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OP -- I am in greater Detroit area -- roads are horrible (the Motor City, my *ss). Imagine what auto execs, etc. from Europe and Asia must think when they get here. Pathetic. I had same similar choice to make. I drove a /15 with 19" sport package and a /16 with the base 18" non-sport package suspension back to back over same route. I went with the 19" sport suspension. I felt that it handled better and did not degrade the ride perceptibly. Nice Germanic suspension tuning. If you want rough, try out my wife's /13 Volvo S80 T6 with the Dynamic (sport) suspension -- rides like a .............truck! Very nasty and it is on 18s!
OP ... I was in almost the exact same situation about 4 months ago. I was ready to buy a low mileage CPO with 18" when I came across 2 others with sport packages at a CT dealership. One with 19" and another with 20".
Drove them back to back on some bumpy side roads and the 20" was noticeably more harsh to me than the 19". I then wondered how much comfort I would be giving up with the 19" vs 18" so I immediately drove an available new demo with 18" and I couldn't tell any difference in comfort while the handling and looks improved with the 19".
I went with the 19" sport package and after 4 months I am so happy I did. This is what my 19" look like.
Good choice with the 19" Sport. I went through the same process and ended up with the same 19" wheels as yours. Be prepared to spend time cleaning all those spoke though; 60 in all.
Smart choice of color too - doesn't show the dirt nearly as much as the blacks and white.
2012. Yep, a lot of spokes to clean but they look so pretty I don' t seem to mind. However I am starting to look onto a nano type sealant for the wheels that might make the process a bit easier.
There really is only upside to getting the sports package with 19" wheels if available as CPO. To me it has the same comfort level as the non sports package model yet handles better, looks better, and has the extra entertainment value and convenience of the paddle shifters, while getting the package highly discounted from the original cost.
If it's available in the color a CPO buyer likes, they should grab it. They wont regret it and will appreciate their choice more and more the longer they drive it.
The other day I saw an A6 TDI 20" with a lowered suspension in NY. I was walking and it drove by. How low is the sports package? Perhaps this one was further dropped. it looked impractical for the northeast.
The other day I saw an A6 TDI 20" with a lowered suspension in NY. I was walking and it drove by. How low is the sports package? Perhaps this one was further dropped. it looked impractical for the northeast.
The sports package with s-line is lower. I don't know exactly by how much. But I think some in another post mentioned around 3.5 cm. I noticed mine (US region) being lower compared to my pervious A6 non s-line but had sports package (Korea = German model options).
The other day I saw an A6 TDI 20" with a lowered suspension in NY. I was walking and it drove by. How low is the sports package? Perhaps this one was further dropped. it looked impractical for the northeast.
It must have been an aftermarket drop. I looked at them both with that in mind (i live in NY) and could not tell the difference with the naked eye. I wanted to actually measure from the ground to the bottom of the front bumper but forgot. I think the factory drop is minuscule and might be done more for marketing than an actual performance advantage.
Audi models with an optional sport pkg have had a .8" lower height for years. It's been well documented and visible to the eye. Outside of North America, it used to be 1.2" as I recall but not sure this is still the case.
In the photos ignore the difference in wheel/tire size as the outside diameter of both is identical. Focus on the wheel/fender gaps.
In the photos ignore the difference in wheel/tire size as the outside diameter of both is identical. Focus on the wheel/fender gaps.
While the outside diameters are close, they are not identical. Per the Tire Rack, the ContiProContact tire in 245/45x18 has an overall diameter of 26.7” and 778 revolutions per mile. The same brand and model of tire in 255/40x19 has a diameter of 27” and 768 revolutions per mile.
07-26-2015, 10:32 AM
