hello,
new member seeking some better info than what the Newbie Guide Version 2 gives. as a bit of background, in 1996 i test drove a new A4 2.8l Quattro Tiptronic but i dont really recall its performance.

ive decided that im shopping for a 1999 to 2001 A4.

ive already decided ill choose the 2.8l over the 1.8T. personal preference, please dont knock it.

while id prefer to have a 5 speed, id like to hear pros and cons to both the 5 speed and the Tiptronic.

Quattro vs FWD: from this standpoint, which requires more maintenance and/or is more reliable ?

Performance: i used to own a 1991 Ford Taurus SHO. if you dont know anything about these, they are high revving(7300RPM redline) fast and durable engines built by Yamaha mated to a 5 speed Mazda transmission. in stock form, an SHO could hit the 1/4 mile in just under 15 seconds at 98MPH and 0-60 was just under 6 seconds. so, with that said, how does the 2.8l 5 speed compare to an SHO ?

i may have more questions later, but if so, ill add them to this thread.

thanks for looking and if you responded, Thank You as well.

Dale

 

You did not test drive a Tiptronic in 1996. Tip was not available until 1998 - '96 and '97 had an exceptionallyterrible non-Tiptronic automatic. Reliability and maintenance are not an issue in Frontrak vs. quattro - the main difference is thatquattro (which has a lower-case 'q' on purpose) will provide much better handling characteristics. The pros and cons of 5-speed vs. Tiptronic are simple: 5-speed is for people who enjoy driving, Tip is for pansies (J/K. But seriously.)

As for A4 2.8vs. Taurus SHO; probably pretty similar, except for the permanent AWD on the A4 (you don't want to buy a Frontrak A4, because quattro is half the point of owning an Audi). I had a 1987 Taurus MT5, which was N/A 4-banger with a 5-speed, and it was pretty fun. It handled very well for a FWD car, I always thought. But the A4 is much more refined, a little more compact, and with quattro, much better to drive. I drove a Taurus SHO once, and only once; and I had three full-grown adult passengers with me, so I can't say much about it.

Good luck, and welcome to AudiForums!

 

and also there are 2 different 2.8 engines. one with 12 valves, the other with 30 valves. i do not remember which year it changed over.

 

1996-1997 2.8are 12v SOHC 172bhp, 1998-2001 2.8are 30v DOHC 190bhp.

 

MrFlippant, thanks for the info. when i asked about performance, perhaps i should clarify. with the SHO, a 3rd gear drop at 70MPH could put me at 100MPH in a matter of seconds, is the A4 the same type of beast ?

 

I don't think anyone would apply the term "beast" to an A4 2.8, but top-end accelleration is more than satisfactory for road use. I've got the 12v 2.8, and I've gonefrom 60mph up to around 90mph (the fastest I've bothered to go, definitely not the fastest I CAN go) pretty quickly in 4th gear, so I'm sure 3rd would be pretty peppy, though I'm not 100%sure you could make it up to 100-ish without shifting to 4th. Maybe you could, but you'd probably be pushing redline andI try not to be that rough on my car. The 2.8 is notintended for high-performance, *****-to-the-wall speed.