eh im so torn between the 2.8 and 1.8t

[OMGK20]

i know if i chip a 1.8t it'll be faster then a 2.8 but i could put that 500bucks to something else on the 2.8 cause stock power the 2.8 i think is fine. i'm also not a big fan of the whole turbolag+ turbo cool.warmup deal. eh anyadvice?

[LA JOLLA 1.8T]

i'm not a BIG modder, more show than go, i wish i had gone withe the 2.8... its way smoother of a powerband. the 1.8t has ZERO low-end power, so if your not gonna mod alot i would go with the 2.8, but if you plan on doing like a k04 or more go with 1.8t otherwise go with the 2.8... my 2 cents.

[A4-Vblack]

Like La Joola says - it depends on what you are after. If you want to go with heavy modding, then get the 1.8T. If you want overall drivability, both are good. Keep in mind that the 2.8 platform tends to less maintainence. However that could simply be form the fact the most of these engines are being kept stock.

[OverSpun]

Originally posted by LA JOLLA 1.8T
i'm not a BIG modder, more show than go, i wish i had gone withe the 2.8... its way smoother of a powerband. the 1.8t has ZERO low-end power, so if your not gonna mod alot i would go with the 2.8, but if you plan on doing like a k04 or more go with 1.8t otherwise go with the 2.8... my 2 cents.

what are you talking about? no low end power? you may want to get your car checked out, my car has pretty good power, although my car is pretty modded.. still though. i beat a b6 3.0q when my car was stock... no joke, that comes down to driver though, even though i won from a roll, i think that has more to do with power.

honestly though, if you dont plan on modding the car, go with a 2.8, if you want to mod it, get a 1.8T, its that simple. 1.8T mods are more gratifying because they do way more.

[bOOOOstedAudi]

I smoke my dad car every day and he has a 3.0 also. I have a 1.8T and I love it(not as mch as I would love a 2.7T but you know).

[A4-Vblack]

Than again, if you put a PES supercharger on the 2.8 you'll give a chipped S4 a run for its money. $5k will buy you plenty of hp.

[A4_Andre]

the 2.8's i think are a bit more reliable then the 1.8

[SoleMate]

I find the 1.8t has quite a bit of low end power myself. I'm happy with mine so far!

[SEXICÄN]

yeah, same here i raced a 3.0Q and we were both at a stop light. All i had done was a chip and i took him hands down. I feel that my car has a ok amount of low-end, except for around 0-1700rpms. I'm not a heavy modder(but i would like to), and i would never trade my 1.8T in for 2.8. And i never regretted getting it over the 2.8 either. All in all, it comes down to preference. If you want to do even light modding(like me) i would go with a 1.8T. I'm not sure what your intentions are with the car but eithe way you will have fun with whatever you go with. *cough*get a 1.8T*cough*

[OMGK20]

now lets say i do a MBC for awhlie and save up for a chip how will a MBC on an A4 do vs a 2.8?

[JMG]

Turbo lag isn't what you think it is on the 1.8t since the turbo is so small. No low end power? If you want to talk below 2000 rpms then yeah the V6 is gonna have more power, but it also weighs a bit more and once you get to 2500 rpms forget about it. Bye-bye 2.8. Also, add fuel efficiency and the 1.8t is an excellent alternative.

A $500 chip that nets a 40-45 hp increase is unheard of on a NA car like the 2.8. Throw $500 at a 2.8 and you will be lucky to get 10hp from a custom exhaust.

The only real way to tell what you want is to test drive it. Go to a local audi meet or something and drive both a chipped 1.8t and a 2.8.

[JMG]

Originally posted by Mr_Ginzo
now lets say i do a MBC for awhlie and save up for a chip how will a MBC on an A4 do vs a 2.8?

I wouldn't go near a MBC before considering a chip. I'd save up for the chip instead of diverting funds to a MBC.

[audispeed]

I love my 2.8 and at the moment I wouldnt ever consider trading it for a 1.8. There have been times when I thought about it, but I have been in a 1.8T alot recently and I must say I like the powerband of my 2.8 alot better. It all comes down to preference, I personally like the fact that if traffic slows in front of me and then speeds back up, I can just keep it in fourth an accelerate with no problem. Granted thats not a performance situation. 300 hp on a 1.8 will run you about the same as 300 hp on a 2.8. the difference is the 1.8 has steps of upgrades were as for the 2.8 there is only one option. Even so, i still think the 2.8 is a good choice.

[DRA4]

I am Happy with my 2.8, but i would take an 2.7t engine anyday.

[awahl63]

Quick mods the 1.8T is a much better car hands down. Reliability I'd have to go with the N/A car with this one. Turbo spool up time you're not goin to have to deal with unless you decide to put a huge turbo on the 1.8T because the stock k03 is tiny. A chipped 1.8T is a low-end torque monster. It's all about preference but if you're going to mod the engine you might as well get the 1.8T.

[aborchew]

I have a 2.8, and I don't wish I had a 1.8t at all. Although the 1.8t would be fun to mod or slap a big turbo on, I would much rather put 300HP down with a supercarged 2.8. You can get a used PES Supercharger for less than $4000, and install isn't even that difficult. You'll need to upgrade some suspension components and maybe buy a new clutch/FW when you install it also.

