Which Audi options do you actually use?
Discussion
First time poster, long, long time lurker... Go easy on me.
I'm in the market for an SQ7, 4M. I'm coming from another Audi, but want the extra space of the Q7.
I've narrowed it down to a couple of cars on AT, but I'm struggling to decide between them. They've both got a great options list, so I'd love any feedback you have on the following options, and whether you get much value/use/joy from them (most/all are available on other models, so I'm hoping a few people can chime in here). Or if you rate any particular options as both cars have a big list.
Advanced key
Tour pack (Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, etc)
Advanced parking pack (360 camera, controls steering)
Pan roof
Matrix LED lights
I've had AAC on a rental before and is was a joy on long slogs. We mostly do long journeys, so I'd probably get a lot of use from it, but only one of them has it (which isn't in the colour I prefer).
Cheers
I'm in the market for an SQ7, 4M. I'm coming from another Audi, but want the extra space of the Q7.
I've narrowed it down to a couple of cars on AT, but I'm struggling to decide between them. They've both got a great options list, so I'd love any feedback you have on the following options, and whether you get much value/use/joy from them (most/all are available on other models, so I'm hoping a few people can chime in here). Or if you rate any particular options as both cars have a big list.
Advanced key
Tour pack (Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, etc)
Advanced parking pack (360 camera, controls steering)
Pan roof
Matrix LED lights
I've had AAC on a rental before and is was a joy on long slogs. We mostly do long journeys, so I'd probably get a lot of use from it, but only one of them has it (which isn't in the colour I prefer).
Cheers
It shouldn't really matter. You need to look and see what options you genuinely want and then put them are in the following catergories:
A - Essential for you tio buy the car (for example, matrix lights or the B&O sound system)
B - Options you would like but not the end of the world if its missing.
C - Options you couldn't car less about but if its got them then its got them
D - Options you specifically do not want (e.g white leather or naff wood)
If the car has options in catergory A and is the right price, condition etc etc then thats your car.
If the car has all the A options but then some B, but is a bit ropey, then avoid.
Basically, what I am saying is buy on condition and don't get too hung up on finding cars with a silly list of specific options you want.
For example, cars with reversing camera (or better 360 cam) and B&O sound would be what I am looking for (and a car not in black or white), anything else is a bonus.
A - Essential for you tio buy the car (for example, matrix lights or the B&O sound system)
B - Options you would like but not the end of the world if its missing.
C - Options you couldn't car less about but if its got them then its got them
D - Options you specifically do not want (e.g white leather or naff wood)
If the car has options in catergory A and is the right price, condition etc etc then thats your car.
If the car has all the A options but then some B, but is a bit ropey, then avoid.
Basically, what I am saying is buy on condition and don't get too hung up on finding cars with a silly list of specific options you want.
For example, cars with reversing camera (or better 360 cam) and B&O sound would be what I am looking for (and a car not in black or white), anything else is a bonus.
Thanks for your reply, appreciated.
I guess my point is that I don't have enough experience of all the options to know which ones I would put into category A. If I choose the car with ACC, I'd be getting a car in a colour that I'd rather not have and wheels I'm not a fan of, but could live with, with higher miles (+11000mi), but it does have other options that I would put into B, lots into C.
Assuming both cars are in a similar condition, with similar history, I'm finding it bloody hard to choose between them. The other car might have a better residual in the future as it will have less miles.
I guess my point is that I don't have enough experience of all the options to know which ones I would put into category A. If I choose the car with ACC, I'd be getting a car in a colour that I'd rather not have and wheels I'm not a fan of, but could live with, with higher miles (+11000mi), but it does have other options that I would put into B, lots into C.
Assuming both cars are in a similar condition, with similar history, I'm finding it bloody hard to choose between them. The other car might have a better residual in the future as it will have less miles.
Does adaptive cruise read/use speed limit signs? Just thinking about all the road works you get and temp restricted speeds.
B&O would be a must for me, a good sound system makes a huge difference. Good headlights as well. The rest wouldn't be deal breakers for me. But if I didn't like the colour or alloys, I'd hate walking out to the car every time.
B&O would be a must for me, a good sound system makes a huge difference. Good headlights as well. The rest wouldn't be deal breakers for me. But if I didn't like the colour or alloys, I'd hate walking out to the car every time.
Savethemanual said:
Or if you rate any particular options as both cars have a big list.
Advanced key
Tour pack (Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, etc)
Advanced parking pack (360 camera, controls steering)
Pan roof
Matrix LED lights
I've had AAC on a rental before and is was a joy on long slogs. We mostly do long journeys, so I'd probably get a lot of use from it, but only one of them has it (which isn't in the colour I prefer).
