----------------2oOo AUDI TT 1.8 Quattro-------------

--Just bought this bad-boy for a "song and a dance" (so cheap I paid cash on the spot). With only 60K miles and a mint body, it was too tempting a deal to pass up. This, along with the porsche 911, has been a long time fascination of mine and I've always dreamed of getting into one. Now that dream has come true and I'm zipping around town in the sleekest thing on 4-wheels. The little car isn't without it's problems though. The previous owner was somewhat of an abid smoker (so much so, that they burnt out the fuse on the cigarette lighter) and had a hard time seeing the road through the haze of smoldering camels... which is made evident by a poorly sealed oil-pan that obviously kissed a curb at a high rate of speed. I'm not bitter though; oils is cheap and I picked up a replacement pan for $100 which leaves me at approx. $6.5k still under book. I have $2k to invest in my ride and that was a minor portion of those funds which is of no consiquence really... what's $100 on cars these days anyways? I got off light!
--I plan on doing a few minor improvements (just some odds and ends the factory should have done when producing the car):
1).I plan on slapping on an Injen Cold Air Intake

2).Chrome Forge-Diverter Valve

3).Some 17'' black w/ chrome-lip Hamann-style wheels (18''s get a little bumpy for me)

4).DMConcept body-kit with carbon lip and side scoops.

5).In-dash GPS & DVD.

...and some other things along the way I'm sure...

I'll post Pics as soon as the work gets completed!

**UPDATES**

12/16/06:
--Got my intake in the mail today! I decided to save some $$$, so a week back I ordered some nameless Brand intake that mimic'd the Injen CAI system. It was a cool $100 less, so I said "Hell, it's worth the risk". I was so excited when it arrived I nearly pissed myself! "YAY!"...or not? Opened up the box to my "Jap-O Intake 9000" and the damn thing didn't fit! After 15-20 minutes of dismantling my air-box and engine-bay (in the snow to make matters less enjoyable) and fiddling with this massive pipe like a todler with lincoln logs, I realized there was no flipping way this CAI intake would ever fit without me chopping a giant hole in the side of my car... I was seriously disapointed.
--After verbally insulting the inatimate intake pipe, online shopping, snow, German enginering, and on occasion the sky... I decided some good ol' fashioned MOD-work could be done to make the world a bright place once again. I got out my trusty Dremmel, a few metal cutting bits, some sandpaper and it was "off to the races". I chopped that little pipe practically in half and flared the end for tighter clamp seal. I sanded the pipes edges, slapped on a coat of red high temp paint, and put the whole mess back together. With a few minor MODs to the sensor housing, the whole thing fit like an absolute charm! It's no CAI, but Ram-air is good enough for the girls I go with...
PICS:

Aftermath:
--After installation I disconnected the battery for 20 minutes and let the computer reset itself. I reconnected the battery and started her up. Immediately (like with all inatke systems) you notice the sound. It's way more throaty with an attractive low tone. I let the engine idle for about 5 minutes to let the sensor adjust to the air-flow (avoid reving), then I took her to the street... BWOOM!!! The performance was absolutely noticeable and just keeping her steady in the snow was a mild challenge. Along with the performance and hearty low tone, all of a sudden my stock DV valve woke up! I kicked her in the ribs from a stop and shifted into second and was startled to hear a crisp clear *PSSSST*!!! I don't know about you guys and gals, but nothing gets me more giddy than the sound of turbo blow-off. I was in hog heaven and drove for an extra hour just to listen to it..
*PSSSSST*.....Vwoooom......*PSSSST*......Vwoooom.....*PSSST*!
--This upgrade is an absolute must for those who love their TT's and thank God, it's pretty cheap for the gains!

12/18/06:
--Popped by my local exhaust/muffler mechanic today and asked for an upgrade. I asked to have a hi-flow cat and dual exhaust installed, but to my dismay, he said it just wasn't possable! Firstly, he said "hi-flow" cats were somewhat of a myth and that all cats emmited equally (truck cats flow more air, don't they?). Also, augmenting anything from the cats and down was a federal offense. He tried to set me up with a Magnaflow exhaust and 3'' tip. Naturally I didn't go for it, because I want the dual exhaust, and I'm trying to avoid that disgusting "ricer" sound that you hear go screaming by you on the freeway... Guess I'm just gonna have to pick up a Borla! (I'll post pics when it's on!)

12/28/06:
--Well, I got some ideas for the engine bay by visiting my favorite website (Hamann-Motorsport) and I decided that I like the look of this...