I think the silky smoothness and sound of the V6 was the kicker for me. I'd choose a NA 6 over a Turbo 4 any day.

Just my $.02

-Ari

[ed@mtl]

It simple...

1.8T = more mods available
2.8 = limited mods

[awahl63]

Whichever car has lower miles and is in better condition go for it. A plus is if it's Santorin Blue

[MR VTEC]

Originally posted by awahl63
Whichever car has lower miles and is in better condition go for it. A plus is if it's Santorin Blue

what he said

[piaadoll]

once i started driving a turbo charged car..i cant see myself going back to nonaspirated...well besides my babyhatch.but he's been asking me for a turbo too!

[buck]

lag isn't bad on a 1.8T... I'm quite happy with the performance.

low end power is for diesels

[awahl63]

Alright just to clarify

Turbolag with the 1.8T is so little that noone would even notice. The turbo is extremely small.

[snopyro]

Originally posted by piaadoll
once i started driving a turbo charged car..i cant see myself going back to nonaspirated...well besides my babyhatch.but he's been asking me for a turbo too!

hey lil sib- i think you mean naturally aspirated, not non... turbos are forced induction.

non would be fred flintstone style. yabba dabba dooo!

[maxh2o]

1.8t is the more dynamic and more sought after engine. Plus, supercharging a 2.8 is much more expensive! Just check any issue of European Car magazine.

[piaadoll]

Originally posted by snopyro
hey lil sib- i think you mean naturally aspirated, not non... turbos are forced induction.

non would be fred flintstone style. yabba dabba dooo!

someone remind me not to post before i have a cup of coffee!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

discombobulated!!!!!!!!

[Jooce]

Though it hasnt been mentioned, Do NOT buy a '97 or older 2.8. There is no aftermarket at all. If you get a 2.8, get a 98+. AFAIK, the Supercharger will not work on the '97 and older models.

[ed@mtl]

Originally posted by Jooce
Though it hasnt been mentioned, Do NOT buy a '97 or older 2.8. There is no aftermarket at all. If you get a 2.8, get a 98+. AFAIK, the Supercharger will not work on the '97 and older models.

What's he's trying to say is...the older 2.8 were 12v. The newer 2.8 (98.5 and up) were 30v.

[dparnas]

Although I have a 2.8 w/ the PES Supercharger, I would consider a 1.8T in the future. If I was going to stay stock though, I wouldn't even think of a pre-2001 1.8T. I've driven both in stock form and the pre-2001's are truly dogs, no question about it and whether it is turbo lag or not, there is absolutely no low end power whatsoever. Even though the stock 2001 and later 1.8T only has 20 more HP, it just feels a lot more powerful across the power band. The 2.8 30v engine is a very smooth and reliable engine. But, if you are going to spend $10+k, another $500 for a chip for a 1.8T to make it a great performing car shouldn't be something you don't consider.

The other thing to consider is what non-performance features do you want. The 2.830v models typically came standard with far more luxury features like leather seats, moonroof, heated seats, etc.. Not all of them came with all those features, but it will be more common to find most of the optional features on a 2.8 30v. vs. a 1.8T. Just depends on what you want.

[SEXICÄN]

1.8T is still being used on the newer A4's that has to tell you something.

I say:

1.8T>2.8(any valve)

[awahl63]

Originally posted by Audi_A4_Quattro
1.8T is still being used on the newer A4's that has to tell you something.

I say:

1.8T>2.8(any valve)

Exactly :)

[ng005]

all I know is I'm very satisfied with my 2.8

[Hassmeister]

I'm old school...
I like to work on my own and getting in the engine bay (having plenty of room) is one important thing with me. I've owned several Watercooled VW's in my time and like the old 1.8 liters and 2.0 now a days.

Before we had the Audi A4 1.8t we had a '95 Jetta GLX with the V6. It was a great car, yet was mod limited and no room to work on in the engine bay.
The A4 we have now with the 1.8t is a fun car. Has a ton of bottom-end power especially with the K04 and software I have in it. I get 34 MPG on the highway and since gas has risen we drive the hell out of the Audi now. Our SUV is seeing less mileage these days.

The 2.8's are nice too, it just comes down to what will make YOU happy and if you do your own maintance or what. I'm 45 and still enjoy wrenching. My choice is the 1.8t. It's been a good car with no Major breakdowns, just minor pissy stuff.
Good luck on your choice.

[snopyro]

had no problems with my 2000 2.8q.

[JMG]

I think the moral of the story is that both engines are great and it really boils down to what you want to do with it.

[HotSauce]

Hallelujah (Spelling?)

[SEXICÄN]

Originally posted by Hassmeister
I'm old school...
I like to work on my own and getting in the engine bay (having plenty of room) is one important thing with me.

Off the subject, I like and will work on my car my self too(damn stealerships and their high prices), BTW, if needed some help could i look towards you for any?

Back on subject, tell us what you went with when you get it or if you got it already.

[awahl63]

Comeon Mr. Ginsu come back

[k-red]

I'm loving my 2.8 30V. I have never driven/rode in a 1.8T chipped, so I can't say anything about them being better or worse.