Dynamic Diff. vs. Audi Drive Select
01-07-2010, 11:52 AM
#1
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Dynamic Diff. vs. Audi Drive Select
Please help me figure something out:
Does the Dynamic Diff option change the suspension setting between the three options: Dynamic, Normal and Comfort? I know it changes the steering input, throttle response but not sure about suspension?
I realize the Audi Drive Select option let's you create a custom combination base on your preferences including the suspension. It just seems that it doesn't really provide that much value compared to just the dynamic diff option.
Thank you.
Does the Dynamic Diff option change the suspension setting between the three options: Dynamic, Normal and Comfort? I know it changes the steering input, throttle response but not sure about suspension?
I realize the Audi Drive Select option let's you create a custom combination base on your preferences including the suspension. It just seems that it doesn't really provide that much value compared to just the dynamic diff option.
Thank you.
01-07-2010, 11:59 AM
#2
AudiWorld Super User
If you have the full, expensive ADS system, the buttons that change the mode, change all components.
If you have only the sport diff, they don't change the suspension, because you don't have those (expensive) controllable shocks installed.
If you have only the sport diff, they don't change the suspension, because you don't have those (expensive) controllable shocks installed.
01-07-2010, 12:56 PM
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That makes sense now.... thank you. The price difference is significant and if it includes and upgraded/adjustable suspension... now it seems like a good idea. I don't think the web-site does it justice in describing the difference.
Thx.
Thx.
01-07-2010, 01:14 PM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Correct, the site (and sadly many Audi dealers) are not well versed in what you get and what does what.
Depends on what you want. There are definite noticable differences between the 3 modes of suspension when driving. Without full ADS, the stock (unadjustable) suspension feel and response falls somewhere between "Auto" and "Dynamic" on the ADS car.
The huge cost difference you rightly point out only buys you 2 things over what the controls which come with the Sport Diff has:
- Adjustable suspension
- Ability to change the ratio of the steering, making it more precise and less turns lock to lock
If you get the Sport Diff (and full ADS) you can control:
- Steering feedback (the power steering helps less or more to give you more feel)
- Engine/Throttle response (and with the DSG it alters shift points) to provide economy for Comfort mode, power and aggressiveness with Dynamic, or tries to give you some of each in Auto depending on how you drive moment to moment
- Sport Diff aggressivness (if it steps in sooner or later to assist with cornering and torque vectoring)
Things to consider with full ADS is of course the cost, but also if you want to ever make any changes to the suspension, it could either be impossible (depending on what you want to do) or hard and spendy. Likewise if you keep the car for many years, all the fancy active suspension will likely at some point need to be replaced or have problems - making it much more likely to cost more than parts you can more easily get replacements for.
Depends on what you want. There are definite noticable differences between the 3 modes of suspension when driving. Without full ADS, the stock (unadjustable) suspension feel and response falls somewhere between "Auto" and "Dynamic" on the ADS car.
The huge cost difference you rightly point out only buys you 2 things over what the controls which come with the Sport Diff has:
- Adjustable suspension
- Ability to change the ratio of the steering, making it more precise and less turns lock to lock
If you get the Sport Diff (and full ADS) you can control:
- Steering feedback (the power steering helps less or more to give you more feel)
- Engine/Throttle response (and with the DSG it alters shift points) to provide economy for Comfort mode, power and aggressiveness with Dynamic, or tries to give you some of each in Auto depending on how you drive moment to moment
- Sport Diff aggressivness (if it steps in sooner or later to assist with cornering and torque vectoring)
Things to consider with full ADS is of course the cost, but also if you want to ever make any changes to the suspension, it could either be impossible (depending on what you want to do) or hard and spendy. Likewise if you keep the car for many years, all the fancy active suspension will likely at some point need to be replaced or have problems - making it much more likely to cost more than parts you can more easily get replacements for.
01-07-2010, 01:45 PM
#5
Correct, the site (and sadly many Audi dealers) are not well versed in what you get and what does what.
Things to consider with full ADS is of course the cost, but also if you want to ever make any changes to the suspension, it could either be impossible (depending on what you want to do) or hard and spendy. Likewise if you keep the car for many years, all the fancy active suspension will likely at some point need to be replaced or have problems - making it much more likely to cost more than parts you can more easily get replacements for.
Things to consider with full ADS is of course the cost, but also if you want to ever make any changes to the suspension, it could either be impossible (depending on what you want to do) or hard and spendy. Likewise if you keep the car for many years, all the fancy active suspension will likely at some point need to be replaced or have problems - making it much more likely to cost more than parts you can more easily get replacements for.
01-07-2010, 02:01 PM
#6
AudiWorld Super User
I'll take this as tongue in cheek, and hope it is.
That said, LED's have much lower power use and are not at all that expensive to replace, having a MUCH longer life than incandescent or Halogen bulbs -LED's on average are in the 25,000 to 100,000 hours of use between failure timeframe.
HID's are also very mainstream, in fact I replaced my factory ones with a pair with a higher temperature color for all of 30 minutes of my time and ~$100.
The fact that the Sport diff is ~$1000 and the ADS system entirely costs about ~$3000 more than this, when all it adds is changing steering ratio and active suspension points to the fact that the suspension components are pricey, since all the rest is just enabling the ECU to change what is already installed (without both ADS or Sport Diff, you don't get the button installed, which maps the already adjustable options this gives, so those components are there, just hidden with no way to control them present.
