I've never owned a manual before, but after driving a friends manual, I though, man, what if my a4 was a manual. So I'm considering upgrading cars. Here are my questions:<br>1. Is quattro worth it? Should I fork out the money to upgrade?<br>2. How much of a pain in the butt is manual if I do a fair amount of bumper to bumper driving?<br>3. Should I go with a 1.8T and chip it, or go with the 2.8?<p>I'd appreciate any feedback.<p>Matt

<br>I just bought a 98.75 1.8TQMS about a month ago. Never owned a manual car in my life. But I'm converted! I live in Toronto, so I'm not sure how the winter's gonna be (I'm sure Quattro will take care of that), and I also do a fair bit of bumper to bumper driving. Once you get the hang of it (unless you already know), it's not much trouble. It hasn't pissed me off yet anyway. Go for the manual!

Get the manual!<p>I had a 5 speed Mustang GT and traded it in for an automatic Explorer when I got fed up with my winter driving woes. I feel like I am falling asleep when driving the Explorer because there is nothing to do. No excitement. I can not wait for my A4 to arrive. I test drove a manual A4 and loved it.<p>I do a lot of city driving and I was not annoyed at all with the manual. I also found that it gave a lot more control in adverse conditions like snow and ice.<p>Just my $.02.<p>TGB 1999 1.8T qMS

I drive into San Francisco with my A4 on occasion (use my 98 Mustang for daily commuting) and the manual added with traffic doesn't bother me... actually I would never own another automatic again (my last one was a '95 Honda Accord V6)...

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Matt,<p>I traded my 98 1.8TQ tiptronic for a manual two months ago. The performance (and fun factor) difference is truly night and day. This is my first manual car, and I love it. I wish someone would have beat me over the head eight months ago when I ordered the automatic, I never would've done it, and would've saved some $$$ too.<p>If you can afford the trade, just do it!<p>Tom P.<br>

<br>Well, it hasn't snowed or anything yet (contrary to common belief that it ALWAYS snows in Canada ;-) ), but I can tell you the thing feels like it corners on rails. I have the optional sport package, so that helps, but I've felt the quattro on a couple of occasions, and yea it helps. I was at a stop sign making a right, and decided to gas it and get off to a jackrabbit start...well, as I was turning, the inside wheels (front and back) felt like they spun a bit as I was pulling away, but then it was gone in a flash and the car just shot around the corner, now wheelspin nothing, like it was on rails. I'll tell you my old FWD car couldn't do that. If you ask me, Quattro is worth it!<p>I'm of course assuming that it was the quattro that transferred the power to the outside wheels (which were not spinning). My humble apologies if I'm wrong, I'm no expert on the Quattro system by any means.<p>-Ash 98.75 1.8TQMS (looking for the right chip)

Matt,<p>I wouldrecommend that you test drive your friend's car in bumper-to-bumper traffic situations. I have a manual ...and really love driving it on the open roads.However at times during rush-hour when I am tired from work..it is hard to concentrate on the constant stop & go driving situations.<br>Of the Quattro..GO FOR IT..!!!! My car felt as if it was riding on rails despite driving after a heavy snowstorm....!!!<p>Kandiah<br>97 2.8QM

Tom, for how much loss did you traded your "old" one (8 months, right)? I mean, how much did you get vs. how much you paid vs. the sticker... <br>This is just to check how much the dealer slime will rip me off when I trade my 98 1.8Tm for a TT. Thanks.