944 Turbo W/ .64 5th vs Audi 01E TDI FWD Trasnsaxle

I'm starting to get serious about replacing or reconfiguring my 944 turbo transaxle. My transaxle still has the stock 5th gear and its terrible on the hiway, especially when most around here cruse near 80 MPH. With that said, I love my turbo 5th for city driving, Its great at about 50mph. I'm trying to decide between the .64 5th or going 01E route. I will also install a wavetrac LSD so I would rather not set up one transaxle just to move to the other. The .64 5th is an option but it will leave a big hole from 4th-5th which I use quite often. The 01E is a good option ratio wise but I would like to minimize fabbing new parts if possible. It looks like some members here may be selling conversion parts? Lastly the best shipping price I could find for shipping an 01E from Europe to the states is over $800. I would prefer an 01E but it seems like another science project and the shipping is killing me. Let me know what you think or if you have any good solutions.
The charts below are my calculated speeds per gear for the three setups.
I verified currently I see 52mph at 1989 rpms in 5th

255/40R17 = 25" OD
Final Drive 3.375 944 Turbo Stock
    1000 2000 2500 3000 4000 5000 6000 6500 Ratio
1st   6      13    16     19     25    31     38     41   3.5
2nd  11    21    27     32     43    54     64     70    2.059
3rd   16    31    39     47     63    79     94    102   1.4
4th   21    43    53     64     85    107   128   139  1.034
5th   27    53    66     80    106   133   159   173   0.829
6th

255/40R17 = 25" OD
Final Drive 3.375 944 Turbo .64 5th
    1000 2000 2500 3000 4000 5000 6000 6500 Ratio
1st   6      13     16    19     25     31    38     41    3.5
2nd 11     21     27    32     43     54    64     70    2.059
3rd  16     31     39    47     63     79    94     102  1.4
4th  21     43     53    64     85     107  128   139   1.034
5th  34     69     86    103   138   172   207   224  0.64
6th

255/40R17 = 25" OD
Final Drive 3.875 01E FWD
    1000 2000 2500 3000 4000 5000 6000 6500 Ratio
1st    5     11    14     16     22     27    33     36   3.5
2nd  10    20    25     30     41     51    61     66   1.89
3rd   16    31    39     47     62     78    94    101  1.23
4th   22    44    55     66     88    110   132   143  0.87
5th   28    56    71     85    113    141  169   183  0.68
6th   34    69    86    103   137    171   206   223  0.56

I went to the 0.64 about a year ago. Like you, I hated the highway RPMs. Your correct, there is a big hole going from 4th to 5th. But for me, at least where I live, nearly all non-highway roads are 40 - 50MPH, which is good for 4th gear (2000 - 2500 RPM). So in reality, I am only going into 5th on the highway anyway and because of that, I don't really notice the gap that much (since I am not shifting into and out of 5th that much).

Looking at the 01E, those ratios are awesome, you get the 3.875 final drive for better acceleration and still get the benefit at high speed with the 6th gear. I really think that is the best solution, but of course is the most costly and complex.

I looked at the 01E too, but for around $300, the 0.64 was the best choice for me at least for now anyway. I already had a Quaife in my turbo transaxle and am otherwise happy with how it works on track. If I had the time, patience, and was willing to spend more money, the 0lE is a excellent choice.

Lots of info here if you haven't seen it:

https://944hybrids.forumotion.com/t1190-5th-gear-options-audi

Seems like the .64 5th isn't a bad option if I do go that way. If there is enough interest in TDI 01E, I may purchase a pallet of them and sell off the extras. I will start a new thread if I end up going that route vs the .64 5th.

I'm interested in at least one TDI FWD 01e transmission. Seems like a very good option if the price hasn't gone crazy on those recently.

Glad to see there is more interest in these transaxles. Prices I'm finding are typically ~ 250-500 USD, however shipping is the issue. Most people are not willing to ship to the USA, the best quote I had was 750 euro shipping only, that is per transaxle. I would be willing to do near 1K for shipping if I was receiving a least 3 transaxles. Also, I have been looking into 0A2 boxes as well, supposedly just as strong or stronger, same bolt up pattern, much improved shifter quality. Audi codes are:
FZJ GHA HEN
HPE HSL HXR

255/40R17 = 25" OD
Final Drive 3.875 0A2 FWD
   1000 2000 2500 3000 4000 5000 6000 6500 Ratio
1st    5     11    13     16     22     27    32     35   3.556
2nd  10    20    25     30     40     50    60     65   1.905
3rd   15    31    39     46     62     77    93    101  1.241
4th   22    44    54     65     87    109   131   141  0.882
5th   29    58    73     87    117    146  175   189  0.659
6th   34    69    86    103   138    172   206   224  0.558

There is one with a taller final drive as well
JME

255/40R17 = 25" OD
Final Drive 3.625 0A2 FWD
   1000 2000 2500 3000 4000 5000 6000 6500 Ratio
1st    6     12    14     17     23     29    35     38   3.556
2nd  11    22    27     32     43     54    65     70   1.905
3rd   17    33    41     50     66     83    99    107  1.241
4th   23    47    58     70     93    116   140   151  0.882
5th   31    62    78     93    125    156  187   202  0.659
6th   37    74    92    110   147    184   221   239  0.558

If shipping gets reasonable, I’d be down for TWO for myself. I also have a relatively local friend that wants one as well.
I talked with one euro parts importer. He’s checking on shipping for me. Ideally, our transmissions would be in a container of other parts coming to the US. Then freight could be minimal.

If you get some traction with an importer, I am interested in two 0A2 transaxles, one JME and another with the 3.875 ring. If the price is right I may also be interested in an 01E as a third unit.