After driving all of its competition, I am in the market for a new 2014 A4, and have been debating the Sport Package. Well, not exactly debating, but wondering.

I've read anything I can find on the Sport package vs. Not, and would agree with opinions that it's worth the cost (for me). I have done test drives on the same route, back to back with A4s with and without Sport. I definitely preferred the handling and overall feel of Sport; and the seat upgrade kind of sealed it. I felt it was pretty noticeable overall. My only real concern was with the lower clearance (and speed bumps/craters/ruts). I don't mind feeling them, but don't want to be scraping. But looking at the car up close, the stance and clearance reduction is not as severe as other Sport packs in competing models that I've driven, and the approx 0.75 inch difference may not be enough to make it that much worse.

Relative to my 04 Passat GLS (which has its version of sport suspension and steering), I thought the standard A4 was a little softer and a little looser in steer dynamics. And I know... electronic steering is here.

I'm not over-thrilled with the A4s packaging combos this year though: Sport only comes with Premium plus, and sport also tends to include Nav, which makes it more like a 7k package adder. Given all the subtle integration points with NAV MM plus, maybe that's where I'd end up anyway. But premium with cold package and sport package (and maybe S line exterior) would have been a nice option to consider on the budget side.

But it sure seems that Sport package is not a popular configuration in Dealer stock. There only seem to be a handful among the hundreds of A4 within my reasonable Dealer radius. Yes, I could order... but I usually prefer to find a common lot configuration since that will maximize competition and negotiation.

Why do you think that is? I can see its not enough for some (but they are probably S4 candidates anyway). I'm not intending to be modding and tuning; nor changing out winter/summer tires, so for me its plenty. S4 is too far for me; I'm not hitting the track, and this is still needs to serve as practical (in budget) transportation for 4. but would like a sporty sedan with the efficiency of the i4.

Maybe standard A4 handling is good enough for most or preferred by most for the smoother bumps? It seems like there are enough who say thumbs up on Sport to make it more common on the lot, maybe Audi's prior sales data doesn't back that up.

 

I just picked up my 2014 A4 with the sport package and black optic package, and can confirm that it is easily the better choice. I was driving a loaner A4 without the sport package for about a week until my car was delivered, and I was getting a bit worried at how floaty and and loose the car felt. It especially did not like quick right-left transitions in the curves. But the sport package cleaned up all that flabbiness and I am ecstatic at the way the car feels and handles. It is surprisingly compliant yet firm, and just feels like a much more sophisticated suspension.

I just came off a lease with a 335 with sport package, which was a bit too firm and rough for everyday driving, although it excelled when you really pushed it on the twisty sections. I haven't pushed my new A4 yet, but feel that it will be pretty close in terms of handling, without the roughness.

Anyway, I have always felt that these German "sports sedans" really need the sport suspension to live up to their namesake. It's subtle but transformative, and really is the only way to go, as far as I'm concerned.