After research It sounds like 200-230hp on the stock motor without changing much is very doable, or maybe just a chip and regap the spark plugs. I hands down refuse to get any sort of hybrid or anything parked outside a starbucks in the middle of the day. More power but 27-28ish highway would be fine as well. Right now my record is 19.8 on the highway in my Jeep, and usually I'm down around 16highway running all syn fluids with everything in top shape.

I do want to have some fun with it as thats my nature, just not a huge project. If something breaks then I'll find the part where I can and replace it, outside of transmission work and a full engine tear/rebuild there isn't much I won't tackle.

 

Hey Syn,
i believe your making a great choice here. I personally would go with a 1.8t, I myself have a 2000 1.8t quattro and it is a dream, as I am a first time audi owner with this car. I previously had other cars with enthusiasm on my mind, and I also had cars that the masses would probably not think about, for example: 95 Mazda MX-3 (jap 2.5 motor, chip exhaust 5 speed etc) 2000 Ford Contour Sport( svt swapped heads, intake magnaflow exhaust fro manifold back, chip tunes by bulldog, etc). My first car was a 87 Trans Am, 5.0 TPI manual, 3.79 final drive with 4.29 rear, and first gear still went to 38mph that car owned me instead of the other way around .......until a 89 bronco lost its brake behind me and turned it into V8 sunbird.....i cried so much that day.......Anyways, i came from a GM loving backround, specifically Pontiac, and now that I have driven an Audi, i wonder what took me so long. You wont regret your decision, especially if your a do it yourselfer....WELCOME HOME!!!!!