B8 A4 chipped 2.0T or B8 S4?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,501
Likes: 44
Why doesn't Audi just change the computer / engine management program itself and allow customers to buy from Audi what APR apparently sells? I know, blasphemy.
I have chipped previously (a TT) and the results were remarkable. I did not have any failure of any part of the car and the Audi dealer (in 2001) put the chip in for me (fed ex out and back all done in 2 days).
These days nuttin' has to be removed if you don't want -- plug in, copy and go.
What is the big deal -- driving one of these things with a stage one chip program mod is AMAZING. Everyone should want one (if only they knew.)
Now, I am not saying this is technically easy, but it would seem Audi could "easily" offer us the APR chip's effect for a price of $599 -- why hold the engine back? Or they could partner with APR and everybody would win.
I am, hope you notice, NOT suggesting the engine be programmed (or chipped aftermarket) to its MAX, livin' on the edge, ready to explode, etc etc -- Stage one is a relatively mild boost typically yet the impact is anything but mild -- so why not partner with APR or someone and give us a choice of power or more power?
Just a thought.
I have chipped previously (a TT) and the results were remarkable. I did not have any failure of any part of the car and the Audi dealer (in 2001) put the chip in for me (fed ex out and back all done in 2 days).
These days nuttin' has to be removed if you don't want -- plug in, copy and go.
What is the big deal -- driving one of these things with a stage one chip program mod is AMAZING. Everyone should want one (if only they knew.)
Now, I am not saying this is technically easy, but it would seem Audi could "easily" offer us the APR chip's effect for a price of $599 -- why hold the engine back? Or they could partner with APR and everybody would win.
I am, hope you notice, NOT suggesting the engine be programmed (or chipped aftermarket) to its MAX, livin' on the edge, ready to explode, etc etc -- Stage one is a relatively mild boost typically yet the impact is anything but mild -- so why not partner with APR or someone and give us a choice of power or more power?
Just a thought.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 153
Likes: 6
You'll see the second option before the first simply because of the monstrous amount of corporate red tape a company has to go though to get engineers to change their 'beautiful' calibration. The calibration is essentially the collaborated effort of many different departments. One department tells the calibrators "the engine does this". Another department says "The engine should only be calibrated to this level". Another department says "The emissions must be this". Another after that says "We must have this level of sound output". Finally someone says "It can't come from the factory faster than this car". So in the end, collecting the efforts of so many departments, and battling so many debates is easily avoided by partnering with APR and saying "We want a performance lineup that runs your software. We'll test it and if it's good, we'll sell it. What can you do for us?" And from that, easily a performance lineup is created.
That's what happened for us with VW:
http://www.goapr.com/news/2009/03/31/golf-gti-v50/
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: NoVA
To bring it back down to my situation -- I'm an average street driver who doesn't take the car above 5000rpm very often (I'm not afraid to admit it, boys) and drives short distances daily. Of course, I could settle on much lesser cars, but that's another topic...
Again (and not to sound pompous), even if I can afford an S4, it doesn't mean I shouldn't look at other similar options to save money while getting 8/10's the enjoyment re: aesthetics and feel. Just thinking things over...
Thanks again!
Audiworld Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 527
Likes: 2
From: Where LA meets the Pacific
Wow, this topic went in some very interesting directions -- I appreciate all the replies. Good point, Arin. btw, looks like the A4 quattro is ~200lbs lighter than the S4.
To bring it back down to my situation -- I'm an average street driver who doesn't take the car above 5000rpm very often (I'm not afraid to admit it, boys) and drives short distances daily. Of course, I could settle on much lesser cars, but that's another topic...
Again (and not to sound pompous), even if I can afford an S4, it doesn't mean I shouldn't look at other similar options to save money while getting 8/10's the enjoyment re: aesthetics and feel. Just thinking things over...
Thanks again!
To bring it back down to my situation -- I'm an average street driver who doesn't take the car above 5000rpm very often (I'm not afraid to admit it, boys) and drives short distances daily. Of course, I could settle on much lesser cars, but that's another topic...
Again (and not to sound pompous), even if I can afford an S4, it doesn't mean I shouldn't look at other similar options to save money while getting 8/10's the enjoyment re: aesthetics and feel. Just thinking things over...
Thanks again!