So I did it to my car (or a cheaper rendition of it anyway). I think it came out pretty hot and it adds some flavor to the boring black engine. Check it out!

12/30/06:
--I tossed on my new Forge DV 007 today and I think it's pretty cool stuff. The gains aren't too noticeable, but it sounds alot cleaner and it idles better. The blow-off sound is even louder now (which is OK by me) but I can hear it fill up which has me a little bothered... I'll check the hoses tomarrow and make sure there's no leaks.

(It's the little chrome guy tucked in the back there)

NewYear Update:

01/09/07:
--I got some goodies in the mail that Santa wasn't able to fit under the tree! My 17x7 rims came in and damn, do they look fine! High-gloss black with a polished chrome lip is just the touch my Audi was needing...

They look even better mounted and rolling, but I think I may have to paint my calipers red, now that I can see em'...

(next move is drop the ride height a couple inches)

--Also got my new stainless, dual-tip exhaust! The quality is great and the price was 1/2 of what the Borla system costs. I had it made in the UK and shipped all for approx. $600.00, which aint too shabby in my opinion!

Here's what she looks like mounted. I wish I had some video of this system because she looks and sounds beautiful! Nice, deep tone, not cheap or ricey at all... Mmmmm... I love it!

..Still more to come.. (I'm not broke yet!)

JULY UPDATE!: (07-01-07)
--Ok, so it's been a while since my last update, but since I haven't updated in a while there will be more to talk about, right!?!?! Yahoo!!

--Here's a list of upgrades the TT has had done to it in the past 6 months (pics soon):
-Smoked the tail lights
-Smoked the side turn markers
-Upgraded to red silicon hoses in engine bay
-Hidden radar detector in mirror
-Mounted a DVD/GPS unit
-Shift-knob upgrade

--Here's a list of "soon to be" upgrades and upgrades that are currently in the works:
-Forge FMIC(Front Mounted Intercooler)
-1.8t chipless performance boost (20PSI w/o chip!)
-Smoke headlamps
-900watt RockfordFosgate Amp with 2x12'' subs
-Red interior LED lighting
-De-badge rear emblems
-New black mesh badgeless grill

...You know I'll post pics...

UPDATE!: (07-16-07)
--Ok, here's some of that photographic proof I've been promising you guys. I took these pics while my baby was a little dirty, so please let that slide...

Smoked side markers: These were pretty easy. Just slide marker forward until it pops out, disconnect electrical, spray tint (2coats) and remount.

In dash GPS/DVD : I made it "in-dash". The unit originally came as an external unit, but I cleaned out a spot by removing the ash-tray and wired her directly into the old cigarette lighter electrical. Took about 2hrs (1 of which was planning).

Mirror mounted radar detector : This was a process which i don't really want to get into, but the gist is this; remove mirror, clean coating off section of glass, dismantle/re-wire radar detector, adapt power to dome light switch, remount mirror.

De-badge trunk : To de-badge any vehicle you pretty much need three items; Hair-dryer (to soften badge adhesive), Dental-floss (to work under the badge and separate adhesive from car) and patience...lots of the last item!
Steps are as follows:
-heat badge with hair-dryer for 5-10min or until badge begins to loosen to the touch
-slowly ans gently floss behind the badge working the floss under the adhesive slowly cutting it away
-reheat if adhesive hardens
-gently peel off badge....PRESTO! You're done!

FMIC (front mounted intercooler) : This was one of the bigger installs I've done in the past few months. It was just under a week (start, to test, to finish) to complete because I took a challenge to do everything without a kit, so that meant I had to fabricate everything except the intercooler core itself. Well... 5 days, 6ft of steel pipe, 8ft belt hosing, 1 wrench and roughly a 1/2qt of blood later; I have myself a pretty sturdy FMIC. The gains are noticible and worth the work, but I suggest you get a kit with pre-molded silicon hose (2hr complete install with kits) and a "tried and true" friend who doesn't get pissed by cramped spaces. I luckily had the support of my Father (total stud) and my buddy Aaron...who did alot of the clear thinking when I was about to throw the socket set through the windshield. Without them I would have hung myself about a third the way through...

Here she is pulled apart...with the basic setup mounted (pipes not secured yet)

That's the mounted Intercooler with homemade stainless steel brackets and homemade aluminum "L" post...Yeah, I thought of that!

Here she is 4 test runs (3 of which failed) later. All knit together and looking mighty fine...

I love the look of the pipes poking out...

So, thats all for now, but you know I'll be up to more soon!!! Check back often!