This is my first post on these forums, so be gentle .

I've always been interested in Audi's, especially the B5 S4. Right now I drive a '95 Nissan Maxima with a few power and handling mods (y-pipe, coilovers, etc). While it is a great reliable car and has treated me pretty well the last 7 years,I'm getting to the point where I would like to upgrade with something with more class, more refinement, and more power. But anyway, on to the point of this thread:

I've been looking into picking up a B5 S4 with preferrably a manual tranny and give it the typical "Stage 1" performance upgrades. Finding them isn't really that big of an issue, but there are quite a few local, low mileage S4's that are triptronic instead of manual. So whatI would like to know is if the factory triptronic isable handle powerlevels (and be atleast fairly reliable) the stage 1 and possibly stage 2 packages provide. I tried searching for it, but the answersI kept finding never really answered the question of the power level. Most were threads where people would say, "just get a manual," or skirted answering the question. I'm not really looking to go to the stage 3 power levels with K04's and all that stuff (though, the mod bug is an evil creature as we all know ), and just want to know if it can handle the ~375lb/ft of torquea GIAC chip and exhaust combo would provide.

I appreciate any and all info on the topic, and look forward to replies!
George

Cliffs: Can the Triptronic handle Stage1/Stage2 performance packages reliably?

 

2K S4 has an almost Stage 3 Tiptronic S4, and from what I know his has held up quite well and he hasnt had any issues. To some people here, the Tips are known to actually be more reliable then the manuals (if you can believe that).

 

Yes, you will be fine. Even a K04 an handle the stock TIP. It's the seal in the TC that goes bad, & it's not all the common. The seal doesn't have anything to do with the power levels. Just don't trans brake the car, & keep the fluid clean.

 

Good to know, thanks for all the help!

 

So trans braking with a Tip is bad for it? I didn't know that.

 

You're slipping the clutches, generating a lot of heat, & putting a lot of stress on the parts. Does that sound bad? Not saying it will kill the trans the first time. But it will wear it faster, it's like doing drag starts in a 6-sp.

 

Do they put the same triptronic in the A4 1.8Tas they do in the S4? Somebody in these forums said they did but I don't really think so