Modded A4 - first impressions

[phsingl]

Time to properly de-lurk. Been an A4 owner for nearly 2 years but finally got the modding bug recently when I decided there was no car I wanted to replace my 2004 Avant (I prefer the B6 to B7) and that an S4 Avant wouldn't fit my needs either (quite a bit of highway driving from NYC to Vermont on the weekends and so the MPG of the 1.8T is a serious plus).
So the decision was made: improve the handling and performance of my existing wagon.

Like many on the board I was on the fence as to what performance mods to go for. I set a budget (and then revised it upwards once I worked out what I really wanted of my car). Here's the story so far:

Step 1 - Handling: Koni coilovers and RS4 rear swaybar. In my opinion the best +/- $1000 you can spend on our cars. They're never going to be stoplight rocketships, but once you fix the bodyroll and understeer these cars really handle well.

Step 2 - Performance: I went AWE for the FMIC and GT28R kit and APR for the stealth exhaust. Not the most obvious choice but I was looking for the option to reverse back to stock if necessary and I liked the fact that the AWE kit with the revised GIAC s/w required no internal work and would leverage the stock clutch. The stealth exhaust was a choice based on trying to have a more freely breathing engine whilst not turning the car into a noise-fest.

First impressions - I've had the full combo on for 700 miles now and I can say it has transformed my car. its still daily-driveable (albeit a little louder and lower) and feels very stock around town. On the open road or freeway there's bags of torque from 3500 - 5500 and it pulls really hard in 3rd, 4th and 5th. Excellent for highway overtaking. I will say that you need to stay 'on' the gears more than the stock setup - particularly in the twisties so you don't end up braking for a corner and not downshifitng so you're out of the turbo when you get back on the power. I have missed the low down punch of the K03. It is something you start to get used to and once the needle climbs above 3K you forget all about the smaller turbo.
Economy on the freeway is still good (driving mostly on vacuum with a few 'spirited' moves I returned 29MPG this weekend). The Konis and the sway make for much more precise turn-in and the lack of roll means the car feels more planted in corners - there's little of the skittishness that you might expect in a car with added stiffness - I guess all that weight helps...

Next Steps: As I'm sure everyone who's been down this route realizes quite quickly, the stock brakes are barely enough for 170HP car, now I'm hovering just below 300, the abuse of 30 minutes driving on some empty VT roads left the front discs & calipers in a bit of a state - I imagine an upgrade is next on my list – not researched this much yet so I’ll need to review the forum for some ideas…
My car has 70K on it, so the stock clutch still feels good, but I imagine that the increase in power will start to tell reasonably soon – another item for the shopping list.
Wheels/tires – the stock 17s are going to have Blizzaks on them shortly for the winter months, I have some BBS 18s on order for a summer setup.
Ride height – currently I’m at 24.5 all round which I think is a little ‘slammed’ for my liking and I suspect will be hell in the winter (although it does look rather menacing) – I think I’ll go up to around 25/25.25 in the next week or so to see what the difference is…

Just though I’d post my experiences with my modest BT setup… below is the gratuitous pic taken last weekend…

[widgget]

very nice, welcome to the BT club!!!!!!

[Undisputed]

Very nice car. Nice and stealthy.
And welcome.

[dougyfresh]

Very well written. Your recount on impressions is exactly what I see and why I built my car the way I built it (mainly for highway cruising with a shitload of power).

I'd have to say economy on the freeway is better than stock. I could barely get above 22mpg on the highway when I was stock. Now I'm pushing 29-30mpg and its so much easier to drive not having to floor it for every little incline or passing someone.

I have the APR stealth cat-back and it sounds perfect int he AVant. Very little drone on the highway. Albeit the 2.0L now makes things a bit louder but in a 'mean' sort of way.



An inexpensive brake upgrade that you'll love is upgrading the fronts to B5 S4 calipers and rotors. I have them with Mintex Red Box pads at all four corners (rear rotors & calipers are OEM B6 A4 1.8T) and am using factory rotors and rubber lines. I do foresee dropping some coinage on Alcons in the future for my Avant.

[pondside36]

Great write up on how things have proggesed and worked for you, also glad to hear your impressions of the GT28R kit are positive, since it always gets booed around here.

[Tgr_Clw]

A+ post. Thanks for sharing.

[kneel]

Good right up. Was talking to mike at Awe abouit that turbo kit. Def looking into it. Right now i have the Ko4 upgrae and i like it but want more power. Love the look of your car.........guess cause it's looks like mine when stock wheels go on.

