Well, I don't know the answers to any of the transmission questions although, interestingly enough, my Dad asked me if I thought it was shifting faster. (Not "sooner" but actually shifting more quickly between gears.) He felt it was faster in both Auto and Tip modes. I couldn't tell. I felt like I was absorbing as much new data as I could and I couldn't tell if the shifts were faster.<p>As for noise, it is clearly noticeable when idling or in first gear or second gear. If you're driving on the freeway, it's something like the noise level of the climate control on a low setting. You can hear it if you listen for it but it can't be heard as soon as you turn on the stereo. I can't really be more specific than that. You'll have to come by and listen to it.<p>Also, it's not the high-pitched whine I was expecting for some reason. It's a must lower spin sound. Not easily described. <p>Another not-quite-expected element is the appearance of the kit. The individual pieces all look nice and are mostly painted black or gray unless they are supposed to be shiny metal, etc. When it's all put together, it looks nice as well. No spaghetti cables. To the uninformed observer, it just looks like part of the engine. <p>Today I pulled up outside the parts & service area of Carlson Motors to get a quick part. There were service folks standing outside by where I pulled up. One ask me to park in a certain place. Audis all over the place. None even blinked at the sound of my car at idle and first gear. It's not _that_ loud.<p>Rick R.<br>98 A4 2.8 PES SC/tip/sport/bose

I rode in Tony Ricci's own car on Sunday...and wow...<p>When it's cold, the SC makes a bit of whine, but as things warm up, it blends in with the car noises quite nicely. It's not loud at all.<p>The car actually reminded me of an air-cooled Porsche 911... don't you agree Chris?<p>His car also had a exhaust, I *think* it was a stebro?? I'm not sure.<p>Rich Q.<ul><li><a href="http://home.att.net/~richquinlan">Quinland</a></li></ul>

Yeah, I ordered a Scorpion and then it didn't fit my car. The mechanic could tell just by getting the parts together and putting them about where they'd go. It just didn't fit my V6, FWD model. So instead of adjusting it, we returned it and ordered a Brullen but it hasn't come in yet. It's supposed to arrive tomorrow and that should improve things a bit more.<p>Rick R.<br>98 A4 2.8 PES SC/tip/sport/bose

Curious to hear how your Brullen fits, re: some of my previous posts. Wondering if it's just mine (lucky, lucky me! Oh, boy.) or if ....<p>Update us when it's on the car, you'll LOVE the sound - honestly. <p>KurtW<br>98.5 QAvant Tip w/ Brullen soon to be 4sale.

At the last Metro NY A4 gathering Tony Ricci presented on how the PES came about and Garrett Lin was there too and from what I understood they programmed the tip to shift at .2 second instead of 1 sec on a stock car. <p>ToNyG3<br>fort lee NJ<br>early 98 30V Q Sport ...still contemplating onordering the PES kit

thanks<br>

Still startled a bit when i first got into the car this morning. I guess I'd forgotten all about the upgrade. Climbed into the car, turned on the ignition and it all came back to me with the sound of the engine. "Oh yeah... supercharger."<p>The drive was more fun today as I started getting used to the power. The power is all there on this thing. You find yourself driving down the road and noticing the occasional porsche or corvette and thinking you're in that category now. <p>One surprise was I'd thought I would have enjoyed the straightaways now but I have to admit that the combination of A4 handling on curves and PES low-end torque is addictive. I like the turns and curves best still. Even the parking garage was fun today.<p>Rick R.<br>1998 A4 2.8 PES SC, Tip, sport, bose, Ronal 17" SLs, Pirelli P7000 SS, etc.

I'm having my brilliant black bumper repainted due to the jerk that forgot to put his A6 in gear and no E-brake on....the run away car hit my A4 and a new A6 Avant. It missed the A8 next to it of course!<p>Question is....will the shine and paint adhesion hold up just as long as the factory paint job?<p>I was very fortunate to have this bumper last 3 winters in PA with 40 mile round trip to work and not a single nick or scratch, looked like new and I was a proud owner...until the A6 jerk arrived!!!

If the paint shop uses the proper flex additives, there should be no problems. Since the bumper cover is flexible you have to do this or it will flake off. Any decent paint shop should know this. Sorry about your accident. I always try to tell myself that it's just a car and don't worry about things. That's why I park in the farthest out parking places in the mall. :) Good luck; I'm sure your repair will look as good as new. Best regards, Alan in Md.

Bob, I pulled a bone-head manuever in a dark parking garage and scraped my bumper 18 months ago. I took it to a local guy who had done a door for me in the past (hit and run) that was perfect for the 3 years after that I drove the car. The guy does have a very good reputation for working on Corvettes and other exotics. On my A4 He charged me $600 to remove the bumper,repair the minor scrape, and then paint it. Well, this bumper(front) started looking about 10 years old in about 6 months. Someone mentioned that he may have screwed up the flex additive. He also told me that he lost his shirt on the deal because it too him a long time to R and R the bumper. <p>I don,t know what to do now. The whole car? How much for a quality job?(CT) <p>Bill Shaffer

This shop is really good, I had a '94 destroyed at a light that I was stopped at. I could tell that the frame was ever bent and the paint match was superb! The only problem was that after I picked the car up I looked at the great job, drove it 6 blocks and traded it on my A4. So I don't know how the painted bumper/body would hold up. This shops does mostly Porsche/Audi/BMW.<p>$200 is really the norm around here for bumper refinish. The A4 bumper comes off in less than 20 minutes...quite simple. I was going to paint it myself, but all the bumpers I ever painted didn't hold up well (hazy, peeling)with the flex added to Dupont Centuri enamel. I checked with my local paint store and I would need to purchase special primer, primer reducer, black, clear, reducer for these, flex additive....total $135! Not worth the effort, plus the auto body shop will give a guarantee on the repaint.<p>I'm just a fussy guy on color match, texture, and long lasting. My A4 was really flawless when it came to body scratches, dings, chips, etc after 3 winters in PA!