Hey there, I'm just curious about what people's thoughts about getting the sports package, but wanting to drive in the snow are.<p>I've got a 1.8T on order, without the sports package, because I want to use it to drive to Tahoe from SF, and I don't want to have to buy new tires just to do so. Its a shame that the sports package comes with non M/S rated tires, because its a hell of a deal at ~$450!<p>I see that almost everyone here has the sports package. Do you guys drive in the snow at all?!<p>Steve<p>

LOTS of discussions in archives; do some legwork. Everybody seems to say that Dunlop SP8000 tires are not suited for snow at all.<p>Might talk to your dealer; he might be willing to trade the SP8000 w/ Sport wheels for the regular mushy M&S tires that come stock (although it might be too late if you ordered the car already with the mushbox supension). This should be a no-cost swap if he wants to do it.<p>To me, option is perfect - Sport tires with Sport suspension! <br>

I'm keeping my sport pkg wheels on 'til the snow flies. Then I'll switch to my 15" wheels/195-65-15 Michelin studs and head for the mountains (Central Oregon). In fact, I bought my wheels and tires from a fellow who advertised on the Qlist (see links, above) for a very reasonable price, particularly for Audi wheels!<p>Steve

i have the sport package and plan to make trips to tahoe from san francisco. i have the ronal r-28 wheel package though. steve mac did the right thing by picking up some used 15's from someone.<p>see ya at the top of heavenly!!!<br>nike10<br>1.8t qms - wett1.0 - r-28<br>k2 fatbob/clickers ;-)

Sport package in my A3 is perfect except in very low temperatures. It becomes VERY stiff, much stiffer than normal suspension. It becomes quite uncomfortable below -20C.<p>Marko Litmanen<br>A3 1.8T Wett 1.0 K&N

I got the sports package here in upstate NY. Since I didn't want to switch every winter for routine snow driving, I chose to sell my SP8000's and replace them with a good all-around tire (Dunlop D60M2).<p>Having said that, if I had had the extra money I would have probably saved the SP8000's for the summer and switched to a new wheel/snow-tire package in the winter.<p>Another option is to try to get the dealer to swap the Sports wheels/tires with those of a 2.8's. Some dealers do this, some don't (mine didn't want to).<p>Good luck.<p>Tom<br>1.8TQMS Silver/Ecru

Erik, I hear ya brotha....but this one could go either way. The main board is wiggin out again, so we do need to keep traffic down to prevent the multiple posts, italics, and mismatched threads. <p>I think the car with the sports package would be fine for an occasional jaunt to Tahoe. The Dunlop SP8000E are ok in this respect...not good...just ok.<p>Steve S<br>97 2.8QM<br>

Agreed, but the core seemed to me really about a/s tires vs. P8000's.<p>The sport package (minus tires) is really just a superb street setup, IMHO. It is not stiff enough to be a problem on snow and ice, and trust me I've seen a bunch of it.<p>The tires are a summer only (hence "sport") package. Audi makes the assumption that if you care about performance or snow, you would likely get another set of tires $250 vs. $28,000. If you didn't care about performance (not a slam), you would get a non-sport optioned car.<p>Of course, we have discussed this about 4 times this fall.<p>A new item of info was the fellow from scandinavia with the A3 who felt that the struts got discernably stiff at -30(?). I have found that to be true, but it is also true for the non-sport struts/shocks. But luckily, the tire pressure also drops and this more than compensates at these temperatures. Quite frankly, at -50f dead air temp. (which I have driven in here in MT), you are concerned far more about staying warm, the tires, and plastic moulding breaking off, than the diameter of your swaybar.

But on the more serious side, I am pretty amazed at how many people ruffle their feathers at changing to snow tires in the winter. It takes about an hour in the garage. or half an hour at a shop to do this. The $30 will be more than made up by the $500 you save by avoiding the ding in the door by the guy sliding in a Buick that you couldn't get away from fast enough . . . . . <p>And it truly is the best of both worlds: I chose a larger 225/50-16 Dunlop Graspic, so it *looks* like it belongs on the car. Discount Tire (I think they are www.tires.com) has a 5-spoke replica wheel for cheap, or you can get used take-offs from Gary.<p>(I know, the width compromises the load/area of the snow traction tire, but I'm willing to give up 10% or 20% of traction in an Audi Quattro that already runs better than a mountain goat just so it looks a little better. Even with 225-size tires the Quattro kicks some serious butt with dedicated snow tires, and those SUV drivers disappear in your rearview mirror rather quickly at the snowy stoplight . . . . not that I would ever be proud of hard acceleration in inclimate weather, mind you!)<p>Just my $0.02 . . . . um, $250, to be more exact (for those tires!).

For me, ground clearance was another consideration, my logic being that more clearance would help in the snow. If you decide later that the stock suspension is too soft, good luck finding stiffer springs that don't lower your car by considerably more than the Audi sport springs. Having done a retrofit, the cost of the option and then going with other tires will be significantly less that your suspension upgrade. <p>BTW, I have Michelin Pilot XGTs on the stock 16" wheels. We'll see how well a California boy does in his first Ohio winter.<p>Peter<br>97 1.8tqms

Getting the normal suspension, and then having to regret the choice and fitting the sports suspension later, is more expensive than getting the sports package in the first place and swap out for snow tires in the cold season. Just get a set of steel rims and 195-65/15 snow tires driving on that white stuff mixed with salt and dirt and all those crap, instead of soiling your nice 16" alloys. Save the Dunlop SP8000 for the summer where their handling shine.<p>Wong from North<br>98 A4 1.8TqMS Tropic Green (gettin' snow tires soon)<br>

I suppose that teaches me again to never trust a dealer. In fact, he said that the sports package was BETTER in the snow than the stock setup. Hmm...<p>--frank

Do they also sell Kia's?<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<br>

I don't understand the Kia reference, but no...Shaumburg sells Audis and Subarus. Argh...I love the sports package but would never have bought it knowing that I'd have to go through the hassle of replacing tires every 6 months. Argh.<p>--frank

Sorry for not being clear...the reference to them selling Kia's is meant to reflect that they are not knowledgeable about the A4 and may be more in tune with the workings of the infamous KIA. Good luck in the winter.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM

Now, if you simply pop some decent all-season rubber on the existing rims and leave them all year, the Sport setup will do ya just as well as the non-Sport. <p>Of course, you'll lose some of the dignity that the SP8000s have in turns and will probably squeal more quickly when "racing" around, but the suspension will still be better thatn the non-sport, without giving up anything to the non-Sport in traction.<p>See? You can have your cake after all!

Downtown Fine Cars in Toronto has a great snow package for $650.