Air suspension is it worth it?

[akatheproducer]

How much value would you put on the air suspension? Looking to purchase a B9SQ5 and it doesn't have air suspension or the sport diff. The way I see it I'm not gonna do much if any off roading and I don't care too much about the esthetics of lowering. I'm more concerned about ride quality and handling performance.

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[Smac770]

Air is more suitable for load leveling as well.

I think the important question is how long will you have it, and are you prepared to maintain it when something does go out. Everyone I know with air suspension has had expensive components eventually fail (they might not be "consumables" like passive dampers, but they are not forever either). Static dampers are cheap and decent. Adaptive dampers are better, and more expensive when they wear out. Air just takes that up another notch, even if you're just on road, on both the when they work and when they break aspects.

B9 US SQ5 appears to have sport adaptive (1BQ) standard and sport air (2MB) optional. I personally would find either perfectly fine.

[rcprato]

I have springs with adaptive shocks, I felt ride height was too high and handling was lacking a true sporty feel. Noticeable body roll going into corners
I have changed out springs and very happy with current ride and handling, know have ABT H.A.S. Springs


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[Mops@Nemesis]

For your use it sounds like the standard sport suspension is the way to go. The air suspension honestly doesn't ride/handle especially well. If anything, you can add some lowering springs to drop it a bit and further improve the handling.

[Smac770]

That's sad they didn't do a good job with it on the B9. It seems amazing on the A8, but it's also the only option on the A8. Until it breaks, and then breaks your wallet.

[asrautox]

I’m going to demonstrate my ineptitude and admit that I didn’t know there was an air option. That said, I wound up with static because I’m cheap, but totally fine with that choice because:

1. It was ~$5k cheaper than similar mileage cars.
2. It’s our family car, so plan to keep it for a long time so long term maintenance was a consideration.
3. Can get the ABT HAS kit if ever wanted to go lower.


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[Miranda@Nemesis]

If you plan to keep it long term, the lack of air suspension is one less thing to break. For me, I specifically wanted it due to the height adjustability on the fly, but as others have said, If you want to lower, you always can.


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[hbnoodles]

I’ll give a +1 for the air suspension. I live in snowy climates and the ability to have a few different setting is huge, because if we ever get a lot of snow I could go from a dynamic setting to off-road in ~20 seconds.

[RPMtech147]

I'd pay more to NOT have air suspension, TBH. Range, MB, Audi, etc, etc...always have failures, and it's expensive. Catastrophic bag/strut/pump failure means a tow, and even then, it's easy to damage the fender just getting the car on the tow truck.

I'm in the market for a later model Range (I know, I'm a masochist) and the the first thing it's getting is knobby tires and air suspension delete.

[burnman]

I love my Air Suspension!!! You don’t know how great it is until you get a service loaner without it. I live in northern Canada where the roads are crap and the smooth quiet ride of the air suspension makes all the difference.

[erecie01]

I just got my first SQ5 with air and have to agree that it would be hard to get my next SQ5 without it. However I also agree that cost to replace/repair would be a turn off. I would suggest a good extended warranty or get a new one when the warranty expires. That's what I'm planning to do.

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[NaterTots]

I went with the air suspension because I wanted the Sports Dif.

So far I love the ability to adjust the height based on road conditions and how easy it is to lower with a CETE module.

[subaruski]

static > air is a cope on this platform

[383vett]

I've got air suspension on my 2021 SQ5, Range Rover Sport and GMC Denali. All work well and have great rides. Great for towing. If there are increased repair costs down the line, so be it. I'd rather pay and play.

[Dogger7]

Specifically bought one with air suspension so that I could change it with the CETE module. Being able to adjust the height on the fly is really nice but, I don't do it all that often.

[Blackcoog]

I love our air suspension on the SQ5. Being able to swap between dynamic to comfort for highway cruising is night and day. I wish it could be lowered with VCDS like it can be on my S6. I don't understand those complaining about the cost to fix. That could be said about almost any comparison such as why get a car at all when a bike will be cheaper to fix.

[jlaudio]

Air/Sport suspension all of the way for a SQ5. Comfort mode is buttery smooth for highway or around the town cruising and dynamic lowers and firms up the ride. Living in downtown SLC with a lot of TRAX train tracks in the streets it rides amazing. I think its neat you can lower the car on demand and see it. Lowering links or a Cete module gives you a ton of flexibility for even lower if that is your flavor.

[spindlewood]

I also went for air as part of the $3000 S Sport Package on my 2018 SQ5. "Worth it" for me? Absolutely. I live with snow and potholes. Being able to raise the height has been amazing when need to drive to work and there's many inches of standing snow. I also love the smooth ride on roads which aren't. I suppose "worth" will also depend on how long they last. If I get 10 years / 100k miles out of them, I'll be happy. If I have to spend $2k for repairs, I'll still say it was worth all the years of a great ride. This tech is part of what makes the driving experience a joy and why I'd shell out $70k for a car.

[jpanimator]

I just traded an 18 with steel springs for a 21 with air. Two completely different cars. I highly recommend getting air, the difference is night and day. I hated the steel springs. It felt like a body on frame truck. The entire car became unsettled over bad roads, potholes, etc.


