I own a 97 automatic 1.8T, sport package, factory cd changer, sport seats, cold weather package, and sunroof. The car is in perfect shape with 37,500 miles.

I really want a 99.5 QMS, with the trip computer. It almost seems like a large expense for almost the same car. Are xenon lights the only new addition to the 2000 cars?

Has anyone compared the new sport package to the original one. I hear the new version is lower and more aggressive.

One is what you'd expect to pay a dealer to buy that car

and the other is what you'd expect to recieve for your car if you were to trade it in.

The thousands of dollars difference due to the work that the dealer has to go through to get the car up to levels of safety, etc to resell it.

The "Sport" package on '97 1.8T's included the following:

1) Sport seats covered in Jacquard satin cloth
2) 16" 5-spoke alloys (same as 2.8 alloys) with all-season tires (I had the Continental ContiTouring)
3) Three-spoke sport steering wheel (just slightly different than the new ones...most people can't see the differences, but if you have a sharp eye you'll notice)

The new "Sport" package includes:

1) Three-spoke sport steering wheel.
3) 16" 7-spoke alloys (10-spoke on '00 models) with Dunlop SP-Sport 8000E "summer" tires (way better than the crappy all-seasons, but you'll need real snow tires if you see snow during the winter)
4) Sport suspension which includes stiffer/lower springs (20mm lower than normal suspension) and different shocks (matched to springs). Also, the swaybars are different. Front swaybar is 28mm solid (stock on my 1.8t was 28mm hollow) and the rear bar is 16mm solid(stock on my 1.8t was 12mm solid.

<A HREF="Mailto:andy_hedin@hotmail.com">Andy Hedin</A>
'97 A4 1.8Tqms, Garrett 1.0 Bar, ABT Filter, APR/Borla Exhaust, Euro Headlights, more...

I first had the springs and shocks installed....what a big difference! Improved the handling in the twisties. Slightly "harsher" ride over bumps but certainly livable for S.E. PA roads (i.e., horrible).

Then I installed the swaybars and noticed a nice improvement in cornering attitude.

But now I'm thinking about H&R coil-overs as they are the sh!t...*extremely* comfortable and great control of ride-motions. Probably over-kill for a car that doesn't see track time, but I might get them anyway.

Andy Hedin

for the reasons you gave why even buy a new car? Do you just want something new? You'll basically be getting the same car. Oh yeah it will be slightly better but is it worth it to you? Only you can decide. Good luck.