Sport Package vs No Sport package

[auh]

Whats the difference in drivability between the two cars? I'm sure when they were both new it made a big difference, but now after almost a decade is there an advantage to getting a B5 with the sport package? I only ask because one of the A4s I'm going to look at this week doesn't have the cold weather or sport packages like I wanted, but its a good price

[seanj130]

if you plan on doing some suspension work in the near future it shouldn't matter which one you pick up. But yes, you will notice a small handling differeence, sport package is much lower than non sport.

[biketsai]

Honestly nothing too noticeable. If you're going to mod your car it doesnt matter anyways IMO.

[protocol_droid]

sport is 0.75" lower than non-sport with stiffer bilstein shocks to go with the lowered height. As the others suggest, it doesn't matter which one you purchase if you're going to lower it with aftermarket products.

[zrowcool]

i notice a little difference. i have a sport while my friend has non sport. suspension is a lil lower and a bit tighter. sway bars are different sizes. 3 spoke wheel vs 4 spoke.
as for the cold weather package, i barely use it. never had to use the heated windshield nozzles, nor the heated lock cylinder, only thing i sue would be the heated mirrors.

[auh]

I don't plan on doing too many performance mods upfront except a chip. I think I'll look at this one with out the sportpackage, but unless its a GREAT deal I'll keep my eyes open.

[auh]

as for the cold weather package, i barely use it. never had to use the heated windshield nozzles, nor the heated lock cylinder, only thing i sue would be the heated mirrors.

Ahh, but I LOVE me my heated seats in the winter!

[FNK]

The suspension might need to be replaced in both cases...
Sway bar are much bigger on sport (Same as S4), it induce less under steer.

[somebody5788]

Like FNK said the sway bar is better on the sport and in most peoples cases will not need upgraded (at least not the front one)

[auh]

In the summer I do plan on doing AutoX so I think the better sway bar would be better for me

[A4edwin]

Ahh, but I LOVE me my heated seats in the winter!

x2 on the cold weather package! But don't forget sport package wasn't only the suspension the seats and steering wheel were different also I get it just for that.

[NeedingAnAudi]

Just make sure you don't get a half-sport like I did

[Kyle H]

sport package + cold weather package are awesome.


I wish I had the sports package and my car is pretty well modded.

[Scottydo]

Stupid question but how do i tell whether mine is a sports package or not its not the cold weather package
-scotty

[A4edwin]

from inside three spoke stering wheel and side bolsters on seats come out further. cold weather package heated seats and ski sack in back seat heated mirrors. don't know if the door handle is part of the cold weather package. if your keyhole on your door handle freezes you pull the handle then let go it thaws out.

[FNK]

if your keyhole on your door handle freezes you pull the handle then let go it thaws out.

NIIIICE! Didn't knew I had that!

[Alan]

After owning a 97 1.8T non-sport, and a 98 2.8 sport, the difference is huge. Non sport suspension is 4x4, non sport doesn't sit quite as high, and actually looks decent.

The best options was the sport front seats[unrelated to sports package], though. They're the biggest improvement over the regular seats.

[DRock3d]

Sport is much better, visually and handling wise. I couldn't lose the cold-weather package, I use the heated seats every night.

[Bvulic]

from inside three spoke stering wheel and side bolsters on seats come out further. cold weather package heated seats and ski sack in back seat heated mirrors. don't know if the door handle is part of the cold weather package. if your keyhole on your door handle freezes you pull the handle then let go it thaws out.

Thats real cool, you just notified me that I had the sport package. lolll never knew that. :-)

[Scottydo]

Three spoke steering wheel guess i have the sports package :-p didnt know that

[Insomniac]

If my "sport package" seats have bigger side bolsters then I'd hate to see non sports. Are the leathers in 2.8 sports different from the 1.8t sports?

[auh]

I always heard that they have heated lock cylinders, never knew how to work it thought!

[smoker]

Three spoke steering wheel guess i have the sports package :-p didnt know that

I've seen tons of B5's with the 3-spoke wheel that didn't have the sport package. I'm assuming it was an individual option from new? Not saying yours doesn't have the package, just saying I wouldn't base it off of that alone.

[Dynamite]

there was a large difference when I went from non sport shocks to sport shocks.
That might be because i went from shocks with 80000mi on them to ones with about 1000mi on them though. The sport ones are firmer so the ride isnt as good but the handling is a lot better

[A4edwin]

It's a combination of things not just a steering wheel by itself or seats. Previous owner might have swapped out parts

[FNK]

Get Winter package and swap in Sport parts, a lot harder to do the other way around.

[BlkBullitt]

I have a 98.5 2.8 5-Speed Quattro with both the sports package and the cold weather package.

