[dnw]

I'm a little unsure which suspension to get with my S-line, now that I have a choice (not that the dealer has told me mind you!). I am getting 20" wheels and have test driven two slines with sports supsension and exactly the same wheels and found it fine - although not at length or on the motorway. I have also read all the opinions on here and in the motoring press and must say its made me more confused. One report slammed the standard suspension and large wheels on an SE but then the same guy reviewed an S-line and found it much more palatable - how can that be...

It got me thinking about the interaction of rubber thickness and suspension. Is it at all possible that if you have larger wheels, you might actually benefit from sports suspension? the thinking goes like this - the less tyre rubber, the greater the initial 'shock' that hits the suspension. On standard suspension, this will be absorbed over a longer period, but with less transfered to the cabin and with sports suspension it'll be harder but over quicker. I know this as I recently had a curteous replacement to my bmw that was identical in all ways except it had sports suspension. At the bottom of my road there is a single raised brick 'border' that you bump over to enter the road. On the standard suspension, I felt it less but that single brick took a couple seconds to vibrate through the suspension. On the sport suspension, I felt it every so slightly more, but it was over much quicker. I preferred the latter. Although after a trip up and back the M20 which has those expansion/scar/whoknowswhat lines across the carriageway every 10m or so, my lower spine kept vibrating for a few minutes after I exited it....

So, if you are going to have the bigger shocks (via less rubber) perhaps its better to have suspension that will get it over with quicker... thus I wonder if big wheels and standard suspension may actually be the worst possible combo....?

Has anyone got 19s/20s on an SE?

On the other hand Audi must have changed the Sline suspension to standard for a reason.... arghhh decisions decisions.

 

[Rog]

I know the feeling

Did my head in thinking about it.

Ordered now and as long as it's got ADS I'm sure mine will be fine

Curiously the new BMW X3 due to be released in September has also dropped the sports suspension! It will come with start/stop and 8 speed across the whole range as standard apparently.

 

[Hooplescat]

hey all

I can only tell you after 2500 miles that I have zero problem with sports suspension on 20" wheels, and have no drive select etc - it works great straight out of the box, not harsh, brilliant handling (I still can't believe how well it handles for the size vehicle it is)

Obviously all very personal choice, and I don't go off road really other than the odd nasty track, but for road manners it's awesome...

 

[Mike L]

Hi Everyone,

I've got the 3.0TDi with S-Tronic, standard suspension and 20" double spoke wheels. We've had the car for 7 months now and have covered almost 8000 miles

.
All i can say with regard to the suspension choice is...... it's feels fine for me

. It feels quite sporty for the size of the car and yet it absorbs the ruts and potholes very well. I've also driven the S-Line too and really didn't feel a huge difference (although it was a 2.0TDi, so maybe engine weight makes a difference ???).
I think it depends on what you're experience has been in the past. I've come from a Lexus RX, so the Q5 immediately felt more sporty, but i didn't feel there was any loss in ride quality to match the change in feel. However compared to a sports car, the Q5 still feels a bit "soft". It's definitely better than any other 4x4 i've driven although the BMW X5 was a match for it.
I guess that if the suspension set up really bothers you..... go for the Drive Select option. then you can pick and choose whatever suits?

Cheers,
Mike.

 

[dnw]

Thanks Mike L. How do you find the car at speed on the motorway? especially when there are lots of ups and downs (like the M20!). How solid does it feel? how much does it bounce?

thanks!

 

[Mike L]

Hi DNW,

Personally, I find the car great at motorway speeds. We set the cruise to 75ish and just drive along. Our motorway (there's only one up here in Aberdeenshire) is pretty decent and the ride is firm but complaint enough to take any potholes i happen to miss seeing. A fast lane change can show up the slight softness in the suspension, but it's a huge improvement in the feel for the road compared to the Lexus RX we had. It's a real personal choice, but if i wanted a more sporty (harder) ride, I would opt for the Sports suspension. Day to day though, I think I prefer the slightly softer standard setup. I have read on the forum, that the Dynamic suspension works really well, so that's probably the best of both worlds. I guess it depends on how deep you pockets are

Cheers,

Mike

 

[robp]

Well I have my S Line Spec Ed with the sports supension and 20 inch now and I find the ride firm but very comfortable.

Whizzed along the motorway the other day and it was great. Around town is brill and I have not bought the special gizmo's to go woth it. Guess its up to preference but bit of an expesnive mistake if you buy it and decide you dont need it OR dont buy it and wish you had.

As the cars are so scarce I guess its difficult to find one with and another without to compare.