Just took delivery of the SQ5!
08-20-2013, 01:30 PM
#21
AudiWorld Super User
Lower (or higher) ride height is irrelevant in U.S. for towing.
It can be way high for that matter (just need the right drop at the hitch and/or the ball to ultimately get the trailer frame rails close to level). Or it can be as low as will clear the ground if a tire goes completely to the bare rim, assuming again the trailer rails are parallel to pavement and the right flat or riser ball arm are used. In other words, the common state vehicle code will end up saying basically a vehicle part can't drag on the ground if your tires go flat. That's low! And on the other end, they basically say it needs a bumper that has to more or less arguably meet up with other things (maybe). For new vehicle certification, it has to meet certain general heights, but the range is everything from a low to the ground sports car to a way up in the air big truck factory equipped 4x4. Even in the faux-small truck/SUV category the height range can pretty varied as between the car based unibody stuff and the body on frame flavors, and of course an SQ5 is the IDENTICAL height in the U.S. to even the entry 2.0T with the base line wheels, no matter how much folks might want it different.
And since we have already confirmed at the parts number level Audi pretended to install a sport suspension on the vehicle in the U.S. in its early PR copy and then backed off--perhaps due to some manufacturer CAFE fuel economy math compliance games where ride height matters to pretend its a "small truck"--any arguments it was because of the actual (non-unique) stock Q5 suspension would be baloney too.
And since we have already confirmed at the parts number level Audi pretended to install a sport suspension on the vehicle in the U.S. in its early PR copy and then backed off--perhaps due to some manufacturer CAFE fuel economy math compliance games where ride height matters to pretend its a "small truck"--any arguments it was because of the actual (non-unique) stock Q5 suspension would be baloney too.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 08-20-2013 at 04:35 PM.
08-20-2013, 01:39 PM
#22
AudiWorld Super User
Summer tires? That's completely irrelevant. Audi excuse making.
You can tow whether you have A/S's, summers or winters on your car. Vehicle codes basically just care you have four round doughnuts with tread with no wear bars exposed. Very lowest common denominator.
Summers vs. others only come into play here for the usual sensible reasons to use them: cold temp grip, when you have traction issues, braking, etc. The corner case of trailering and needing to chain up vs. not chain up is the very ridiculous scenario of literally towing during chain conditions. I've only seen one yahoo do that so far over all the winter seasons in the Sierras. Meanwhile in the 95-99% case, A/S's vs. summers, towing or not, seem irrelevant, and summers if anything tend to have shorter stopping distances, more resistance to heat, etc. And oh by the way Audi, towing and fair weather and boating and recreation are all kind of correlated--as presumably they would know any Friday on any of the Autobahnen headed south toward the Alps all summer long by the way.
Summers vs. others only come into play here for the usual sensible reasons to use them: cold temp grip, when you have traction issues, braking, etc. The corner case of trailering and needing to chain up vs. not chain up is the very ridiculous scenario of literally towing during chain conditions. I've only seen one yahoo do that so far over all the winter seasons in the Sierras. Meanwhile in the 95-99% case, A/S's vs. summers, towing or not, seem irrelevant, and summers if anything tend to have shorter stopping distances, more resistance to heat, etc. And oh by the way Audi, towing and fair weather and boating and recreation are all kind of correlated--as presumably they would know any Friday on any of the Autobahnen headed south toward the Alps all summer long by the way.
Last edited by MP4.2+6.0; 08-20-2013 at 01:41 PM.
08-20-2013, 04:53 PM
#23
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Location: Florida, USA
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This is pretty much exactly what I was going to say. I swore I'd never get a white car again, and after about 11 years, this is the first time I've ever second guessed that decision.
Very sharp and excellent combination of elements. Totally nailed the look.
08-20-2013, 05:44 PM
#25
Unfortunately many things that look attractive are impractical. Unless the drivers and occupants will wear lightly colored fabrics, those .seats will look stained and dirty in no time (especially with denim)
08-20-2013, 06:22 PM
#26
AudiWorld Expert
Here's my Alcanatara (yes different material) after 8 years and 193k miles, just for reference.
08-20-2013, 06:27 PM
#27
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Have you actually owned a late-model Audi with the silver/black fine nappa leather seats that are in Larry's new SQ5?
My '11 S4 has these exact same seats and I can tell you that after almost three years and 61,000 miles mine still look almost new. A little preventative maintenance with a good quality leather cleaner/conditioner is all that's needed to keep them looking that way. Mine have no creases, wrinkles, or stains and literally look almost as good as the day I drove it off the lot. So, don't jump to inaccurate assumptions unless you've had experience with these seats....
Larry, looks fantastic! The color combo is beautiful, and yours are the first real-world pics I've seen of the layered black wood/aluminum trim (what I've ordered in mine) and it looks as great as I had expected. Thanks for posting these pics! Mine's scheduled to be here in late September so a little ways to go. And congrats on the new addition to the family!
08-20-2013, 07:34 PM
#28
Crapping on the thread? Google "Audi alcantara staining" and you'll find plenty of negative posts on various boards such as this one: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t-kid-friendly
I don't hate alcantara, and I'm actually thinking about ordering it just to change it up from leather which I have now. I just would never get what Audi calls "silver".
