What is the difference between Audi Drive Select and Sport Differential?
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I visited Germany last week and a local Audi sales rep told me that the sports differential is a complete waste of money. According to him, the sports differntial is only useful during super high speed maneuvers like on a race track. For "off-track driving", even at high speeds and twisty turns, he noted that it is a worthless addition. He literally said don't waste your money on that option which is pretty stunning considering that he is a sales rep. He said that the adaptive dampening option and the drive assist are good/worthwile options to have.
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Ride height adjustment is NOT the same thing as shock damping adjustment.
Steering torque is also NOT the same thing as steering ratio adjustment.
And Donaldp is correct, both features are only available if you have ADS and not the SD option.
For B8-S4/S5, sports mode is the same as dynamic mode. But I am not sure if that is also the case for the A4/A5.
I disagree. You can definetly feel the difference that the SD makes, even on daily driving. You can tell just by switching between comfort and dynamic setting to feel the difference. In dynamic, you will notice that the rear end of the car tends to rotate more through the turn as oppose to plowing through the turn. The car also feels more agile as it is more responsive.
Steering torque is also NOT the same thing as steering ratio adjustment.
And Donaldp is correct, both features are only available if you have ADS and not the SD option.
I visited Germany last week and a local Audi sales rep told me that the sports differential is a complete waste of money. According to him, the sports differntial is only useful during super high speed maneuvers like on a race track. For "off-track driving", even at high speeds and twisty turns, he noted that it is a worthless addition. He literally said don't waste your money on that option which is pretty stunning considering that he is a sales rep. He said that the adaptive dampening option and the drive assist are good/worthwile options to have.
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I only drove an A5 before the S5, but I can really tell a difference on acceleration through turns or corners. Especially (in my week or two of ownership so far) acceleration from a stop and immediately into a turn in sport mode. The car is on rails and goes exactly where I want. It is something I could not do in the A5.
Audiworld Junior Member
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I visited Germany last week and a local Audi sales rep told me that the sports differential is a complete waste of money. According to him, the sports differntial is only useful during super high speed maneuvers like on a race track. For "off-track driving", even at high speeds and twisty turns, he noted that it is a worthless addition. He literally said don't waste your money on that option which is pretty stunning considering that he is a sales rep. He said that the adaptive dampening option and the drive assist are good/worthwile options to have.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
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Brilliant - I will be casually tracking and the 2010 I am looking at has the ADS
So Sport Differential will be put to good use as well. I know its a heavy car but so is my S4 - still fun on higher speed tracks like Watkins Glen.
Thank you all - looking forward to being part of the S5 Forum!
Cheers
Thank you all - looking forward to being part of the S5 Forum!
Cheers
I visited Germany last week and a local Audi sales rep told me that the sports differential is a complete waste of money. According to him, the sports differntial is only useful during super high speed maneuvers like on a race track. For "off-track driving", even at high speeds and twisty turns, he noted that it is a worthless addition. He literally said don't waste your money on that option which is pretty stunning considering that he is a sales rep. He said that the adaptive dampening option and the drive assist are good/worthwile options to have.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,480
Likes: 1
I visited Germany last week and a local Audi sales rep told me that the sports differential is a complete waste of money. According to him, the sports differntial is only useful during super high speed maneuvers like on a race track. For "off-track driving", even at high speeds and twisty turns, he noted that it is a worthless addition. He literally said don't waste your money on that option which is pretty stunning considering that he is a sales rep. He said that the adaptive dampening option and the drive assist are good/worthwile options to have.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
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Good point - better to have than have not - its a deal as its pre-owned
Hope to close on one shortly. More 2010's coming off lease.
The best thing to do is find a car with ADS or SD and see for yourself. If you can't feel any difference or do not care for the difference in the car's handling charactertistic, then the option is of no use for you. I wouldn't just take the SA's words for it. Keep in mind, they will not give you any sort of credit for buyer's remorse should you later decide that you wanted SD or ADS.
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The best thing to do is find a car with ADS or SD and see for yourself. If you can't feel any difference or do not care for the difference in the car's handling charactertistic, then the option is of no use for you. I wouldn't just take the SA's words for it. Keep in mind, they will not give you any sort of credit for buyer's remorse should you later decide that you wanted SD or ADS.
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There is no "Drive Select" package offered on the 2013 S5. The packages are:
With any of these packages, "Drive Select" controls are available. In my S5 with MMI, I have only Sports differential. Acoustics are included.
There are three pre-configured settings in Drive Select : Auto, Comfort, Dynamic. There is an "Individual" mode in which individual systems such as steering and throttle response can be set independently. Acoustics can be adjusted within "Individual" as well.
Of course "Acoustics" may turn out to be a controversial feature in the long run...
- Driver Assist
- Sports differential
- Adaptive damping suspension (requires one or both of the previous packages)
With any of these packages, "Drive Select" controls are available. In my S5 with MMI, I have only Sports differential. Acoustics are included.
There are three pre-configured settings in Drive Select : Auto, Comfort, Dynamic. There is an "Individual" mode in which individual systems such as steering and throttle response can be set independently. Acoustics can be adjusted within "Individual" as well.
Of course "Acoustics" may turn out to be a controversial feature in the long run...
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