ThunderDent

The tennis ball thing was a joke.... funny haha.... the sensor thing is actually pretty cool.

Personally, I much prefer hitting the button when parking front in. If the sensor was going off all the time I was in stop and go traffic, or a drive thru, I'd go insane wanting to turn it off.

But that's just a personal preference. Perhaps there is a VCDS adjustment that can be made.

spijun

I agree with ThunderDent
In city driving when the traffic jam the system is constantly activated and constantly chimes
Easier to press a button and activate the system

dougnash

You know, you guys make good points. I'll reserve judgement for now, being that I have only driven the new car only a few times - the wife gets all the fun! So next time I head out I'll try just tapping the button when I know I'm going to be pulling into a spot.

idale

Exactly. I like having the sensors because it helps with verifying exactly where my corners are as I'm pulling into a spot or whatever. At least I tend to mentally push the corners out and so sensors help me with what I can't see so I can get closer than I was when driving blind, but if I can pull in without having to back up to "make sure", then that's helpful. Not to mention I'm used to how my Odyssey works (sensors work via a push button on the dash to permanently defeat) and know the Q5 has sensors and so might forget and assume I'm too far for the sensors to alert me.

johncaravello

I'm also on Thunders side. I much rather turn on the sensors when I want them then have to turn them off when I am sitting in traffic.

dougnash

Again, just so I'm clear (as my wife has the Q at work), we're talking about hitting the sensor button on the dash, near the downhill assist, Audi Select, etc. Right? So that button does double-duty? You hit it to activate the front sensors while in drive, or hit it to disable the warnings when in reverse. Yes?

idale

Normally you shouldn't have them going off in traffic (when stopped) unless you're dangerously close to other vehicles. For the Odyssey, the front sensors don't start warning you until something is about 20" away (the assumption is that you can see reasonably well out the front as opposed to the back where it's harder). The rears activate at around 70". Response is tiered and varies by distance, going from short beeps when you're on the outside of the range to a constant sound when you're closer than the lowest distance (12" for the front, 24" for the rear).

The only time I really have my sensors beeping is pulling into a spot right next to a car or in some drive-up cases (since I try to be close to the wall and the rears of course have the longer range it'll warn at), as well as backing out close to a wall or other car. In normal traffic situations it's quiet unless someone really gets on my rear end at a light or something, which is rare.

Interex

Yes, the button will activate or deactivate the system depending on what mode it's in when the button is pressed. The issue that I have with it is that it also shuts off the back-up camera when I just want to mute the front sensors while backing out of my garage.

ThunderDent

If you don't like the fronts being loud or on at all, you can set them at different volumes/tones in the MMI as well.

Interex

Tried that but it won't go to completely silent on the volume adjustment.