I have a 1999 audi, but i have seen a few members here refer to their car as a 99.5. what are the differences between each?

Also, first gear is becoming increasingly difficult to shift into from a dead stop. It might have to do with the cold weather (today's drive to school was 4 degrees) but I did start a thread about it feeling scratchy before, and I think it might be developing into something else.
it feels like i shift partially into the gear, and then there is a wall there or something. I do it a couple more times with force and it will give, but its getting harder and harder to. I don't think it is a clutch problem, however. i dont have this problem with any gear other than first, to be clear.


Lastly, I have to congratulate Audi Quattro. This is my first winter with my Audi. Anyway, last friday, it poured down rain, then saturday night, the temperatures went well below freezing, completely icing the roads. Then it snowed about 4 inches on top of that. All say saturday and sunday, I drove about 180 miles. let me say, I am very impressed. I can cause my car to slide, but it doesn't stay sliding. it always catches and keeps me on the road. Although it might keep me from being an idiot in a deserted parking lot (which makes me a tad less happy), I feel so much safer in my little Audi then i would in my parents SUVs (suburbans).

 

regarding the 99/99.5 question, check this out. Taken from the FAQ sticky

regarding the shifting thing, it could just be thick gear oil because of the cold, but it could also be synchros. search for that and see what you come up with, you should be able to find plenty of info

Lastly, I'm glad you like the Quattro. Just keep in mind that it doesn't make you or the car invincible, you still need good tires and to not be an *******. And go into an empty parking lot and give it a try, you'd be surprised how much fun you can have with AWD

 

Make sure you only try to shift into first at a dead stop, especially when its cold; even when its warm you should only shift into first at very very low speeds < 5mph.

And just give it a little more gas in the parking lot.

 

As for the quattro, you just need to relearn how to "lose" control while maintaining control. A little extra gas, and you can get the *** end to slide out...

As for the 99/ 99.5, the three easiest ways to tell (in case you didn't follow Chris' link)
1. 99 has 2 piece head lights, 99.5 has 1 piece (the headlights and running lights are all one unit)
2. yellow squarish side markers on the fenders of the 99, clear rectangular on the 99.5
3. yellow in the tail light turn signals for the 99, all red and clear tail lights on the 99.5 (not exactly positive on this one though)

hope this helps

 

Amber turn signals in the tails are 96-97 model year. As for first gear, there's a lockout that keeps you from engaging first above a certain low speed - could be (as stated) that you're just trying to go into first at too high a speed.

 

as for shifting into first, i am obviously talking about shifting from a dead stop. I would have to be an idiot to go into first at even 20 mph. i never shift into first unless i am dead stop. otherwise, like in traffic, i just keep it in second and watch the rpms.

as far as losing control goes, i did lose control, i just didn't spin around and flip out like i was expecting it to do. it just felt like the whole time, even going sideways, i was in complete control, and i liked it.

 

He says, with a devilish grin...

just remember, quattro only helps you go... it doesn't help you stop...

 

I've experienced the "hard to shift" into first thing as well...
it usually happens in the colder months...
maybe changing out trans fluid would help (I'm going to try this sooner than later)....
how long do you let the car warm up before driving off..?

on another note, not only do I have the 99.5 model...
I have no sunroof....
and a useless car phone, with antenna in rear window that serves no purpose.....

 

Shifting into first is occasionally difficult for me as well. Sometimes at a light, going from neutral to first results in hitting a "stop" before actually engaging first, sometimes to the point where I need to go back to neutral and into first again to actually get the gear to engage. In my case ambient temperature doesn't matter, engine and transmission temps don't seem to matter either. It's weird, other times it will just slip right into first.

Within the next month or so I'm planning to change the transmission fluid with the kit that ECS Tuning sells (75w90 + magnetic drain plug). Still need to get that special drain plug socket though...

 

For some cars Ive noticed OCCASIONALLY that when you are at a dead stop, it resists going into gear until youve moved every so slightly. If this happens all the time though you might want to worry if it starts grinding.