The Mystro S4

wont go back to leather. This new Leatherette is much better. It doesn't strech out of shape, crack, peel, or require constant care like leather. It even breaths well in the hot summer months, and warms up nice in the winter with heated seats. Leatherette will look new for years to come long after traditional leather fades and gets cracks in it. Every one that has seen my new Audi thinks its leather. Basically it has all the good qualities of leather with out the shortcomings of leather.

TimA4

good thing. It certainly isn't good for coats, wallets, purses and suitcases so how could it be good for a car interior? WRONG!! My '98 with leathertte looks & feels great and reacts to Toronto weather extremes (+30 C to -20C) better than any interior I've ever owned. I must say the leather smell isn't there like on my buddy's '99 T5 but that's no biggie.

TimA4
'98 1.8T w/everything but sport seats

RKA

Rear suspension is different in the quattro too.

James R.

I just figured, "hey what do I need Quattro for...I'm just gonna get a chip and suspension and call it a day..." well at the end of about a year and 3~4 months this is what my car looked like...

99 1.8TMS (Neuspeed K04, 5 Bar FPR, Beru Ultra X Plugs, K&N Filter, Remus Exhaust, S4 Wheel Well Liner Mod, Bilstein Sport Shocks, Neuspeed Sport Springs, Neuspeed Front Anti Sway, Brembo Rotors, Mintex Red Box, Ronal R-7's 17", 225/45/R17 Bridgestone S02 PP, Smartire (neat gimmick), Greddy Turbo Timer, European Projectors, Clear Sides and Full Tint...)

Well as you can see I did quite a lot to the car...and in the end I wasn't happy with the way it performed, don't get me wrong...it was a blast...handling was superb no one would believe it had a torsion beam rear end unless I showed it to them...but traction was a big issue...the front end would push hard under accel while cornering and such it just wasn't as gratifying as I knew the Quattro could be. So alas after $7000~8000 in mods I sold it to a guy on the East coast and picked up my 2001 A4 1.8TQMSXP which I had ordered 3 months earlier, since then I've never looked back...OK well maybe once in a while...but I'm sure once I have this car setup as nicely (I plan better...APR Stage III ish' work) then I know I'll be much happier with the results.

The point of all this is don't skimp...don't ever underestimate what you might potentially want to do to the car...as did I. If you're worried about the money consider that Quattro cars consistently sell for ~1800-2000 more on the used market...no matter how old they are suggesting that Quattro doesn't depreciate.

Regards,

James R.

2001 A4 1.8TQMSXP (Turbo5 Stage III Brakes (Porsche 996 Caliper + S4 Rotor...in the post) Oettinger Pedals, Oettinger RE's 17x8 Yoko AVS Sports 225/45/R17, Euro Xenon Housings, Bailey BPV and RS4 Grille)

Flask

It just doesn't smell like leather. Maybe there are leather scented air fresheners

Teutonic Titwillow

everybody who gets in my car for the first time is sure that they are leather, and I have to tell them its not. Easy to clean and keep up, the leatherette seats are the choice to make for seating.

Chris B.
98.5 1.8TM APR

td2k

After doing somemore thinking...your advice and musicman's worked out to be good. Convinced the wife to drop the lux. option, and got the quattro instead. She needs the automatic though. We ordered it tonight at Neillo in Sacramento. 6% over invoice, which isn't too bad for a car not on the lot, and good people there to deal with. Looking forward to delivery. Thanks to all for their input.