What would be the most effective thing I can do to improve the performance of my 97 A6 Q?

... cannot afford to do any significant engine re-work, but would like a *noticable* boost in acceleration.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.abnormallyaspirated.com">http://www.abnormallyaspirated.com</a</li></ul>

What single thing would make the best peformance increase? A whole new intake system? Is that the solution? Would any one device help to start with?

What are we looking at for improvement? 0-50 in X secs instead of ??? secs?

I'm a believer, not a skeptic ... but which components, and at what price? ... and what gain in return?

Anything more that I can read about this hardware?

Thanks btw!

then the MAF which will ad another noticeable gain, then the throttle body for another solid gain that will further enhance what you've already done.

It lists how restrictive the factory components are in comparison to eachother.<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/12v/msgs/20024.phtml">http://forums.audiworld.com/12v/msgs/20024.phtml</a></li></ul>

Are all of these available from one source (Abnormally Aspirated?), or several?

Has anyone gone the whole route with this yet? ...other than the manufacturer (hats off in respect)?

Original UrS4 post:

1. MAF housing
2. MAF screen
3. Stock plastic plenum
4. Plastic accordian hose
5. Throttle body
6. Airbox inlet
7. Airbox outlet

The key to any/all of these items is to allow the engine to breather easiser, more efficiently. To prevent negative pressure (vacuum) from occuring in the intake tract. Not a single thing I offer makes or creates CFM but rather only allows the engine to pull more CFM easier without building vacuum in the intake tract.

CFM is a little mis-leading but it's the only measure of airflow available to me/us. We can't even flow the CFM's I usually test at. But we can benefit from that increased CFM via reduced intake tract vacuum and how hard the engine has to work pulling air in for combustion.

Let's say we are actually using 300CFM for simple math. The car may be able to pull that 300CFM thru all of the obstructions in the intake tract but it may be working harder than necesary at anything above 250CFM. But it will have more power, better throttle response if it's pulling thru a tract that flows 400CFM before suffering a depression... and so on and so on.

7/29/03
Mance,
Now that I have had 4 days of driving on the
CAI &amp; VS upgrades, here are my observations:
seems to have more power between shifts,
revs easier, and more power in the upper RPM ranges.
I have been surprised at how quickly the revs
increase between shifts. That is where I first
began to notice the difference.
The upper RPM ranges translates into more power
to pass cars when I am doing 40-60 MPH.
Thanks for the upgrades.
Keep working on more goodies.
Sincerely,

Another One...
9/13/03 - The previous milage just before
installation of UrS4's ported MAF plus
Stage 2 Hose Kit = 14.6 MPG.
The 962 miles since installation of the MAF
= 17.1 MPG. A 17% increase!
I had previously installed UrS4's CAI &amp; VS.
Before all that, I had installed TDL's
bored TB.
3/7/04 - 964 miles from 2/4/04-3/17/04
and the average mileage = 17.2. In Dec. 03
I had to have the heads rebuilt &amp; also Ported
&amp; Polished them at the same time. I continue
to get better milage.
1995 Audi Sport 90 Quattro

I can appreciate the better passing feature. I tried to pass someone at 55 the other day and the Audi just parked behind the guy in front of me. No power whatsoever. The car was full of people though, and that might have been too much for 2.8L. However my 3.3L Chrysler minivan loaded with people will really crouch down, so I'm mulling over all this (lack of) performance ... that must be hiding in that engine block somewhere.

Better mileage? Great!