It's a fact that shocks wear out - MUCH faster than light bulbs, and are always going to cost orders of magnitude more to replace, labor and all. Adding an even more complex setup to the mix will only exacerbate this.
There is a fine line between cutting edge and bleeding edge - bleeding edge will always pay a lot more for things which can be had cheaper only a year or so down the road. There is also a difference between being cautious of new just because it's different, and being cautious of something new because it's potentially not worth the fiscal cost versus risk.
That said, LED's have much lower power use and are not at all that expensive to replace, having a MUCH longer life than incandescent or Halogen bulbs -LED's on average are in the 25,000 to 100,000 hours of use between failure timeframe.
HID's are also very mainstream, in fact I replaced my factory ones with a pair with a higher temperature color for all of 30 minutes of my time and ~$100.
The fact that the Sport diff is ~$1000 and the ADS system entirely costs about ~$3000 more than this, when all it adds is changing steering ratio and active suspension points to the fact that the suspension components are pricey, since all the rest is just enabling the ECU to change what is already installed (without both ADS or Sport Diff, you don't get the button installed, which maps the already adjustable options this gives, so those components are there, just hidden with no way to control them present.
It's a fact that shocks wear out - MUCH faster than light bulbs, and are always going to cost orders of magnitude more to replace, labor and all. Adding an even more complex setup to the mix will only exacerbate this.
There is a fine line between cutting edge and bleeding edge - bleeding edge will always pay a lot more for things which can be had cheaper only a year or so down the road. There is also a difference between being cautious of new just because it's different, and being cautious of something new because it's potentially not worth the fiscal cost versus risk.
01-07-2010, 02:20 PM
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Correct, the site (and sadly many Audi dealers) are not well versed in what you get and what does what.
Depends on what you want. There are definite noticable differences between the 3 modes of suspension when driving. Without full ADS, the stock (unadjustable) suspension feel and response falls somewhere between "Auto" and "Dynamic" on the ADS car.
The huge cost difference you rightly point out only buys you 2 things over what the controls which come with the Sport Diff has:
- Adjustable suspension
- Ability to change the ratio of the steering, making it more precise and less turns lock to lock
Depends on what you want. There are definite noticable differences between the 3 modes of suspension when driving. Without full ADS, the stock (unadjustable) suspension feel and response falls somewhere between "Auto" and "Dynamic" on the ADS car.
The huge cost difference you rightly point out only buys you 2 things over what the controls which come with the Sport Diff has:
- Adjustable suspension
- Ability to change the ratio of the steering, making it more precise and less turns lock to lock
An ADS car with steering in "Auto" will vary the steering ratio between low speed and high speed driving, even if you never change the ADS setting. A BMW 3-Series with Dynamic Steering works the same way, except that you can't choose between Dynamic, Auto, and Comfort-- there's only one default map for how the steering ratio changes. A non-ADS car, without Active Steering, won't do this, though it will change the amount of power steering boost.
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01-07-2010, 04:22 PM
#8
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Not to be Rude, but ...
I'm not trying to be a jerk but, *another* question about ADS/sport diff? How many times has this question, or some variant of it, about the ADS come up? It seems like there needs to be a little better information available so that people know what they're getting. It's not very clear at all about what you get when you order (or don't order) these options.
I mean, when you see a Crest toothpaste commercial, they put up graphics with two columns that show the "competitor's brand" and Crest. Then, beneath that, all kinds of "features" of toothpaste are listed. Check-marks indicate which features (fresh breath, tarter protection, whitening, etc.) each brand has.
Why can't something like this be created by Audi (or *someone*) that compares: no sport diff/ADS, sport diff only, and ADS? That would clear up a lot of issues once and for all.
I mean, when you see a Crest toothpaste commercial, they put up graphics with two columns that show the "competitor's brand" and Crest. Then, beneath that, all kinds of "features" of toothpaste are listed. Check-marks indicate which features (fresh breath, tarter protection, whitening, etc.) each brand has.
Why can't something like this be created by Audi (or *someone*) that compares: no sport diff/ADS, sport diff only, and ADS? That would clear up a lot of issues once and for all.
01-07-2010, 06:23 PM
#9
I'll take this as tongue in cheek, and hope it is.
There is a fine line between cutting edge and bleeding edge - bleeding edge will always pay a lot more for things which can be had cheaper only a year or so down the road. There is also a difference between being cautious of new just because it's different, and being cautious of something new because it's potentially not worth the fiscal cost versus risk.
There is a fine line between cutting edge and bleeding edge - bleeding edge will always pay a lot more for things which can be had cheaper only a year or so down the road. There is also a difference between being cautious of new just because it's different, and being cautious of something new because it's potentially not worth the fiscal cost versus risk.
Last edited by irenesbob; 01-07-2010 at 06:29 PM.
01-07-2010, 07:27 PM
#10
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Jalopnik review say:
Looks like they don't like the ADS.
http://jalopnik.com/5440875/2010-audi-s4/gallery/
Thankfully, this model wasn't equipped with the silly Drive Select system, which makes things worse by buggering up the steering with artificial weight instead of feel. Other than that reservation, the chassis complements the responsive, powerful engine with agility and quick steering.
http://jalopnik.com/5440875/2010-audi-s4/gallery/