[Dogzyboy]

I'm with Ray here, it's gotta be the 21s in my eyes. Let's face it, you're not buying an SQ5 to save cash are you! However, each to their own.

 

[Barbyboy]

My earlier thread + photos below:

Just thought others might be interested in seeing a different SQ5 wheel / tyre combination:
First picture is the 21" wheels shod with factory-fitted 255 / 40's and the second is a 20" wheel with 255 / 45 winter tyres.
For interest, and rather bizarrely, Audi UK offered me 4 brand new 20" wheels at a cost of £2900 or, 20" winter wheel and tyre package at £2000 (yes, that's right - cheaper) but, they wouldn't split the winter wheels and tyre package.
With no 21" winter tyre currently available, next option was to take the barely-used winter tyres off my earlier Q5 and then bought original Audi new wheels on-line from Germany - £1034 for the set, inclusive of delivery.
Sorted!

View attachment 2346
View attachment 2338

 

[Snow Man]

Wow, some sweeping generalisation in terms of what makes a car look good and what is or is not the core DNA of a sports car...
So let me add a few more

SQ5 is not a sports car in anyway (id wager the GTi would leave the SQ standing on a generally UK A road and the fun factor would be infinity better sat in the Golfs seat), it's a fast diesel SUV for mums to use on the school run based on the sales demographics (also the SQ5 ads were aimed at women) and reflected in the membership on this board ( or lack of, given the Q5 is one of Audis biggest sellers). If people want a sports car they aint going to be looking towards the Q5 thats for sure, so to attach meaning to the shape or size of wheels is preposterous.. Sure people will have opinions, but those are no different to the body colour and just like wheels a body colour doesnt make the same thing more or less sporty! (or more right or wrong).

Cost is generally not a factor as most people here appear to lease/PCP/Finance their cars and things like wheels would have very little impact on repayments i would "guess" - perhaps this is one of the main reasons why the economy is in such a mess, these arrangements suit the manufacturers as someone else is capitalising a purchase to make it cheaper and more accessable for others to rent.

I say buy whatever floats your boat and to hell with it, but lets not attach meaning or labels to opinions of degrees of "sporty"...
These conversation never pop'd up before the release of the SQ... it would be good to go back to that.

 

[Dogzyboy]

Wow, some sweeping generalisation in terms of what makes a car look good and what is or is not the core DNA of a sports car...
So let me add a few more

SQ5 is not a sports car in anyway (id wager the GTi would leave the SQ standing on a generally UK A road and the fun factor would be infinity better sat in the Golfs seat), it's a fast diesel SUV for mums to use on the school run based on the sales demographics (also the SQ5 ads were aimed at women) and reflected in the membership on this board ( or lack of, given the Q5 is one of Audis biggest sellers). If people want a sports car they aint going to be looking towards the Q5 thats for sure, so to attach meaning to the shape or size of wheels is preposterous.. Sure people will have opinions, but those are no different to the body colour and just like wheels a body colour doesnt make the same thing more or less sporty! (or more right or wrong).

Cost is generally not a factor as most people here appear to lease/PCP/Finance their cars and things like wheels would have very little impact on repayments i would "guess" - perhaps this is one of the main reasons why the economy is in such a mess, these arrangements suit the manufacturers as someone else is capitalising a purchase to make it cheaper and more accessable for others to rent.

I say buy whatever floats your boat and to hell with it, but lets not attach meaning or labels to opinions of degrees of "sporty"...
These conversation never pop'd up before the release of the SQ... it would be good to go back to that.

I think they were all personal opinions to be fair, and given the question was around which wheels the OP should go for, valid opinions at that! I don't feel there was any real emphasis on the SQ5 being a true 'Sports Car' , I think everyone on the forum is aware of your thoughts of the sportiness of the SQ5!

 

[?? SQ-BEAST ??]

It may not be a SPORTS CAR, but it's the sportiest SUV I've had,in My opinion,and I've always found a larger set wheels gives a SPORTIER effect to most cars,I don't think you can generalise that it was designed 4 woman, as I've not come across a single lady owner of a sq5 ,I agree colour doesn't define weather a car is SPORTY, going bi majority of sq posts,the owners are in the sport opinion,as am I,every 1 has there own definition of sporti,comparing to r8s and such fourth def not sporti,but each to there own,and is good to have different opinions ,smiley face 😄

 

[José]

Not this argument again!

