suspension level -- Choice

[wicker1]

Hi finally settled on new car 170 Tdi quattro S line.
Sports suspension 20mm lower seems to be standard with 30 mm lower, a no cost option, dealer has not yet asked what I want to go with.
Is 30m drop a bit hard, it would cetainly give the car a slightly lower stance on the road. Whats the opinion out there :1zhelp:

[razta]

the 30mm is really hard the first time u go over rumble strips

[B19RAK]

I think both options are hard, if you are going with standard wheels then 30mm drop is the best choice, car will sit too high otherwise. If you go for 19"s like a lot on here have, then the only option is 20mm.

Hope that makes the decision for you.

[ScottyUK]

If you go for 19"s like a lot on here have, then the only option is 20mm

or dynamic which admittedly is 20mm drop ;)

[Bratty]

I agree with B19RAK. (Sports suspension IS sporty by definition so expect firm and you will not be disapointed). To see how far the quality of the ride is these days try sticking a pair of 19" wheels on a PUG 205 1.9 gti from the nineties!! and see how long your false teeth stay in ;).

Dunk

[Sportwag]

I have 18"s with a 20mm but because the car (Avant) is Lava Grey I think it looks lower. It is already causing problems...was unable to cross a cattle grid yesterday due to low ground clerance.

[wicker1]

Thanks but surely car cannot be that low.
I also wonder with quattro will the ride be a bit stiffer anyway.

[Sportwag]

Previous car was a Saab 9-3 Estate and I never had problems with cattle grids! The S-Line is quite a bit lower (I notice the extra gravity getting into the drivers seat).

[mkc]

The car is pretty low on 30mm. Ive scraped the bottom of the grey front spliter thing lots of times leaving a steep junction or leaving a drive.

The A4 looks great in any spec with any suspension tho! I dont think the ride is that hard but I had a M Sport 1 series before and a 106 Gti and that had no suspension at all, it was either up or down and nothing inbetween!

[ScottyUK]

errrm am I misunderstanding?? :confused:

Cattle grids are flush fitting tubes across a road. 99.9% of cars can cope with them?

Or do you have to contend with cr4p ones that aren't flat?

[spellsinger]

Thanks but surely car cannot be that low.
I also wonder with quattro will the ride be a bit stiffer anyway.

I traded a current model BMW 5-Series saloon (SE not M-sport). I had to go for the higher S-line suspension otherwise the car wouldn't get up the drive, due to sharp incline, without scraping.

Although the BMW had the sport suspension and is a longer car - the A4 has a longer overhang from the front wheels so is susceptible to steep slopes - as it is I can't back this car up the drive.

And yes - the ride is a lot firmer.

Mike

[tigersargyle]

I have on my Avant Quattro the 30mm drop with standard S-Line 18" wheels and love it.

I think the 30 mm drop gives the car a more aggresive sporty stance which I personally prefer (being under 40 - see age thread!).

My one year old daughter still sleeps like a dream in the rear seat...so I don't think you have too much to worry about dropping it the further 10mm.

I live in Devon and have had no problems with cattlegrids (and there are plenty here!). Agree you have to keep an eye on the S-line front spoiler when parking as a bit low, but the front parking sensors pick this up.

As to a firm ride - yes one can not deny this, but it depends what you are use to. I come from a Cooper S Convertible/ Edition 30 GTI past so really not an issue for me. In fact I would go as far as saying I now get rather car sick in the "bouncy" softer suspensions - and as for going around corners in the quattro - there can only be one choice for me - firm it up!

[sunil1234]

1 1/2 years on, i still have no issue with the 30mm drop on 18s. yes it was hard at first but i was driving an old e30 bmw around for a year in between. It seems to have softened up now and my wife or 2 1/12yr old son have no complaints. In fact i wish it was harder.

Only scraped the underside slightly once when doing too quick a turn onto the start of a very steep incline off the a23. Never had an issue other than that and drive over many speed humps daily.

Try the old days, Mk1 golf GTi with spax shocks turned all the way up and see how long your bum stays on the seat on any road.

[pitch3110]

20mm on 19's and it feels nice and not at all hard compared to my previous B7.