Cheers
I have all of those on my RS6,Advanced key
Tour pack (Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, etc)
Advanced parking pack (360 camera, controls steering)
Pan roof
Matrix LED lights
I've had AAC on a rental before and is was a joy on long slogs. We mostly do long journeys, so I'd probably get a lot of use from it, but only one of them has it (which isn't in the colour I prefer).
Cheers
Advanced Key, nice for being able to just walk to up a locked car and get in without faffing around with a key, downsides forever paranoid about relay theft (car is always garaged and keys in faraday pouch) not good if you have OCD and always have the instinct to just check the car has actually locked, can be a ball ache when washing the car as you'll be forever locking / unlocking the car unless you take the keys out of your pocket and put them somewhere out of the way. The rear tail gate access sensor is useless, works 1 in 20 times maybe? To begin with I took the car back to the garage and complained that the feature didn't work, their response was that I didn't have the option installed... I do, you just have to do the river dance against the rear bumper to get it to work so I just always use the key now.
Tour pack, when I first got the car it nearly caused a couple of accidents driving around town (braking feature) It has now been turned off for the last four years of ownership, if I had a choice would never buy a car with it again.
Advanced parking, great, the 360 cameras are a life safer for a large car, although the resolution is pretty poor for todays standards and its pretty crap / useless in low lighting conditions. The parallel parking function has been used once, on handover when the sales man demo'd the feature to me. Pointless waste of money.
Pan Roof, for me an absolute must have option on any premium car, in fact the only car I've owned without one is an M3 CSL - for obvious reasons. Downsides, you'll need to get it serviced every two years, special Audi lubricant, apparently, at a special price.
Matrix LED's - brilliant, I live out on the country and they work a treat.
I think the speed display is a separate cost option to the ACC, I have that too, always have it on in the HUD (which is another must-have option in my opinion)
When I was looking to buy an RS6 I watched the market for quite a while, not sure how much of this carries over to SQ7 which I guess has more of mass market appeal but key options for the RS6 were pano roof, dynamic pack, 21' wheels and the usual boring colour options (aside from Merlin purple which carries a premium) Cars that stuck around on the market for a while were generally Misano Red (I actually love the colour and had a deposit on one but the head won that argument) or were missing pano roof, flat-bottomed steering wheel or had the comfort seats (non-quilted)
Edited by CSLchappie on Thursday 14th September 17:15
Savethemanual said:
Or if you rate any particular options as both cars have a big list.
Advanced key
Tour pack (Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, etc)
Advanced parking pack (360 camera, controls steering)
Pan roof
Matrix LED lights
I've had AAC on a rental before and is was a joy on long slogs. We mostly do long journeys, so I'd probably get a lot of use from it, but only one of them has it (which isn't in the colour I prefer).
Cheers
have a 2020 e-tron Advanced key
Tour pack (Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, etc)
Advanced parking pack (360 camera, controls steering)
Pan roof
Matrix LED lights
I've had AAC on a rental before and is was a joy on long slogs. We mostly do long journeys, so I'd probably get a lot of use from it, but only one of them has it (which isn't in the colour I prefer).
Cheers
Advanced key - its great, i dont bother with faraday as newer keys have tilt switch deactivating the transponder. E-tron also gets 5* security from thatcham.
360 camera - Rarely use it, thought i would, bit of a gimick, think it came with the B+O sound system which is great
"lane assist" - stops you wandering i switch it off except on motorway. Starts warning you/shaking wheel PITA
"lane assist pt2" - sensors around the etron are a nightmare, far too sensitive. Will start bleeping if nothing there bigger PITA
"adaptive cruise" - wish i had that for longer drives
"matrix LED" - have normal LED and they are great.
I had a 69 A7 Black edition, the only features I actually used were the upgraded lights (those were really nice.) The B&O didn't sound much better then a 2020 S4 estate I tested without it, the 360 cam was handy as it was quite long and wide but low. If its not standard virtual cockpit is nice also
CSLchappie said:
Pan Roof, for me an absolute must have option on any premium car, in fact the only car I've owned without one is an M3 CSL - for obvious reasons. Downsides, you'll need to get it serviced every two years, special Audi lubricant, apparently, at a special price.
I've had panoramic sunroofs on a couple of 3-series Tourings and we have also have one on our Mini; IMO the extra light and improved cabin ambience they provide is well worth it so for me they'd also be at or near the top of my must have list. However, I can't recall any specific servicing work ever being done yet we've never had a problem with any of them; is there something unique about Audi Pan Roofs that make this special lubricant necessary?!JNW1 said:
I've had panoramic sunroofs on a couple of 3-series Tourings and we have also have one on our Mini; IMO the extra light and improved cabin ambience they provide is well worth it so for me they'd also be at or near the top of my must have list. However, I can't recall any specific servicing work ever being done yet we've never had a problem with any of them; is there something unique about Audi Pan Roofs that make this special lubricant necessary?!