 

[?? SQ-BEAST ??]

Always luv a snow man debate 😄

 

[?? SQ-BEAST ??]

It's a opinionated discussion ,lol, 😄

 

[Dogzyboy]

Not this argument again!

These conversation never pop'd up before the release of the SQ... it would be good to go back to that.

 

[José]

These conversation never pop'd up before the release of the SQ... it would be good to go back to that.

Not surprising they didn't pop up before the SQ, as there was no 'sporting' variant to discuss! As Daza says, its an opinionated discussion, everyone has there own opinions on it and will have to agree to disagree!

 

[Snow Man]

It may not be a SPORTS CAR, but it's the sportiest SUV I've had,in My opinion,and I've always found a larger set wheels gives a SPORTIER effect to most cars,I don't think you can generalise that it was designed 4 woman, as I've not come across a single lady owner of a sq5 ,I agree colour doesn't define weather a car is SPORTY, going bi majority of sq posts,the owners are in the sport opinion,as am I,every 1 has there own definition of sporti,comparing to r8s and such fourth def not sporti,but each to there own,and is good to have different opinions ,smiley face ������

Its not really a generalisation, it was a stated by Audi as an expected goal for the model.
Frank Hermann, head of product marketing for the Q5 said at Audi we expect 25 to 50 percent of the Q5's buyers to be women. (US is over half). thats very high.... also, buyer doesn't always mean the keeper, i bought the SQ, but its my wifes. I also use it as needed. personally id say 75% of the Q3/5s i see are driven by women.

Its a debate (with little merit or point) that appears all the time (x is for girls, y is for real men), you buy a car based on many things, the cars gender is not really high on the list of many people when they start looking and manufactures would not want to limit sales to a single gender no doubt, but equally, they need to appeal to ALL. We all generally share/use the other halfs cars, its not like a pink umbrella or sexy thong

http://www.audizine....an-s-chick-ride
Lots of these on many forums, for many cars.

In terms of wheel size as a ratio to sportiness, it has no merit, if anything, if you look at mainstream (broad term) sports cars (not hot hatches) they won't/dont have massive wheels, but the massive look is from that pimp'd non performance or fast 'n furious car crowd with 4 pipes sticking out the back and no suspension, boom boom boom - that may or not be attractive to different people.

Also in terms of "SPORTY', 95% (thats a guess) but for sure the vast majority of published reviews give the SQ a bad/unfavourable report - these are independent reviews, without emotions and are probably more accurate that owner opinions who tend to want to (rightly so) justify their purchases. Very rare you see someone say my last car was much better

So, after lots of generalisation and debatable demographics (all which mean nothing at the end of the day), it still all comes down to opinion, The SQ5 works for me, not for the colour and the size of the wheels, not for the ability to scale mountains, or out run Zondas, but for its ability to swallow some luggage, fit in some kids for the school run, for some decent performance, ability to soft road, high driving position and good MPG. its a package that meets many things, many many things a "sports car" has no hope of achieving.

There is no right or wrong, and we come full circle. i like the 21s design, shame they are used on the A3 (typical Audi), i like the 20s too, but my fave wheel for the Q5 is still one of the 19" designs not available on the SQ. So take you pick based on the type of driving you do, if kerbing and cost of replacement tyres is of any concern or purely on aesthetics - its your car, your choice, your money.

 

[Quattro]

Also in terms of "SPORTY', 95% (thats a guess) but for sure the vast majority of published reviews give the SQ a bad/unfavourable report

Among the many, many unsubstantiated, sweeping generalisations on this thread, I have to take issue with this one.

Sure, there are a few moans amongst the press reports (what's the point of a fast SUV? / The steering lacks feedback / It can't go round corners like a Gallardo), but to say that 95% (or the vast majority) give the car a bad report is just not true.

 

[?? SQ-BEAST ??]