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 3
If you're not in need of the extra performance of the S4, then other things to consider are:
- A4 S-Line has available the Alcantara interior
- A4 sport and S-Line has available the perforated leather steering wheel (oooooh!)
- A4 gets slightly better fuel economy
- S4 probably costs more to insure (depends on your insurance company and how many times you've gone to the slammer on charges of wreckless driving I suppose)
*I'd still prefer the S4 despite all of the above. If it were available when I bought my car, I would have picked the S4.
- A4 S-Line has available the Alcantara interior
- A4 sport and S-Line has available the perforated leather steering wheel (oooooh!)
- A4 gets slightly better fuel economy
- S4 probably costs more to insure (depends on your insurance company and how many times you've gone to the slammer on charges of wreckless driving I suppose)
*I'd still prefer the S4 despite all of the above. If it were available when I bought my car, I would have picked the S4.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: NoVA
Yeah, it's the age-old question for man -- what I need vs. what I want. I've already accepted the fact that I will always want more; even w/ an S4, I'll want the RS4 or an M3, etc. So I'm sure I'll be wanting an S4, even w/ a sweet A4 S-line. But, in these times, you want to feel like like you're being smart w/ respect to monthly expenses, you know?
On the other hand, I'm driving a nicely modded GTI right now. Two things would sway me away from the A4, no DSG/S-tronic (love it in the GTI), and the possiblity of getting tired of the 2.0T (although I'm not yet and I hear the updated version is slightly better). Other smaller issues: S-line seats and steering are similar feel to what I have now...
Thanks for everyone's input.
On the other hand, I'm driving a nicely modded GTI right now. Two things would sway me away from the A4, no DSG/S-tronic (love it in the GTI), and the possiblity of getting tired of the 2.0T (although I'm not yet and I hear the updated version is slightly better). Other smaller issues: S-line seats and steering are similar feel to what I have now...
Thanks for everyone's input.
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AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Apr 2002
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Quit simply....
Why doesn't Audi just change the computer / engine management program itself and allow customers to buy from Audi what APR apparently sells? I know, blasphemy.
I have chipped previously (a TT) and the results were remarkable. I did not have any failure of any part of the car and the Audi dealer (in 2001) put the chip in for me (fed ex out and back all done in 2 days).
These days nuttin' has to be removed if you don't want -- plug in, copy and go.
What is the big deal -- driving one of these things with a stage one chip program mod is AMAZING. Everyone should want one (if only they knew.)
Now, I am not saying this is technically easy, but it would seem Audi could "easily" offer us the APR chip's effect for a price of $599 -- why hold the engine back? Or they could partner with APR and everybody would win.
I am, hope you notice, NOT suggesting the engine be programmed (or chipped aftermarket) to its MAX, livin' on the edge, ready to explode, etc etc -- Stage one is a relatively mild boost typically yet the impact is anything but mild -- so why not partner with APR or someone and give us a choice of power or more power?
Just a thought.
I have chipped previously (a TT) and the results were remarkable. I did not have any failure of any part of the car and the Audi dealer (in 2001) put the chip in for me (fed ex out and back all done in 2 days).
These days nuttin' has to be removed if you don't want -- plug in, copy and go.
What is the big deal -- driving one of these things with a stage one chip program mod is AMAZING. Everyone should want one (if only they knew.)
Now, I am not saying this is technically easy, but it would seem Audi could "easily" offer us the APR chip's effect for a price of $599 -- why hold the engine back? Or they could partner with APR and everybody would win.
I am, hope you notice, NOT suggesting the engine be programmed (or chipped aftermarket) to its MAX, livin' on the edge, ready to explode, etc etc -- Stage one is a relatively mild boost typically yet the impact is anything but mild -- so why not partner with APR or someone and give us a choice of power or more power?
Just a thought.
Unfortunately, any mods to the ECU will have a downside somewhere - either increased gas consumption, decreased driveability or decreased reliability. If it was that simple then the manufacturer would do it.
I'm sure that the "code writers" at APR and all the other places will try to modify the propriatary Audi code to not blow up anything, but the fact remains that they know that there are downsides - they'll just not tell the consumer what they are.
What incentive does the manufacturer have to "dumb down" their ECU if a modified one could do everything better? Audi's TTS doesn't make more power by just modifying the ECU - there are lots of hardware changes as well.
There is no free lunch - and no free power...