I saw this posted to the Q-List (link below)... Anyone have something to back this up, or should it be filed in the same drawer as those old 180hp 1.8T rumors...<p>Jeff<ul><li><a href="http://coimbra.ans.net/cgi-bin/lwgate/QUATTRO/archives/quattro.981101/Subject/article-51.html">1999(.5?) Model Year Changes from Q-List</a></li></ul>

nt<br>

You mean my 1999 1.8T qMS is already out of date and I haven't even received it yet?<p>TGB

I don't doubt the authenticity of your information. I just hate it when manufacturers make major changes in the middle of the model year. Audi has already pulled this stunt once with the A4 2.8 on the 1998/1998.5 models, but these new changes are even more substantial.<p>Don't get me wrong. I am all for product improvement, but Audi should get its act together and time these relatively major changes to coincide with the new model release (either 1999 or 2000). These mid-year changes only confuse and anger customers whose brand new 1999 car already looks dated because it was produced one week earlier than the 1999.5 cut-off date. Just my opinion.

:)

I remember riding in the Passat that Wetterauer was taking to the Dyno and thinking "Hey, why does the cheaper car have cooler grab handles?"!<p>I see they finally fixed that. They seem to be the same handles in appearance, but feel much more expensinve with the "soft" retract rather than the "slam" from the current ones.<p>I know, it's a minor detail, but I noticed it . . . .

If this is true, I'm going to wait until mid-January to order my A4. Can anyone verify these changes as being factual?

I agree. It seems as if this would hamper moving the 1999 products, particularly due to the absence of a production gap.<p>Will Audi cease shipping mid-year for a month or so to allow dealers to liquidate the 99s before the 99.5s arrive?

At least not here in Australia. All new 1.8T quattros are the 180hp/132Kw version. The FWD's remain at 150hp/110Kw.<p>Graham

I'm happy about it. I'll just wait a little longer and order a nicer car! People get upset with computer manufacturers for the same reason: I just ordered a 300MHz X and now they're selling a 500Mhz one for the same price. Would hate to stifle progress and innovation just to appease people who already own the product. Audi needs to compete w/ the new 3 series immediately. They can't wait until the next-gen a4 comes out to rectify some basic short-comings. Hope they make these cars more reliable while they're at it.<p>just my .02<br>

nt

Audi of America to the dealers. I saw it myself but was asked to keep my mouth shut. Better believe what you see.

:-)

You should see what Porsche is doing with both Boxster and 996 models. They are adding and deleting options right and left every other month.<p>It must be in the Porsche and Piech families :-)

<br>

When an improvement is ready, put it on the cars. Don't wait for fall. Do it now!

But the consumer knows that there will be changes going from '98-99. It is not expected that there will be more significant changes going from '99 -> '99.5 than there were going from '98-'99 IMO.

I guess I can always upgrade the lights. I would HATE to have an Opal Gray steering wheel, YUK! As for the other stuff, hmmmmm, I think I'll just stick with my probably cheaper 99. Remember, it is not unheard of for the price to increase during the model year, especially with drastic changes like some of these. PLUS, If build week begins week 2 of 1999 for these changes, then, IF you get one of the first ones made, it will probably not arrive until 10-12 weeks after that, now you are into March/April, maybe May, HEY that is almost year 2000 model shipment.<p>Kirk<br>With a sporty black(excuse me, Anthracite) sport steering wheel...

.

Do you know if it's just a software change?<p>Curious...<p>D.

Hope the title doesn't seem too rude; it's certainly interesting info. but do we really care about the changes from the point of view of a current owner? (i.e. do recent owners feel terrible?)<p>I can't imagine that anyone is in a worse position than me: just bought - yesterday - a 99 2.8Q with pretty much all of the options. I saw this post and thought "Bugger!"<p>But, hang on a second, in reality, I'm in a great position! I just bought a wonderful vehicle for a good price and I'm incredibly happy. There's nothing on the list that screams "Must have!"; it's all "Oh, that'd be nice"-type stuff. And, actually, there's a bunch of things listed that I couldn't care about at all.<p>It's bit like owning a computer. If you have a 400Mhz Pentium, your PC doesn't suddenly get slower when a 450Mhz Pentium is released - it's still wicked fast. (That said, I'm still very glad that the kind folks at Adobe Systems supply my computers!)<p>Anyway, my $0.02 worth.<p>Fergus<p><p>

With such a laundry list of changes, you've got to figure that these specs are for a year 2000 model (albeit an early release) and not a 99.5. Otherwise, can you imagine the confusion regarding resale value for a 99 A4 in the future?<p>Also, will these upgrades mean that the price will be going up on the 2.8 and 1.8T? Seems to me that the product line is being more clearly delineated so that the 2.8 competes with the 328i and the 1.8T competes with the 323i. It doesn't seem that since the features will be more in line with the BMW products, the prices may be too.

They did change the cars' pricing slightly to include remote locking and metallic/mica paints (thus ripping me off of $650 @ MSRP).<p>Please note that the 99.5 Ford Contour SVT will have significant changes TO THE CAR. I'm sure there's a Japanese example as well.