New A4 on order - Help please

[rjm8282]

Hi All,

We've ordered a new A4 Avant (B8) black edition 2.0 tfsi Quattro and could do with some help with the suspension options please.

We can either have;

Sports Suspension (20mm drop)
S-Line Suspension (30mm drop)
Damper control with Drive select ( I think this comes with sports suspension)

The car comes with 19" alloys and we're not sure which is the best option, ride comfort/handling/appearance .

Also would you recommend drive select as we have the s-tropic box?

Any help or advice would be really helpful, thank you.

[Dr G]

Sport suspension is a good compromise and rids fine; S-Line pushes it a shade too far.

Damper control the best of the bunch if you're happy with the cost.

[shtu]

Personally, I'd choose the "comfiest" option of those (whatever that may be. )

Mahoosive wheels and dropped suspension are cool for the 2% of the time you throw the car down a b-road, and a pita the other 98% of the time you're just commuting or similar.

[LeMomo]

I have a 2.0tdi Black Edition Avant on the sport suspension, I have never felt it to be uncomfortable in the 10k I've covered since purchase.

[silentbrown]

shtu said:

Personally, I'd choose the "comfiest" option of those (whatever that may be. )

Mahoosive wheels and dropped suspension are cool for the 2% of the time you throw the car down a b-road, and a pita the other 98% of the time you're just commuting or similar.

Comfiest is probably ADS + Damper control set to 'comfort'. And deleting "Black Edition" will help by putting you back to more sensible wheel sizes and better MPG.

I'd disagree about your 98%, though. I reckon they're just for "the look" and do nothing noticeably beneficial 100% of the time. Potholes on the B-roads around here eat 19" rims for breakfast.

[rjm8282]

Thank you for your replies, do you reckon it's worth £220 for the drive select and £300 for damper control?
I believe this uses the sports suspension and adjustable dampers.
Just need to justify the extra £520.

[silentbrown]

rjm8282 said:

Thank you for your replies, do you reckon it's worth £220 for the drive select and £300 for damper control?
I believe this uses the sports suspension and adjustable dampers.
Just need to justify the extra £520.

It won't noticeably improve resale value.
ADS dampers are much more expensive to replace.
Most of the time you'll just leave it in one mode and not change it.

However, "it's only money!". So, JUSTIFIED.

[Wetwipe]

I have ADS damper control and dynamic steering on my S5.

Previous poster is right, it does stay in comfort mode (or in my case auto) a fair amount of time but bloody hell it's good when pressing on.

Wouldn't have another sports audi without IT. My previous V8 S5 didn't and running on 20 rims made the suspension very "crashy".

Damper control gives you the best of both worlds.

[va1o]

I'd stick with the Sport suspension

The extra £520 for dampers etc won't mean anything at resale value so I don't think its worth it, unless you've got the spare cash and are prepared to take the hit.

[Dr G]

It's a very nice option and desirable come resale.

It may not add a whack of value but will make it stand out.

In your shoes I would tick the box.

[pad58]

Do all S/lines come with 30mm drop, even older ones?

[rjm8282]

Older S-lined came with 30mm drop as standard, but I believe after a lot of complaints they offered the sports suspension as standard (20mm) with the option of the S-lined suspension free of charge.

[Dr G]

^^^ Correct; with sport suspension being the most popular of the options (unless you're buying a squishy SE, of course).

[jonwm]

I went S line on my A5 as id come from a m sport 318 with m sport suspension, it sits visibly low but don't find it too hard, mines on 18's can imagine on 19's with the 35 profile tyre the sport would be better

[jonwm]

I went S line on my A5 as id come from a m sport 318 with m sport suspension, it sits visibly low but don't find it too hard, mines on 18's can imagine on 19's with the 35 profile tyre the sport would be better

[rjm8282]

Thanks, yeah I think I'll go sports suspension with the drive select, it's just deciding to choose the dampers or not, £300

[silentbrown]

I'm not entirely sure on this, but I think ADS on it's own on an A4 may be a little pointless.

On Mrs SB's manual S3, ADS controls steering weight (but not ratios), engine noise (via exhaust flaps) and throttle response.

My understanding is that on A4 there's no change in noise (no exhaust flaps) so it will change steering weight and throttle response (and also, on S-Tronic, shift points). But, AFAIK the S-tronic already has a 'sport' mode setting which changes shift points, and the S3 change in steering weight just feels artificial and unhelpful .

So the only 100% positive is the change in throttle response. I'd either get ADS + dampers, or neither.