I am looking for an a4 and was wondering did the 1.8t ever come with the quattro? I think every 1.8t i've come across said nothing about quattro....I think? Anything you guys can help me out with distinquishing the differences besides the badges and stuff? Like if the 1.8t has something the 2.8 doesn't aside from the obvious....ie turbo and stuff....Is quattro only in the sport package? I read somewhere about springs....red meaning sport package...black meaning non-sport...true? I am really excited as you can see about the a4. Thanks in advance.

 

Hey, first off yes the 1.8t did and does come with Quattro.... I know that there is a Quattro badge on the inside of the car on the passenger side on mine at least. The sport package can be distinguished by many different things such as different wheels and different springs which lowers the car 20mm but I have never heard about the color difference.... The differences between the 1.8t and 2.8 aren’t that many I don’t think, the 2.8 has a different tranny and what not but for the most part the cars are the same other than sometimes leather interiors can be found in more 2.8s.... Over all both are great cars, people say the 2.8 is more reliable but the 1.8t is by no means unreliable and it is much better if you’re going to mod because the gains are much much larger with the turbo motor.

 

thanks for the info.

 

The red shocks thing is definately true.
Quattro is discernable in many ways... Badge on the grill, badge on the trunk, badge above the glove box... emissions sticker under the hood says something like "this vehicle is equipped with a permanent all wheel drive system and is exempt from 2 wheel dynometers" or something to that effect... and... quattro cars have a rear differential!

2.8's come in two variants... a 12 valve in 1996/7, and 98+ got a 30 valve motor... power went up from 172 to 190.
2.8's also had the option for REAL leather seats... all 1.8T's are 'leatherette'

People here will recommend a 99.5, so you can get one piece headlights, among a few other things. Options to look for are sport pkg, winter pkg, lighting pkg (xenons), and BOSE sound.

Make sure to push down on the front end, and listen for squeaks (a sign of aging control arms) and be sure to make sure the timing belt has been changed, if it is approaching any 60K interval. Very important to ensure religious oil changes, especially in the 1.8T's.

EDIT: should add that 1.8T's have 150 hp, except for 2001's which had 170 hp. Chipping a 1.8T will bring it to over 200 hp, surpassing the 2.8L in hp/torque #'s. Chipping costs around 500~