Where to go from stage 1 with reliability and longevity in mind?

[jhoffy22]

I have a 2015 6MT S4 with 59,000 miles that is stock outside of having an intake and stage 1 chipwerke piggyback unit.

This is my daily driver and I plan to drive it until the wheels fall off knowing that it's most likely the last fun daily driver sedan with a manual option that I'll be able to purchase.

I want to extract some more power out of this beast, but I'm not sure where to go from here. Reliability and longevity are definitely the two most important things to me. Whatever route I go now, I want to continue building a good foundation on the car so that when it's no longer a daily driver and I can sacrifice reliability for more power, I am not wiping away my progress and starting with a clean slate. I of course understand that I may have to replace the clutch shortly after going anywhere beyond stage 1, so that's planned and budgeted for and I see it as a cost of doing business.

What route should I look at taking from here? How much crank/wheel horsepower and torque will that get me from where I'm at now?

Thanks in advance!

[Joker S4]

A little research on this topic would do you wonders. Look at the "Want to go faster than stock" sticky and read, read, ready.

I would ditch the chipewerke and get a real tune, upgrade cooling, then your clutch, and they do stage 2 and beyond. Not a bad idea to get better suspension parts while you're at it. I daily my car with APR's Ultra Charger, no issues to date.

[jhoffy22]

A little research on this topic would do you wonders. Look at the "Want to go faster than stock" sticky and read, read, ready.

I would ditch the chipewerke and get a real tune, upgrade cooling, then your clutch, and they do stage 2 and beyond. Not a bad idea to get better suspension parts while you're at it. I daily my car with APR's Ultra Charger, no issues to date.

Appreciate the reply.

I've done a lot of research, but the age of this car has led to me finding dated information. It's also useful to hear present day information from folks who may have had their cars tuned with stage 2 and beyond for years now instead of months, which is hard to discern looking back at old posts.

Just curious, how much WHP are you putting down now?

[Joker S4]

Appreciate the reply.

I've done a lot of research, but the age of this car has led to me finding dated information. It's also useful to hear present day information from folks who may have had their cars tuned with stage 2 and beyond for years now instead of months, which is hard to discern looking back at old posts.

Just curious, how much WHP are you putting down now?

I haven't put it on a dyno, nor do I track the car. I just have a "problem" when modding cars. I like the power to be there when I need it and for the enjoyment of spirited driving. I understand finding dated information here as well. I went full APR for a couple reasons, the main one being is there are two APR Dealers close by in case any troubles came up. But, I've had the UC on for about 20k now, and still on stock CATS. I have test pipes and motor mounts at the ready for when that happens. When modifying a car, you will always run the risk of causing damage to a number of components. Just make sure the work you do is done right the first time. I'm fortunate enough to have a friend of mine as the lead mechanic in the Audi Garage as well.

[Ford Prefect]

I'm dual pulley with 125k miles on a 6MT and loving it. Plan for the clutch but I daily my car and am not worried about longevity with the motor in the least. I'm actually more concerned with the damn winter and salted roads. Joker S4 is giving sound advice on the tunes. You can easily go stage 2 with upgrading cooling and safe and crazy happy with the power.

I am at the point where I need to do suspension and control arms (every ball joint I can find), they have never been done lol

[Joker S4]

I am at the point where I need to do suspension and control arms (every ball joint I can find), they have never been done lol

I completed all my suspension work before I added any power. That was a fun time buying and installing all those little upgrades. What a different. I love the car feeling like its on rails in and out of corners.