I frequently load up the cargo area of my '01 A4 Avant quattro. When I do, it tends to squat more than I'd like. I've been looking at some of the air suspension systems around, and they seem to be geared towards lowering the car.

The information about these air suspension systems brag on and on about how adjustable they are and how they can drop your car as much as 5" (!), but there's no mention anywhere about whether they can be run efficiently at stock ride height or slightly higher. I don't want to lower my car, I just want to keep it level when there's a big load in the cargo area. If anything, I'm looking to RAISE the suspension a little bit in the near future to increase ground clearance.

Also, since we're talking about variable loads here, do the controllers for these systems actually compensate for the load? Will a system automatically increase the air pressure when it senses that the car is squatting too far?

What I'm considering is just a rear set of air springs with an appropriate controller setup. I intend to run coilovers for the front (if I can ever find a set that allows stock-height ride or higher)

 

Ask aledelic42 or nick broderick - those guys are up to speed on air ride systems.