BoostLad

I read a rumor here a week ago (i think) that the 2004 manual trans A4 will be a six speed- i can officially confirm that rumor as true- after several conversations w/ the sales manager at my dealership about ordering a new Avant. Hmmm... i think i'll wait for the '04.

In other old news, Abt has been authorized to sell performance parts in Audi dealerships in england, after testing of said parts. Now they are in talks to offer their CHIPS on factory, warranteed, new cars... and the article closed out with "if it can happen there, it can happen here". From a short article in last month's European Car mag.

Sorry if both these items are already well-known and dated. I've been busy.

Andy_FL

Check the '02+ (B6) forum for recently released '04 specs.

ex-quattro PETE

ABT and some other tuners have been certified by Audi in a number of european countries for quite some time now.

There's probably a few more things at play here in the US market that would have to be considered, before AoA authorizes factory tuning here:

1. Warranty period in the US is much longer - AoA has to consider the risks of covering additional repairs - the higher the output, the more likelihood for broken parts. Plus, overall customer dissatisfaction with a less reliabile vehicle.

2. Upping the power output of the 1.8T engine will get it close to the 3.0 numbers. That may cause people to turn away from the 3.0 and AoA will lose money. On the other hand, if the 1.8T factory tuned version is pretty close to the 3.0 in terms of price, then most people won't bother and will just get the 3.0 anyway.

RKA

What's the factory warranty on Audi's in the UK?

TristanP

You're thinking of ordering a new Avant?

BoostLad

now isnt the best time- looking to move this summer, new job search... BUT rates are great, and the 2004 dealer allocations JUST came out. I LOVE them- gimmegimmegimme!! But should really wait... SHOULD... make me stop... HELP!!

TristanP

Sounds like this fall would be a better time for you - I can't see rates changing that much before then. What's the going rate now? You'd probably get better resale on your present car closer towards the winter, too.