To me the cold weather package is a must where I live (NE Ohio) because of the harsh winters mainly for the heated seats and side mirrors. I personally don't notice a difference between the heated windshield washer nozzles and regular washer nozzles on other cars and the same can be said for the heated door handles. I do also ski/snowboard so the ski bag in the rear armrest area is nice as well.

There is one item from the sport package that I would have to have and that's the 3-spoke sport steering wheel (I personally hate the 4 spoke design). If I was buying the car new I would want the sports suspension (shocks, springs, sway bars), but with how high the milage these cars have now as well as their age I don't think it's a deal breaker as the stock suspension is most likely in need of replacement and there are better aftermarket sway bars to be had (I know I'd like an upgraded rear bar at least). I'm sure the stock sports wheels and tires might have been nicer back in the late 90s, but I personally would rather have a different wheel/tire package (I have B6 17" Sport Wheels on my car now).

As for the sport package having better seats this isn't true as not all sport package cars came with the sport seat option (sport seats are basically S4 seats in cloth versus leather or leather/alcantara). All of the B5 A4s I've seen with the sport seat option were 1.8ts and both of the front seats were manual. I'm not sure if the sport seats could be optioned with a powered driver's seat or with them as heated or not. Personally, I hate my stock leatherette seats as they provide no support when compared to S4 or A4 sport seats.

Honestly if I was buying a B5 again this would be my must haves...

1. Well documented service records and free of rust
2. Quattro
3. Manual Transmission
4. Facelift (00-01)
5. Cold Weather Package
6. 3-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel

You mentioned you want to Auto X the car. Where will you be Auto Xing it? Does the group that you'll be Auto Xing with follow SCCA rules and classing? If so you need to look at how the B5 classes and how mods will change your class. If I was going to do a B5 for SCCA Auto X (in which it really isn't a competitive car due to classing) I'd stay in a stock class and would probably go for a 1.8 Quattro 5-Speed with the sport package and sport seats. Throw the best tires you can afford on the stock wheels, new brake rotors, aggressive brake pads and enjoy it.

Hopefully my rambling helps a little.

[biketsai]

Three spoke steering wheel guess i have the sports package :-p didnt know that

I know for at least the 2000-2001 this statement is not true. Both came with similar steering wheels and similar seats unless you got the sport cloth. Some wrong assumptions and facts are being made in this thread that doesn't apply to all year models.

[FNK]

Anyone got the PDF brochure of the B5? I can only find the B8 brochure...

[McGovs2.7TB5]

Three spoke steering wheel guess i have the sports package :-p didnt know that

i have 3 spoke wheel and no sport package, look to see if your shocks are red, if yes they are sport, if they're black those are non sport.

OP, If I were you I'd put more emphasis on getting one with winter package. it doesn't take tons of money to make your suspension sport spec if not net better than sport spec.

[A4edwin]

yeah you can try getting the leather alcantra seats from an s4 if you want. and while were on the subject of different options why do some a4's have chrome molding around the windows and others are black

[biketsai]

Chrome signifies the car is a 2.8 V6.
1.8T's have the black trim while S4's have a black chrome trim.

[Alan]

As for the sport package having better seats this isn't true as not all sport package cars came with the sport seat option (sport seats are basically S4 seats in cloth versus leather or leather/alcantara). All of the B5 A4s I've seen with the sport seat option were 1.8ts and both of the front seats were manual. I'm not sure if the sport seats could be optioned with a powered driver's seat or with them as heated or not. Personally, I hate my stock leatherette seats as they provide no support when compared to S4 or A4 sport seats.

I mentioned seats aside from the sports package. They were a $500 option.

I have Leather, sport, heated front seats, the driver's is power and the passenger is manual.

[paulorama]

I've seen tons of B5's with the 3-spoke wheel that didn't have the sport package. I'm assuming it was an individual option from new? Not saying yours doesn't have the package, just saying I wouldn't base it off of that alone.

The bose audio package also come with a 3-spoke wheel

[A4edwin]

depends on what other packages are purchased. like the new audi's have s-line and then there's sport package you can only get certain wheels with certain packages. or different options are standard dependind on packages chosen. i had the red shocks in mine with the larger sways and three spoke steering wheel and the cloth sport seats and the winter package but it has no bose.

[Ketamine1]

In the summer I do plan on doing AutoX so I think the better sway bar would be better for me

It is not that big of a diffrence. If you were serious u would replace the rear sway with a Hotchkiss or H&R bar for like 150-200 when they go up for sale used on fleabay or forums. Your still not going to defy the laws of physics, lift off-over steer and careful trail braking are ur friends in this nose heavy car with a big rear sway.

[dirtyb5a4]

i have the non sport with 86k and the sport with 144k but i think the mileage cancels out