Audi Q5 off-road or on the beach?

south3south3 Member Posts: 4
edited September 2014 in Audi
My wife and I are looking into a new SUV. I leased an A4 in the fall and love the car. We test drove the Q5 and were very impressed with it. We live near the beach and want to be able to drive the SUV on the beach during the summer. I have seen AWD SUV's (lexus, acura, acadia, mazda cx9) on the beach in the past and would think the Q5 would be fine. However, when we took the car for a drive, the salesman didn't recommend driving on the beach. I don't know if he was just being ultra conservative or what,but I am curious on any feedback as to whether people think the Q5 or Q7 is ok to drive on the beach.

Thanks
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  • kurtamaxxxguykurtamaxxxguy Member Posts: 1,798
    There are several reasons I would not drive a Q5 on the beach:

    1. The front suspension system is not fully protected. The upper Wishbone is plainly visible within the wheelwell, and its seals and joints would be bathed in sand from the spinning wheels.

    2. The front wheel well liners are not complete. They only extend about 3/4 into the wheel well, and then leave a large open space containing that aforementioned wishbone and shock tower. Worse, there is a large space above that wheel liner that would let sand and mud gather __above__ the wheel well liner,

    3. The Q5 is heavier than most, but not all, small SUV's,

    4. The center diff is not lockable and is not the best at handling wheelspins on low friction surfaces such as ice or sand,

    5. Sand won't be kind to leather or other soft surfaces Audi uses for its interior.

    I can't speak for the Q7 but it is even heavier than the Q5.
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