[Guest]

I'm hoping to place an order for a Q5 in the next few days but faced with a dilema prior to doing so! Looking to order a 2.0 TDI S Line with 20" wheels but not sure whether or not to add the Drive Select with Damper Control. Once you start ticking the options box it all soon adds up and ?980 for DS with DC is a big option to tick.
I'd appreciate hearing from any owners who have their Q5 with this option - has it been a good choice and is there a noticible difference in the comfort/ride of the vehicle when travelling over bumpy/uneven roads, (thanks to our local council we have plenty of bumpy roads around here!!!)

 

[guyguyke]

do not place too much hope in a comfortable Q5 with 20"-rims due to Drive Select
DS makes the car even sportier, not the opposite
a Q5 with DS setted on comfort is basically a Q5 with normal suspension
try it if you don't believe me (You should first find 2 Q5's with the right rims, one with and one without DS)

 

[Bill]

I find the opposite from guyguyke, I test drove an S-Line with 19" standard wheels without Drive Select and I can confirm having had my S-Line for a few weeks now the Drive Select Damper Control makes a big difference. When in Comfort position the steering is much lighter and it eliminates most of the bumps in the road, it gives the car a floating feeling. When in Dynamic position the suspension is far stiffer which allows the car to corner better and the auto gear change goes into Sport mode ( hangs on to the lower gears longer) and will only change up to sixth gear not seven, there is also a sharper throttle response which you can feel right away. On the Auto setting which the car selects every time the IG is switched on is a compromise between the soft ride and the dynamic harder ride, which I keep it in most of the time.

In my view having the Drive Select on the S-Line is a must especially with the optional 20" road wheels and and the ?980 for this option represents good value for money considering what you can pay for some of the other options.

 

[guyguyke]

the actual difference only can be noticed if driving two cars immediately after each other, and on a identical (hard) course
I did it with A4's that deal the same platform with the Q5, and I was deceived. All representatives of Audi I told this agreed that the differences were slight between a normal version and a DS on "confort". Of course, the global feeling is affected by the other devices (steering and motormanagement) that also can been modified by the DS. My Q5 is equipped with only the DS/Dynamic Steering and 19" rims, I find it responsive and comfortable, I do not miss the DS/dampers as I consider the Q5 is not a sportscar and I don't drive it as such. If I would, I had bought an A4 Allroad, another realistic alternative for a Q5.
If comfort is essential, the right choice in the Audi-cataloge is the A6 Allroad with air-suspension (but it is another price !)

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the responses, albeit there was a difference of opinions. In an ideal world I would like to test drive an S Line with 20" wheels, one with damper control and one without, but all the demo cars I have seen locally are not fitted with it.
Bill, out of interest is your car on 19" or 20" wheels?
Being owners of Q5's are there any options which you feel are a must when ordering one.
Thanks

 

[Bill]

Hi Ashandiamo
My S-Line is fitted with the standard 19" wheels. My options were No1 Drive Select Damper Control No2 Pan Roof No3 Heated front Seats No4 Interior light pack No5 Storage pack and No6 Tyre warning display all of which I have placed in order of importance to me.