1998 Audi A4 Trims and Specs

Not many changes to the 1998 Audi A4 1.8T Sedan. This front-wheel drive family car features a 1.8-liter, 150-hp, turbo I4 and 5-speed manual transmission. A 5-speed Tiptronic auto/manual shift transmission is a nice option. This year, the A4 1.8T gets new side airbags, new tires, some new colors, and adds a center console to the interior. Other standard features include fog lights, cruise control, power mirrors, windows, and locks, air conditioning, ABS brakes, and traction control.

An All-Weather Package adds heated seats and a ski bag, and a Sports Package gives you a sports-tuned suspension, supportive seats, and stronger shocks. A sunroof, CD player, trip computer, and remote entry are also optional. Electrical problems and expensive maintenance are common grips among 1997 A4 1.8T owners, who also complain about the turbo lag and the need for more power. High marks go to the smooth ride, road-hugging handling and cornering, luxurious interior, and decent gas mileage for a turbo.

If you want something a little more rugged than a front-wheel drive sedan, but still need something big enough to hold the family, Audi is marketing the 1998 A4 1.8T quattro to you. It has all the same great standard features as the front-wheel drive 1.8T, including the 1.8-liter, 150-hp turbocharged I4 and 5-speed manual or Tiptronic transmission, but it adds the quattro technology for tanklike power in the snow and ice.

Along with the quattro comes standard locking differential. As with all A4 trims this year, new front side airbags are standard this year, complemeting the dual front bags already there. Fog lights, air conditioning, cruise control, center console, power windows, locks, and mirrors, remote trunk, and intermittent wipers come with the pricetag. Extra money gives you a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated seats, and a trip computer, as well as a sports performance package. Most Audi drivers prefer the quattro models for their expert handling and wintertime capabilities.

In 1998, the Audi A4 2.8 Sedan gets a little more horsepower in its engine. The 2.8-liter V6 now hits 190-hp with a 5-speed manual transmission or Tiptronic auto/manual shifter. As with the other A4s, the 2.8 Sedan also gets new front side airbags and bigger 16-inch wheels. Some other new standard features for this family sedan include lighted entry and leather steering wheel trim.

Already standard were ABS brakes, traction control, cruise control, center console, air conditioning, power driver's seat, windows, and mirrors, and fog lights. A Sports Package adds a sportier suspension and seats, and other packages give you heated leather seats, sunroof, and a trip computer. It's not much different than the 1.8T aside from the bigger and more powerful engine. Drivers of the 1998 A4 2.8 Sedan mention it's fun to drive, handles crisply, and the new engine has decent power. Unhelpful dealers, problems with the suspension, not much backseat room, and useless cupholders continue to reign as the biggest complaints.

A 1998 Audi A4 2.8 quattro sedan is simply a 2.8 sedan with quattro all-wheel drive in place of the standard front-wheel drive. This gives the family car better handling and performance in a wide variety of conditions. Like the regulard sedan, the 2.8 quattro has a new 2.8-liter, 190-hp V6 with a 5-speed manual or Tiptronic transmission.

It adds locking differential to the standard set of features, which include everything you get on the front-wheel drive version (cruise, air con, 16-inch wheels, dual front and front side airbags, traction control, ABS brakes, power driver's seat and mirrors, windows, and locks, auto climate control, and intermittent wipers). All the great options, such as heated seats, leather upholstery, trip computer, Sports Package, and CD player are offered here as well. What distinguishes the 1998 A4 2.8 quattro is the superior all-wheel drive performance and handling. Otherwise, it receives the same Audi complaints of high and frequent maintenance costs, no rear legroom, and flimsy cupholders.