I'm the same, never had any issue with the 4 BMW's I've owned that had sunroofs.I'm not sure if the issue is specific to that generation of A6 (C7) but it does seem to be an issue that crops up from time to time on forums, I've not been able to track down the exact root problem but the resolution is that the seals / cassette may need to be replaced at significant cost if the sunroof starts to leak. If the service isn't done then any future related warranty claims are likely to be refused - but then seals are also considered perishables too. TLDR: if you're maintaining an approved warranty then probably best to get the sunroof serviced according to the schedule, I think mine cost £120 last time around.
I would avoid adaptive cruise now. Had two cars (granted they were Skodas but they have the same electronics) the first was faultless for 3 years, the second would drop out if there was road salt on the sensor, if there were flies on the sensor, if there was an "n" in the month leaving you with no cruise control.
Expensive to recalibrate as well, try telling them that it is a warranty issue . . . . it is always due to something that has happened to the car.
I can live with standard cruise although it took a while to get used to it again.
Expensive to recalibrate as well, try telling them that it is a warranty issue . . . . it is always due to something that has happened to the car.
I can live with standard cruise although it took a while to get used to it again.
CSLchappie said:
Advanced Key, nice for being able to just walk to up a locked car and get in without faffing around with a key, downsides forever paranoid about relay theft (car is always garaged and keys in faraday pouch) not good if you have OCD and always have the instinct to just check the car has actually locked, can be a ball ache when washing the car as you'll be forever locking / unlocking the car unless you take the keys out of your pocket and put them somewhere out of the way. The rear tail gate access sensor is useless, works 1 in 20 times maybe? To begin with I took the car back to the garage and complained that the feature didn't work, their response was that I didn't have the option installed... I do, you just have to do the river dance against the rear bumper to get it to work so I just always use the key now.
Advanced parking, great, the 360 cameras are a life safer for a large car, although the resolution is pretty poor for todays standards and its pretty crap / useless in low lighting conditions. The parallel parking function has been used once, on handover when the sales man demo'd the feature to me. Pointless waste of money.
Matrix LED's - brilliant, I live out on the country and they work a treat.
My wife has these on her A5 cab (I snipped the other options out of the quote):Advanced parking, great, the 360 cameras are a life safer for a large car, although the resolution is pretty poor for todays standards and its pretty crap / useless in low lighting conditions. The parallel parking function has been used once, on handover when the sales man demo'd the feature to me. Pointless waste of money.
Matrix LED's - brilliant, I live out on the country and they work a treat.
Advanced key is great, the tailgate thing works flawlessly once you get the knack of how to use it (it's a single kick under the middle then wait a couple of seconds)
360 camera is fantastic and works better than on my Land Rover, we also used the auto-park it once to try it out then never again
Matrix LEDs are something I'd actively look for now, we also live in the country and having the nearside verge always lit up with main beam is brilliant
CSLchappie said:
I have all of those on my RS6,
Advanced Key, nice for being able to just walk to up a locked car and get in without faffing around with a key, downsides forever paranoid about relay theft (car is always garaged and keys in faraday pouch) not good if you have OCD and always have the instinct to just check the car has actually locked, can be a ball ache when washing the car as you'll be forever locking / unlocking the car unless you take the keys out of your pocket and put them somewhere out of the way. The rear tail gate access sensor is useless, works 1 in 20 times maybe? To begin with I took the car back to the garage and complained that the feature didn't work, their response was that I didn't have the option installed... I do, you just have to do the river dance against the rear bumper to get it to work so I just always use the key now.
Tour pack, when I first got the car it nearly caused a couple of accidents driving around town (braking feature) It has now been turned off for the last four years of ownership, if I had a choice would never buy a car with it again.
Advanced parking, great, the 360 cameras are a life safer for a large car, although the resolution is pretty poor for todays standards and its pretty crap / useless in low lighting conditions. The parallel parking function has been used once, on handover when the sales man demo'd the feature to me. Pointless waste of money.
Pan Roof, for me an absolute must have option on any premium car, in fact the only car I've owned without one is an M3 CSL - for obvious reasons. Downsides, you'll need to get it serviced every two years, special Audi lubricant, apparently, at a special price.
Matrix LED's - brilliant, I live out on the country and they work a treat.
