$0.02 from a guy in Colorado.

I debated on my MY2012 - there was a similar car at the dealer without the sport package. I drove both the sport, and non sport versions. I questioned the additional $1500 pretty seriously, but took it in the end, and I am very happy I did. In increasing order of importance:

• Three spoke wheel - nice, looks better than the standard to me, but was not a decisive factor for me.
• The A6 looks better riding on the 19". The 20s also look great but I understand can definitely be a harsher ride.
• I love the paddle shifters - in my case, I have some pretty hard core mountain driving within 20 minutes of my front door, so I have a natural playground for it.
• Handling : You dont lose much ride quality vs the 18s, but do gain handling for the twisties. You wont notice it much on the highway, but if you get out on a two lane, you will appreciate it greatly.

On the negative side, not only will you spend $1500 on the package, you really have to plan on buying a set of winter tires, or at least all season tires. Im preparing to put a set of Bridgestone RE970AS on mine and that is going to set me back about another $1300 by the time it is all over. Ill switch back to the summer tires in the spring, and probably will run them out by next fall. From that point forward, Ill plan on having all season tires on it. Finally, over the life of the car, you will also spend more for 19" tire than you would 18's. It is not an insignificant amount of money... but then if you are buying an A6, it is hardly an inexpensive car to start with.

After considering all of the above, I chose to get the sport package. I never looked back. Everyone has to make their own value judgement, but for me it was a fall off a log decision.

Hope this helps...

 

Great! Thank you for your input. This certainly helps me in understanding what I will have to keep in mind if I go with 19" sports package.

 

I would agree 100% with everything JC said. I would add that the sport pkg also lowers the car a bit to reduce the fender/wheel gap improving it's looks.

I didn't get the sport pkg on my 2009 A4 and regretted it for four years. I got the 19" sport pkg on the A6 and not only does the car handle better than my A4 but the ride on the A6 is smoother. Firm yes, but not as jarring as my non-sport A4.
Obviously, you really want it but maybe are concerned about the ride. Do it. You'll love it. And you won't regret not getting it like I did on my last Audi.

 

For the vets, correct me if I'm wrong but you can buy the 19" OEM rims to replace the 18" wheels, right? I think there's a couple posts that mention places to purchase the 19" OEM wheels although I don't think they come with the Audi logo center cap. Anyway, I'm in the same position of not being able to find my precise color/options. However, I found a CPO car with everything except it has the 18" Sport Package instead of the 19". I'm thinking "no big deal".

 

I spoke with a fellow member who is also a sales guy in local Audi dealership and there is only 1 available but not in the color combo I need so I am dropping the sports package. Not worth for me to custom order and wait for 3-4 months.

 

Have you been offered a very good deal? The only way I would compromise my requirements would be for a good deal. The better the deal, the more I'll cave on colors and options. Every time I think I know what color combo I want, someone posts pictures of something else, and I think to myself, "I can do that color!" They're all gorgeous.

 

I am a big sucker for Black ext with lighter interior, this is the first time I really loved darker interior so I am def not going to compromise on color.

19" sports package I am ready to give up for many reasons.
1. It's simply not available
2. It comes with summer tire so I will have added exp on getting set of Winter tiers.
3. My driving is pretty much on highway for 70 miles. To be honest I don't need super performance on straight line with one of the most busiest highway in NJ.
4. The most important I am working with multiple dealers and non of them have the car on lot so I am hoping for getting the best deal.

Fingers crossed.

 

Are you looking at the Prestige trim? Let me know the deals you're brewing (PM me if necessary). I heard (and this is rumor), that the reason Audi is not sending 2013 Prestiges with the 19" is because they're looking at converting to an all season tire for that package. Purely rumor though.

 

That was the only beef I really had with the offered option packages. Summer tires in winter climes forces sport pkg owners to purchase winter or all season tires (like me) and possibly another set of wheels. There's really no logical reason for not offering optional A/S tires on at least the 19" pkg. They did on the MY2012's with the now discontinued 18" sport package, although, I believe the A/S were required.

I seriously doubt any consideration of doing this would result in halting production though.

 

Nice choice for to make :-)

We have a 2012 A6 with 19" sport package and a 2013 six-speed S5 with the 19" package in Southern California.

No matter what you decide, you will want a 17" or 18" snow tire package - I lived in New England for 40 years and always had the second set of dedicated snow tires on minus -1 or minus -2 sizing. I swear by the Tire Rack and have purchased well over a dozen sets of tires and wheels from them. In fact, when I left Massachusetts in 2010, it was a bit of ceremony to part with three complete sets of snow tires and wheels, each going to car friends of mine for which the size and offset were appropriate.

I am of mixed mind about the 19" sport package on the new Audi A6. The ride is harsh, but the massive understeer is still there. If I did it again, I would get the 18" sport package. The 19" package in the S5 is just fine. BTW, in the previous 1.3 million miles of driving (in 21 different cars and trucks that I have owned), I have a had a total of three flat tires. Our A6 has had three (3!) flats in 9700 miles... yikes. Now, it may be the junk I pick up in Southern California, as I have just moved here in the past two years, but I am skeptical.

In any event, you will love the dynamic adjustments you can make to throttle response, braking etc. The car is a joy and a huge leap forward from the A6 2.7t that I had before.

I have included a low res cell phone image of the fleet at rest...