a turbo with a tip is perfectly fine if you just want to chip it and dont plan on upgrading the turbo. if you are after power a manual trans will always beat the auto, and with a bigger turbo on the auto, you will eventually break something. replacing a clutch is like $500, replacing an automatic is $1500, not including labor. quattro drivetrain eats up about 22% of the crank HP anyway, an auto will eat up even more.

i have the 98.5 1.8t and love it, you can upgrade to one piece headlights easily, but the 98.5 doesnt have the stupid LCD gauge cluster that burns out all the time. i actually had a black 97 2.8 before this car too that got totaled.

 

I was on my way home from OC to the valley, the emergency lane is only 3ft wide.

Gost6303
Thanks for the advice. Not looking for big performance just a nice balance, one thing for sure it has to be a quattro. You a correct about a manual vs auto the overall cost difference. Thats why I want a manual.