I think the speed display is a separate cost option to the ACC, I have that too, always have it on in the HUD (which is another must-have option in my opinion)
When I was looking to buy an RS6 I watched the market for quite a while, not sure how much of this carries over to SQ7 which I guess has more of mass market appeal but key options for the RS6 were pano roof, dynamic pack, 21' wheels and the usual boring colour options (aside from Merlin purple which carries a premium) Cars that stuck around on the market for a while were generally Misano Red (I actually love the colour and had a deposit on one but the head won that argument) or were missing pano roof, flat-bottomed steering wheel or had the comfort seats (non-quilted)
Thanks for your feedback.Advanced Key, nice for being able to just walk to up a locked car and get in without faffing around with a key, downsides forever paranoid about relay theft (car is always garaged and keys in faraday pouch) not good if you have OCD and always have the instinct to just check the car has actually locked, can be a ball ache when washing the car as you'll be forever locking / unlocking the car unless you take the keys out of your pocket and put them somewhere out of the way. The rear tail gate access sensor is useless, works 1 in 20 times maybe? To begin with I took the car back to the garage and complained that the feature didn't work, their response was that I didn't have the option installed... I do, you just have to do the river dance against the rear bumper to get it to work so I just always use the key now.
Tour pack, when I first got the car it nearly caused a couple of accidents driving around town (braking feature) It has now been turned off for the last four years of ownership, if I had a choice would never buy a car with it again.
Advanced parking, great, the 360 cameras are a life safer for a large car, although the resolution is pretty poor for todays standards and its pretty crap / useless in low lighting conditions. The parallel parking function has been used once, on handover when the sales man demo'd the feature to me. Pointless waste of money.
Pan Roof, for me an absolute must have option on any premium car, in fact the only car I've owned without one is an M3 CSL - for obvious reasons. Downsides, you'll need to get it serviced every two years, special Audi lubricant, apparently, at a special price.
Matrix LED's - brilliant, I live out on the country and they work a treat.
I think the speed display is a separate cost option to the ACC, I have that too, always have it on in the HUD (which is another must-have option in my opinion)
When I was looking to buy an RS6 I watched the market for quite a while, not sure how much of this carries over to SQ7 which I guess has more of mass market appeal but key options for the RS6 were pano roof, dynamic pack, 21' wheels and the usual boring colour options (aside from Merlin purple which carries a premium) Cars that stuck around on the market for a while were generally Misano Red (I actually love the colour and had a deposit on one but the head won that argument) or were missing pano roof, flat-bottomed steering wheel or had the comfort seats (non-quilted)
Edited by CSLchappie on Thursday 14th September 17:15
The advanced key doesn't really bother me, and I would indeed be fretting about relay theft, so I can let that one go.
Interesting point on the Tour Pack. I think it has it's uses, but around town I could imagine it messing up. Probably more help when you're driving along an A road/motorway.
Agree on the Advanced Parking Park, essential where we live as we don't have a driveway, and it's a big lump to park when out and about.
Dont currently have a pan roof, but miss if from my previous motor. Next car absolutely has to have it. I could have bought a car without one which ticked all the boxes a long time ago. I just don't understand why someone wouldn't spec it when it helps with the resale value in the future. The cars without them are definitely taking longer to sell from my monitoring of the market for the last 2 months.
I had a deposit down on an RS6, but it just doesn't have the rear seat space that the SQ7 has. I'm a tall bloke, and with the driver seat all the way back, my son is really cramped. That's the main reason for getting the SQ7, space, and something to put a smile on my face at the same time when I put my foot down.
cheeky_chops said:
have a 2020 e-tron
Advanced key - its great, i dont bother with faraday as newer keys have tilt switch deactivating the transponder. E-tron also gets 5* security from thatcham.
360 camera - Rarely use it, thought i would, bit of a gimick, think it came with the B+O sound system which is great
"lane assist" - stops you wandering i switch it off except on motorway. Starts warning you/shaking wheel PITA
"lane assist pt2" - sensors around the etron are a nightmare, far too sensitive. Will start bleeping if nothing there bigger PITA
"adaptive cruise" - wish i had that for longer drives
"matrix LED" - have normal LED and they are great.
Cheers. I'm suprised you think the camera is a gimmick. Do you not find it useful when parking when out and about?Advanced key - its great, i dont bother with faraday as newer keys have tilt switch deactivating the transponder. E-tron also gets 5* security from thatcham.
360 camera - Rarely use it, thought i would, bit of a gimick, think it came with the B+O sound system which is great
"lane assist" - stops you wandering i switch it off except on motorway. Starts warning you/shaking wheel PITA
"lane assist pt2" - sensors around the etron are a nightmare, far too sensitive. Will start bleeping if nothing there bigger PITA
"adaptive cruise" - wish i had that for longer drives
"matrix LED" - have normal LED and they are great.
I'd love the B&O but it's a rarely speced option on the SQ7 4M as it was crazy money, but I think on the facelift it's part of one of the packages, so more common.
Matrix LED lights would be a nice to have. Both the cars I'm looking at have the standard LED.
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