1. AMS - Associated with a German firm (ABT), located in the Los Angeles area, many So. California folks drive in for an installation.  Their "Stage I" chip delivers lower overall horsepower output than many of the others but their power/torque curve happens to give very good 0-60 times.  They have a "Stage II" chip for a little more money  that delivers more horsepower, closer to that of a couple of the other more powerful 1.0 bar  "Stage I" chips offered by other companies.  I know that two very active ClubB5 members, "JIMBO" & "The GREEK" have/had the Stage II AMS chip.  www.advancedmotorsport.com

2. Hoppen - Associated with German firm (MTM), average chip performance.  In Sarasota, Florida (941) 924-6380   www.hoppenmotorsport.com

3. Wetterauer - A very well respected German Firm who does chips for a couple dozen different European cars.  Seems to be the most popular choice among Audi A4 owners but they got started before some of the other companies too.  I've ridden in a Passat with a 1.0 bar chip and it IS faster than my 0.8 bar Neuspeed chipped Passat  - by a little bit.   www.chip-tuning.com & www.wetterauer.de

4. TAP - Total Audi Performance, a racing prep company, U.S. programmed chip, they have modification stages up to an astounding race oriented 350 hp which include larger turbos, exhaust systems, ported & polished racing heads, cams, etc.   A couple of regional shops around the country install this chip.  Dick's Audi Performance in the San Francisco Bay area gets a lot of business.   www.tap1.com

5. Neuspeed - A bargain chip at about $200!  U.S. programmed, corporate offices in Camarillo, just west of Los Angeles a couple blocks off CA Highway 101.  Installations are facilitated at discount with Greedspeed.  Lots of Southern California folks drive in for a quick installation.   www.greedspeed.com & www.neuspeed.com

6. Garrett - Chip programming done by a techno-genius car enthusiast (AND medical student) in Pennsylvania, one of the more radical & higher boost & horsepower chips.  He can even has a chip for the Tiptronic transmission which gives faster shifting. The chip is very well rated among Passateers, a few have actually dumped other chips for this upgrade.  Currently (July, Aug, Sep at least) there has been a price war with APR, special price ($599) for VWVortex members via a company called AWE (888-565-2257) for an ECU with chip installed.   www.giacusa.com/welcome.html

7. APR - New kid on the block with the 1.8T but they have extensive racing experience, one of the higher hp output chips.  Great initial reports.  I think they will sell a chipped ECU outright too.  Currently have a special VWVortex group price ($599) for ECU with chip installed.   www.goapr.com

8. AutoThority - Also new with the 1.8T but have quite a long term tuning reputation with BMWs.  High output too - I think they claim 205 hp with their first stage chip.  Great initial reports too.   www.autothority.com

9. Oettinger - Very expensive German made product.  They have an office in Los Angeles too.  They are reluctant to sell the chip by itself, you must buy a total performance package with a bunch of other engine, exhaust, etc. components for thousands of $$$$.

10.  AutoTech - Still under development as of August 1999 but tentatively priced at $199.95.   www.autotech.com

  Note:  Many of the above companies have more aggressive "stages" available.  The stages usually involve doing other things to the car beyond a chip like changing the exhaust system, a larger turbo, a larger intercooler, head work, etc.