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[Gunnarrrrr]

Do NOT buy one without the air suspension. If you really hate it, you can delete it, and I’ll buy all the parts off of you and give you my setup.

Yeah, you can lower it. I have the HR H.A.S. kit. and 034 sway bars and chassis mounts and inserts. Sure, it handles great now. But now I no longer have an SUV. I have what is effectively the ride quality of a low bmw 3 series wagon, in exchange for the handling of a mediocre A4 at best.

You have a lot of room to work with when you have the factory air. If you have coils, you’re stuck. thankfully wheelworks sold me a lifetime alignment for $130, but it’s still a pain every time I feel like changing it.

[Hostile]

I’m perfectly happy with my ABT HAS setup.

I didn’t want an SUV but Audi doesn’t give us an S4 avant so this is the next best thing.

I have what is effectively the ride quality of a low bmw 3 series wagon, in exchange for the handling of a mediocre A4 at best.

You have a lot of room to work with when you have the factory air. If you have coils, you’re stuck. thankfully wheelworks sold me a lifetime alignment for $130, but it’s still a pain every time I feel like changing it.

The handling of a mediocre A4? What about the air suspension makes you think that it magically handles so much better? As good, maybe. If it performed so much better it would be an option or standard on the RS5.

And you don’t need to get an alignment every time you adjust the HAS kit anymore than you’d need an alignment every time you raised and lowered with air suspension. The air suspension isn’t adjusting toe and camber.

[Gunnarrrrr]

The handling of a mediocre A4? What about the air suspension makes you think that it magically handles so much better? As good, maybe. If it performed so much better it would be an option or standard on the RS5.

And you don’t need to get an alignment every time you adjust the HAS kit anymore than you’d need an alignment every time you raised and lowered with air suspension. The air suspension isn’t adjusting toe and camber.

Air doesn’t handle any better at all. Slightly worse if anything, obviously no one’s debating that. But these handle so bad in general that the difference isn’t noticeable. But when settling for this chassis instead of the S4 avant we all wish we had, it’d be nice to at least have convenient height adjustability as a consolation prize.

adjusting height by an inch, toe will probably still be in spec. but if i’m going from slammed daily height, up about 2+ inches to go for long road trips over bad snowy mountain roads in the middle of heavy snow storms, Itd be nice to just raise it as needed rather than be stuck at that height for the whole trip and sacrificing tire wear with my toe being slightly out of spec the whole time

[Hostile]

None of that makes any sense based on your previous post...

[subaruski]

100% incorrect on all accounts, especially in stock form. Having driven both options in stock form air suspension is superior. It also includes the sports diff which makes a massive difference.

I can only imagine how marginal to terrible the ride quality is on a slammed static sq5...

Once again, static > air is 100% cope on this chassis. Stop trying to save a few bucks.

Also note, I drive fully slammed in dynamic through the city during the week and fully lifted in allroad/offroad height for mountain activities. No uneven tire wear.

Air doesn’t handle any better at all. Slightly worse if anything, obviously no one’s debating that. But these handle so bad in general that the difference isn’t noticeable. But when settling for this chassis instead of the S4 avant we all wish we had, it’d be nice to at least have convenient height adjustability as a consolation prize.

adjusting height by an inch, toe will probably still be in spec. but if i’m going from slammed daily height, up about 2+ inches to go for long road trips over bad snowy mountain roads in the middle of heavy snow storms, Itd be nice to just raise it as needed rather than be stuck at that height for the whole trip and sacrificing tire wear with my toe being slightly out of spec the whole time

[Hostile]

100% incorrect on all accounts, especially in stock form. Having driven both options in stock form air suspension is superior. It also includes the sports diff which makes a massive difference.

I can only imagine how marginal to terrible the ride quality is on a slammed static sq5...

Once again, static > air is 100% cope on this chassis. Stop trying to save a few bucks.

Also note, I drive fully slammed in dynamic through the city during the week and fully lifted in allroad/offroad height for mountain activities. No uneven tire wear.

It’s not marginal or terrible. That’s utter bullshit.

As for the sport diff making “a massive difference”, let’s hear what people that actually have 1,000s of track hours logged think about that.

https://youtu.be/xY9Fvnjd1_s

[subaruski]

Ok, I watched the video. Sport differential makes a difference.

Have you personally driven both?

*Edit* You know what does ride like hot garbage? Air suspension slammed on lowering links

It’s not marginal or terrible. That’s utter bullshit.

As for the sport diff making “a massive difference”, let’s hear what people that actually have 1,000s of track hours logged think about that.

https://youtu.be/xY9Fvnjd1_s

[DiscoDan]

Sport diff is definitely worth the upgrade

[Gunnarrrrr]

I can only imagine how marginal to terrible the ride quality is on a slammed static sq5...

I drive my hr springs adjusted as far down as they go. On 21’s, I can confirm it’s laughably bad. They don’t even go that low either.

I actually took out a piece of the spring perches in the rear to get it lower at one point which finally managed to get the tires somewhat tucked. It was so bouncy I felt like I needed a harness to keep me in my seat lmao

I think if there were a better aftermarket shock option to pair with the adjustable springs it would be a lot better. Or just get a set of KW’s I guess. I’m saving my money to attempt a factory air retrofit though.