What bout a pink thong,lol,most reviews are based on a very small time in sq,but most do appear slightly negative,but who realy gives a toss,when in reality we seem happy with the sq,as 4 previous cars being better, my old x6 smashed the sq handling 2 bits,but u can't have everything ,but is enjoying this debate ,thanks 2 u snowman 😄

 

[Barbyboy]

Re Snowman's "'The SQ5 works for me, not for the colour and the size of the wheels, not for the ability to scale mountains, or out run Zondas, but for its ability to swallow some luggage, fit in some kids for the school run, for some decent performance, ability to soft road, high driving position and good MPG. its a package that meets many things, many many things a "sports car" has no hope of achieving"

+1 here...male buyer and 50% keeper. (Would be a much higher % score but the wife keeps borrowing the keys...)

 

[ray.afzal]

Always love this debate seems to be everyone vs Snow Man but I think thats because snow man is comparing it to his R8/RS5...
Let's be honest here...it's a sports SUV no matter what anyone says, with a claimed (yes Snow Man, claimed) 0-60 of 5.1s it would be ludacris to say thats not sporty; it can own your Boxter S any day, and I'm pretty sure people admit thats sporty.
Nuff said.

So gents, back to wheels

 

[Snow Man]

Real world 5.7 - marketing means nothing.
Hook up VAGCOM or hit the pod and see what numbers you can get...

Real world not tried a Boxter, but anything other than traffic lights, perfect LC you are not going to win.
I'm not comparing to anything, it is what it is.. an SUV with masses of torque.

 

[ray.afzal]

So a sporty SUV

 

[naq5]

Enjoyed reading this thread, 21" vs 20" wheels took a bit of a detour

FWIW I probably don't fit the demographic that it appears Audi were marketing the SQ5 to and seemingly nor do any of the current owners on this forum. I've seen very few SQ5's on the road and those I have seen are driven by men. I'm 30's male, private purchase and wheel size/tyre replacement cost, kerbing sensitivity etc, ride comfort are important to me especially coming from something with runflats which has made me slightly allergic to a crashy, tramlining ride and tyres that offer little or no protection from getting within 2ft of a kerb. From a purely cosmetic point of view 21's look better but as has been said, you pays your money and makes your choice. For me the SQ5 was a compromise between outright performance (even though it will monster most things I see on the road every day) and sensible ownership and running costs. It might not be a sports car in the strictest sense of the word but I guess 'sports car' means different things to different people.

General consensus on Wikepidia (that fountain of all knowledge

) suggests people are collectively happy to define a sports car as 'small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for spirited performance and nimble handling.[sup][2][/sup] Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious but high maneuverability and minimum weight are requisite'.

I'm sure there are plenty of other definitions but if you define a sports car this way then the SQ5 is not one. This definition also rules out a lot of cars I would think of as sports cars including the likes of the M3, RS4 and RS6 proving nothing other than I probably don't know what a sports car is. For me personally other peoples opinions of the SQ5 are secondary to my own and after spending the best part of 12 months looking for a replacement for my current car it fits my requirements like no other car currently on sale. I've been teased by my family for buying a 'school run mum car'/'girls car'/'planet killer' by people who drive 2.0 TDI A4's and Mondeo's and I know what I'd rather be driving. Every car is a compromise in one way or another, the SQ5 is just least compromised of anything I can currently afford and with my current needs.

It's good looking for an SUV (better looking with 21's than 20's in my humble opinion even though I've opted for 20's), sounds nice, is quicker than most normal cars on the road and all weather performance was more important to me than its ability to go around a track as I'll never track my own car. Equally I'll rarely indulge in traffic light grand prix with 18 year olds in Corsa VXR's who want to prove how manly they are to their mates by hooning at triple digits on a public highway. I do however like something that can easily cover most things on the road if I want to play, particularly in the wet and that doesn't cripple me when I hit a pothole. A big draw for me was also the noise it makes, fake or not and if BMW are happy to channel the sound of the M5 into the cabin via the speakers I'm happy for Audi to do it with a sound actuator in the exhaust. All told, there's almost nothing else at the moment I'd rather have...unless I win the lottery, in which case I'll have a GTR, 911 Turbo, Ariel Atom, Range Rover Supercharged and Veyron thanks very much

 

[?? SQ-BEAST ??]

Fantastic post naq5 😄

 

[jattxd]

Naq5 tops to you great post!! incidentally and back on the 20" or 21" wheels choice did you opt to stay with the standard SQ5 alloys or upgrade to the other 20" available cost option at £500 approx