[A4 KiDD 810]

Very nice, bet you trick alot of people with that 1.8T badge lol.

[phsingl]

I have the APR stealth cat-back and it sounds perfect int he AVant. Very little drone on the highway. Albeit the 2.0L now makes things a bit louder but in a 'mean' sort of way.

An inexpensive brake upgrade that you'll love is upgrading the fronts to B5 S4 calipers and rotors. I have them with Mintex Red Box pads at all four corners (rear rotors & calipers are OEM B6 A4 1.8T) and am using factory rotors and rubber lines. I do foresee dropping some coinage on Alcons in the future for my Avant.

Interesting - I do get a little drone in 6th when on cruise control on an incline, I have changed down a few times to eliminate the boom. Other than that its not too intrusive...

on the brakes, I do have access to some '99 S4 front calipers, but not the rotors, looks like a solid upgrade path - I presume the swap out isn't too much of an ordeal?

cheers, Paul.

[phsingl]

Great write up on how things have proggesed and worked for you, also glad to hear your impressions of the GT28R kit are positive, since it always gets booed around here.

My hesitation was initially due to the older feedback on here, I understand the s/w has been changed to reduce the torque spike and cut about 10% from the overall powerband to prevent lunching the stock engine. I'm not about to start drag racing the car and dropping the clutch at 6K, so hopefully I'll still be writing positively about my setup in months to come.
I've driven a 1+ car and I knew as soon as I drove mine that i'd made the right (albeit more expensive) decision.

[dougyfresh]

Interesting - I do get a little drone in 6th when on cruise control on an incline, I have changed down a few times to eliminate the boom. Other than that its not too intrusive...

on the brakes, I do have access to some '99 S4 front calipers, but not the rotors, looks like a solid upgrade path - I presume the swap out isn't too much of an ordeal?

cheers, Paul.

In 6th gear at those rpms you will hear something (hovering around 3krpm). My 2.8 5spd puts the rpms down there around 60mph and I hear it but its not that big of a deal to me.

S4 calipers bolt right into the mounts where our OEM calipers bolt. I even used my 1.8T rubber line because I was having difficulty removing it from the hardline on the frame. Two bolts for the caliper, one brake line, rotor fits no problem, bleed brakes; job is done.

[mnkyA4]

Very nice write up....I can't wait to go BT down the road with my Avant

[phsingl]

Another pic from the weekend - Springfield Vermont has plenty of good old factory backdrops...
rear looks even lower as its on a slight incline with the parking brake on.

[7speed]

very nice car Avants are the hotness

[HeymyAudi]

+2 on the post very well written and the car is very well put together..

[EYE4SPEED]

Nice write up... makes me wonder if I should move to the next step.

[phsingl]

Thanks for the commentary - I'm very much a noob on the modding front - all my previous cars have been stock and I've previously sought performance via the upper end of brands' models. I got to really like the practicality of the Avant - I live in NYC and although I'd love a 'weekend' car as well as a practical transport - I need something that functions as both & the VT trips I do warrant 4-wheel drive. I abhor SUVs (& sorry that includes the Q7). I brought the 2004 CPO thinking that I'd trade it for an '06 or '07 this year, but I figure spending the differential on performance mods is actually more in line with my needs right now.

My eyes are open - I know there are risks with modifying these cars, but I had the timing belt/water pump done at the same time as the turbo. There's little evidence of sludge and I've changed the oil every 7K so far (not the most conservative I know). I also have a few bucks set aside in case the stuff I've done doesn't work quite as well over the next 7,000 miles as it has over the last 700.

I'm also pleasantly surprised that noone yet told me to paint my lowers and clear the corners There are some amazing looking A4s on the site & I applaud all the efforts of those that are pushing the boundaries with appearance. Aside from some 18s for the summer tires, my focus will be on go vs. show - Doug's input probably means the brakes will be on the agenda within the next month or so (I was balking at >$2K for a BBK setup, B5 S4 looks like the way forward...)

cheers & keep the comments coming...
Paul.

[rxrep]

Sweet car. I love avants.... wish I could find a 6mt USP.

[dougyfresh]

Paul,
I just saw the pictures now (couldn't see them at work earlier today). Love the stance. Makes me want coil-overs (next summer) bad.

(factory sport suspension, not as low as yours)


Oh, and the B5 S4 calipers will clear your stock wheels without spacers. I use those wheels in the winter for my snow tires.