years but got tired of all the shifting in Bay Area traffic.

I moved up from a Honda Civix EX Coupe and let me tell you, the Tip with the 1.8T does not feel slow. I had 4 adults in the car yesterday, stuck in S.F. traffic and was I glad I had the Tip! Also, even with 4 adults in the car, power was adequate. I know that 0-60 times are ~10 seconds but the car *feels* a lot faster than that. I'm still breaking the car in and I have yet to really push my 99.5 A4 Avant.

One other thing. I test drove a Subaru Outback (what a dog!) Limited (4spd Auto) and this car definitely felt underpowered (0-60 ~10.5s), the A4 does not. Also, 0-60 times do not reveal all. The Tip probably (speculation since I have no numbers to back this up) loses most of it's acceleration advantage off the line as compared to a manual.

On the other hand, if I were a younger driver and wanted the best performance, the manual would definitely be the way to go. Test drive, test drive, test drive...