Hi Everyone,

I have lurking here for a while, I am looking at getting a 96-97 1.8TQ in the next couple of months.

I don't think I can afford a 98-99 model, but is there really that much difference?

Is there anything I should specifically look for when buying?

Getting an earlier model, does this limit my mods? I am only looking at at getting a GIAC chip (which I read a good review about on here) and new springs shocks and wheels. How much would I be looking at for this chip, and do I have to change anything else?

Thanks for any help, and I hope to be a new owner soon.

nathan

stay away from the 96 as it's a really differenct ECU and that will really limit your chipping options.
In regards to the difference the 1996-97 ones are 110kw and the 1997-8 ones are 132 kw.
Details of the difference can be found on this site as well.
Hope this will help.

Yes the 96 model has a different ecu that is more difficult to modify, they also have the uglier rear lights. Additionally the 96 does not have the sports suspension in the Quattro models. The 97, 98 Turbo Quattro, and Turbo non Quattro models are 110kw. It is only the 99+ Quattro models that are 132kw.

Audi released an update in mid 99, commonly called the 99.5. This has an updated interior, fog lights, different rear lights and other cosmetic changes.

For Turbo Quattro models look to pay around the following depending on options:
96 = ~$26000
97 = ~$33000
98 = ~$35000
99 = ~$40000
99.5 = ~$43000

You will pay about a 3-5k premium for Quattro.

If anything I have written is incorrect, im sure someone will correct me.

The difference after chipping in performance can be minimal in most cases. I believe with a 132kw car the gains from chipping are not as great (still better though) as with a 110kw car so they end up very close regardless of their initial starting point.
Talk to Lucas from GIAC regarding which model is the better to chip as i think it is more to do with the ECU in the later models which have more parameters etc and thus the tuner is able to get better results. Anyway I'm sure he will set you straight.
Look for Lucas_Gchips in this forum.

Were there any changes made to the 98 model that fixed some of the defects in the 97?

I don't really care about cosmetic changes such as updates to the shift knob or something, but if there were changes made to things like suspension or the engine then it might be worth paying an extra few grand for it?

As far as I know there is not much difference between the 97 or 98 models. The big changes came in the trasitions from 96-97 98-99 99-99.5.

The sports suspension came standard on the 97TQ.

Like every update, they add more & more goodies such as trip computer, cruise control, leather, stiffer bracing etc etc. I'm sure if you do a search of Audiworld you will find which model came with what. There is not much difference between '97 & '98 as most of these extras happened later.