I don't hate alcantara, and I'm actually thinking about ordering it just to change it up from leather which I have now. I just would never get what Audi calls "silver".
08-20-2013, 07:46 PM
#29
After a long wait, it's finally here. gf loves her new daily driver. I only drove it briefly before she wanted back in the driver's seat. It's one sick ride. gf is due in a few weeks (we're expecting a boy), and only then will I get a chance to drive it more lol. This our 2nd white Q5 but have to say I already like this glacier a lot more than our old ibis, especially at dusk when the lighting changes dramatically.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9550490251/"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9550490251_f0227c0843_b.jpg" alt="DSC01205"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553247208/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/9553247208_1a8c752d9e_b.jpg" alt="DSC01189"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553325832/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/9553325832_dd0c139bcb_b.jpg" alt="DSC01202"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553325986/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/9553325986_24ef17f489_b.jpg" alt="DSC01203"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553326248/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9553326248_e2c5301227_b.jpg" alt="DSC01200"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553259900/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/9553259900_7511e34f61_b.jpg" alt="DSC01198"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9550488159/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/9550488159_316abc1c4f_b.jpg" alt="DSC01204"></a>
The layered aluminum and black wood is truly amazing in person. Up close you can see the grain of the wood and the attention to detail with how each aluminum layer is veneered so perfectly and lines up symmetrically with the adjacent pieces in the center console suggests the manufacturing process of these trim pieces must have been very expensive. Certainly justifies the $1100 premium, IMO.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553326442/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/9553326442_446575b80b_b.jpg" alt="DSC01197"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553251756/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/9553251756_3514de5a2a_b.jpg" alt="DSC01192"></a>
details:
- prestige
- 21" wheels
- nappa leather package (black/lunar silver)
- driver assist package
- layered aluminum/black wood trim
BUT NO TOW HITCH! I ordered the tow hitch and it even showed it in the order system for months from the beginning all the way to when it was pulled for production. Sometime between then and delivery, it just disappeared without any notice from Audi. My dealer was surprised at the lack of communication from Audi as well. Audi just took it off my order without notice and it didn't even show up on the monroney sticker. Dealer is still trying to find out from Audi what really happened but they think the standard hitch that goes in a Q5 just didn't work on the SQ5's rear bumper which is why it was removed it from SQ5 orders placed after May. And I thought my build was "grandfathered in" but guess not. They at least promised in writing that should the right parts become available for a retrofit, I will only be responsible for the cost of parts and they would eat the cost of labor and installation.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9550490251/"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9550490251_f0227c0843_b.jpg" alt="DSC01205"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553247208/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5485/9553247208_1a8c752d9e_b.jpg" alt="DSC01189"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553325832/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/9553325832_dd0c139bcb_b.jpg" alt="DSC01202"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553325986/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/9553325986_24ef17f489_b.jpg" alt="DSC01203"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553326248/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9553326248_e2c5301227_b.jpg" alt="DSC01200"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553259900/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5464/9553259900_7511e34f61_b.jpg" alt="DSC01198"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9550488159/"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/9550488159_316abc1c4f_b.jpg" alt="DSC01204"></a>
The layered aluminum and black wood is truly amazing in person. Up close you can see the grain of the wood and the attention to detail with how each aluminum layer is veneered so perfectly and lines up symmetrically with the adjacent pieces in the center console suggests the manufacturing process of these trim pieces must have been very expensive. Certainly justifies the $1100 premium, IMO.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553326442/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/9553326442_446575b80b_b.jpg" alt="DSC01197"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9771718@N06/9553251756/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/9553251756_3514de5a2a_b.jpg" alt="DSC01192"></a>
details:
- prestige
- 21" wheels
- nappa leather package (black/lunar silver)
- driver assist package
- layered aluminum/black wood trim
BUT NO TOW HITCH! I ordered the tow hitch and it even showed it in the order system for months from the beginning all the way to when it was pulled for production. Sometime between then and delivery, it just disappeared without any notice from Audi. My dealer was surprised at the lack of communication from Audi as well. Audi just took it off my order without notice and it didn't even show up on the monroney sticker. Dealer is still trying to find out from Audi what really happened but they think the standard hitch that goes in a Q5 just didn't work on the SQ5's rear bumper which is why it was removed it from SQ5 orders placed after May. And I thought my build was "grandfathered in" but guess not. They at least promised in writing that should the right parts become available for a retrofit, I will only be responsible for the cost of parts and they would eat the cost of labor and installation.
08-20-2013, 07:49 PM
#30
AudiWorld Expert
Crapping on the thread? Google "Audi alcantara staining" and you'll find plenty of negative posts on various boards such as this one: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...t-kid-friendly
I don't hate alcantara, and I'm actually thinking about ordering it just to change it up from leather which I have now. I just would never get what Audi calls "silver".
I don't hate alcantara, and I'm actually thinking about ordering it just to change it up from leather which I have now. I just would never get what Audi calls "silver".