Currently seeking '99 A4 Q. Sport package seems interesting....<p>Background- currently own '88 Audi 90 Q with 130K+ miles. Winter and summer wheels (summer bbs/perrelli winter ronol/blizzaks). I commute mostly from my house in the mountains to the airport (summit county colorado to Denver International). I have been doing this commute twice a week and am now looking to replace my faithful ride. <p>Should I order the sport suspension? How harsh is the ride? How is the tracking over uneven pavement? I would love a sporty ride but don't want to get spine surgury.<p>I used to own a svo mustang with Konis- great at the track but hard to drive... How much firmer is the ride? How is ride height changed? I am into a little firmer but feel it might be a mistake to go balistic.<p>

You will be fine with the sports package on the roads in and around<br>Summit County. It is not like what you had with the SVO/Koni set up.<br>Vail Pass and Loveland Pass would be fine......as well as the Eisenhower<br>grade. Are you near Dillon? My friend use to be the President of FirstBank<br>of Silverthorne. Don't know if he still is though.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<p>P.S. I miss living in the Front Range...can ya tell?

nt

Don't know your firend. Although he/ she must be popular because about two weeks ago I was having an exhaust system installed on my other vehicle ('74 International Scout) in Commerce City and someone at the shop asked me if I knew the president of the 1st Bank in Dillion. Home is breck- first good snow was yesterday.<p>Don't really want to rub this in but I gotta pass thi s along--- best drive of the summer:<p>From West bound I-70 exit at the tunnel, drove hwy 6 to Keystone. I was comming back from the Denver at about 6:30 AM. Never saw a car (or hazzardous material semi) the whole time. Road was dry- My 90Q was drifting hard through those turns.<p>now I guess all that is left to do is try that with an A4

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Steve is right. I had a Stang before my A4. With SVO springs it was way harsher, without maybe about the same although the ride was not nearly as good. I think you'll find it the right balance. Broke my A4 in on the roads around your house, can tell you it's an absolute joy to drive around there.<p>Gary B <br>1.8tqms

...is a hoot both ways; also, Squaw Pass (either direction)! I just put my Ronal R-28/Pirelli Winter 210A package on and can't wait to head for the hills to do some skiing 9and some quattro-ing)! You'll love the A4 in the mountains. Are you getting the 1.8T or the 2.8?<p>CraigB<br>'98 1.8TqM (Aurora, CO)

Yes, definitely. My wife, mom & mom-in-law thought the ride was very nice. I personally like to crank it around corners. Really an ideal compromise!<p>Steve Mac<p>PS: Keep your old wheels/snows!

The sports package contains alot of bang for your buck. The ride is not at all harsh and the car handles much better.

Very controlled, excellent tracking, smooth as a baby's bottom. It does convey the pavement's imperfections, though.<p>Dollar for dollar, the most cost-effective option on the A4 other than quattro.

Especially since you already have a tire/wheel set for the winter.<p>The ride/handling compromise with sport is, IMO, just about perfect.

Yes!<p>Best $400 you'll spend on the car. Well plus quattro, but you knew that already!<p>The car is lowered 20mm and it does firm up the ride some. <p>(Like your commute, I could think of worse...)<p>-randy<br>

I would say definitely, with a caceat. Similar to your experinece, wnt from a '90 Coupe Quattro to the Avant. Handling is a big improvement with Sport suspension, and is not harsh at all. Only caveat is ground clearance - Avant is about an inch lower in ground clearance than Coupe (I measured it before purchase),. so if you drive a lot in deep snow and are scraping right now, A4 Sport susp. will make it worse. I'm going to have to see how much difference it makes this winter to me (maybe - depends on winter weather we get in western PA).

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Comming from a 90Q I really debated this one. Seeing how hard the conditions are for a car around here I opted for the 6. The turbo really looked good especially for the price and altitude- but with variable valve timing and a 5 speed this seemed to be a logical choice.<p>I am picking up my ride today- I plan on posting some snow tire questions once I take it for a spin with those dunlops (ha). What is the config for your winter tires? My last Q has blizzaks on it and just motored through the white stuff. Winter was 195/60 R 14 summer was 205/55 R14. Any thoughts....

I just got my A4 in March, so I haven't done any "serious" winter driving yet. I just installed 16x7.5" Ronal R-28s with Pirelli Winter 210 Asimmetricos 205/55/16. I debated whether to go 15", but decided to go for looks over function. I don't think it will be a problem at all. If it is, I still have my 15" 8-spoke wheels that came on the car. For summer, I have 16x7.5" Borbet Type Cs w/Dunlop SP8000 205/55/16. I didn't get the sport pkg, but I upgraded to H&R Sport springs/Koni Sport shocks. I'm pleased with the performance, so far. Have fun and enjoy your A4!<p>CraigB

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20mm. Or am I wrong, (I may be). That is like the length of an extracted tooth(and not even a big one at that).<p>I know, I'm "mouthing off" again, but what do you expect from a dentist...<p>Kirk