PITTSBURGH AUTO SHOW

My Dad and I went to the Pittsburgh Auto Show yesterday. To be honest it was kind of disappointing. As you know I work for Audi, and Audi isn’t even going to the different car shows this year.

2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro

The 4Runner TRD Pro was one of my favorite vehicles there. I really like the Army Green special color for this year. Though, I also loved their special color for last year, “voodoo blue.’

Porsche Taycan, fully electric.

Porsche had a weak showing, they only brought two vehicles. The first was the Taycan which is their fully electric sedan, for am easily $160k. They also brought their Cayenne Hybrid, which isn’t anything special in my opinion. The Taycan is a very cool looking car, but wildly expensive.

View from the back of the Pittsburgh Convention Center

I really enjoyed seeing some different Ford GT’s, a GT2 RS downstairs with the cars n coffee crew, and some different trucks that I like.

1968 Ford GT 24 hr replica.

I was really looking forward to and hoping to see the new Bronco, but it wasn’t there. There’s some speculation that the Bronco will be launched in Detroit, since they have moved their auto show to June or July for this year. It would make sense for a ford launch to be in Detroit, so I am looking forward to that.

UPDATE 2/13/2020

Hello everyone! Went too long not updating this, but now I am back! A lot has changed since the last update! I parted out the S3 and returned it at the end of it’s lease. I actually ended up selling it from the dealership to fellow VW/Audi enthusiast too, which was awesome!

In august of 2019, I picked up a 2007 Misano Red Audi RS4.

The car immediately needed front and rear brake rotors and pads. So I went with the ECS 2 piece rotors and Hawk Ceramic pads. So far they have been excellent!

The wheels when the vehicle arrived were a gunmetal gray, but very curbed up and looked pretty lousy. I took them to my friends at Totally Baked Powdercoating and they made them look like new. I had them do a bright silver, just like they were when the car came out in 2007.

The RS4 has 111k miles on it at this point, so I have put about 9,000 miles on it since I got it in August. So far the car has been great. In the spring it will need Coilover suspension, likely H&R because they are good quality without being crazy expensive. I will also do 034 Motorsports control arms, ECS Exact fit stainless brake lines, a front lip, coil packs, oil, oil filter, fuel filter, and some bushings. This will really freshen it up. It will also need tires soon, which will be Michelin Summer Tires.

More to come soon! Stay tuned.

REVIEW- Integrated Engineering Stage 1 ECU High Torque with DSG Transmission Tune

REVIEW- Integrated Engineering Stage 1 ECU High Torque with DSG Transmission Tune


So I just received my IE DIY Flash Tool and IE Gen 3 Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake. So the first thing I did was download the IE software and connect my flash tool to my S3. I selected the Stage 1 High Torque 93 octane option and then the DSG Transmission Tune with 4000k launch control. It took about half an hour or 45 minutes to send the flash over. Make sure you connect a battery charger while it is flashing per the IE flash tool that tells you to do so on the screen. The Flash Tool is very easy to use. Basically you just connect the tool to your computer and then to vehicle. The program walks you through everything very easily.


While the tune was being programmed, I took out the stock air box and installed the IE Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake. Very easy to install and honestly this thing fits very well. I previously owned an APR Carbon Fiber Intake and think that this intake fits a lot better. This thing sounds a lot better too, but we will get to that. The overall quality of the intake is gorgeous, it’s a very nice looking piece and looks great when you pop the hood.

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At this point the ECU & TCU flashes have been done, the Intake is installed, and it’s time to go for the first test drive. I start the vehicle up and everything is working as normal. The first thing that I notice is a nicer sound from the intake upon start. The second thing was that when I put the vehicle into Drive it now shows up D1. Though it is not in manual mode it is very nice that you always know what gear you are in. Manual mode also shows you a shift light for when you should upshift to get good fuel consumption which is also nice.


The extra power is INSANE! I started off in just regular Drive and the power in Drive is a great improvement. More linear and more power all through the power band. Sport is even better! Your RPM’s are always a bit higher which makes it much more responsive. I have had tunes on multiple VW/Audi vehicles in the past and think that this is the best one I have had. That being said, this vehicle probably has the most potential out of those vehicles too. Next thing I did was try launch control. Now keep in mind I have my 20” HRE wheels on with Max Performance Summer Tires and it is in the 40 degree area. But, IT SPINS ALL FOUR TIRES! This ECU/TCU and intake have really changed the car. I got sideways last night in the rain and felt like Ken Block. It has made a relatively fun vehicle a very fun vehicle.


For people who are looking for extra power this is the way to go. The customer service from IE and the quality of all of their parts that I have seen is really impressive.


WARNING- the tune will give you the itch to want more and more power. I am already anticipating the Intercooler and a down pipe so I can go Stage 2 104 octane. STAY TUNED.

RJK Photos of the S3

S3 Update

Few things have been added. H&R Super Sport Springs. Carbon Fiber Lip and Side Skirts. Wheels are next. 

 

My deliveries so far this month

So far I have 6 cars out this month, very happy with the progress so far. I believe I have 5 pictures out of the total 6 so far. Only one I missed was a 2016 A5 convertible. Very nice.

2017 Audi S7, had the windows tinted to 20% at Double Take on Banksville Rd. 20" HRE FF01 Wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport Tires.

FWD A3

My dad's 2015 Audi S4 in Sepang Blue. He bought the lease out. Love this car.

FWD A3

2017 Audi A4 in an exclusive color (Toucan Yellow).

Black Tips!

Yesterday I had the exhaust tips powdercoated matte black and I think they came out great.  

The black optic package from Audi should've came with black exhaust tips to begin with.  The other thing I'd like to do that I think should've been an option is matte black Audi and S3 emblems in the front and back. I always have like that Porsche does that on their Macan GTS and think it would be a nice touch on my S3. That will have to happen at some point.

Hubcap Heaven in Penn Hills did the powder coating for me and I am very impressed with the outcome. I dropped the tips off at 830 AM and they were done by 130 PM, amazing turn around time. We use them to powder coat wheels for our cars/customers at work (Day VW & Audi) and I am contemplating having them do my OEM wheels in black if I don't get aftermarket wheels.

I also finally got my gorillapod with phone holder(see below). This is something I will eventually use for a vlogging camera, but for now I will be using it with my iphone 7. I am currently teaching myself new things to do with video and learning how to edit. I'd like to be decent in those areas before the vlog starts.

GOOD NIGHT!