I can’t believe people even have an opinion on this either way.
And I’d have the same opinion even if there wasn’t fake engine noise being synthesized for inside the vehicle.
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If it’s just the exhaust for you then take #1. If it’s handling and performance none of the silly sports SUVs are going to handle like a car. You’re going to have to compromise that feeling or the extra space. Unless you maybe cough up a ton of money for an RS6 avant lol. Closest SUV I’ve had to a sportyish car was a Mini Countryman JCW but they’re more like a hot hatch and it still had fake sporty steering like most BMWs.
Think it’s more principle…mid to high 60k gets you a plastic exhaust and a kindle slapped on top of dashboard.
I \was just indirectly demonstrating why it isn’t standard. 
Most people who buy this car - or (almost) any car - absolutely don’t care.
This stuff is focus-grouped and market-researched to death.
It doesn’t make one penny’s worth of business sense to stuff something with a nonzero cost into the product if it isn’t going to make a correspondingly meaningful number of people more likely to choose the car.
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OP, if you take option # 1 (install the sport exhaust), make sure that won’t jam you up on lease return. I would be worried Audi would see that as an aftermarket modification and might charge you a fee to return it to OEM window-sticker stock.
The sportiest SUV I’ve driven was the Stelvio. I’m coming out of a BMW 430i, and I was pleased with the handling.
@OP take them up on Option 1.
This falls right after footrests for most surprising (to me) thing to consider a deal-breaker.
But hey whatever floats your boat, but check your ducking boat before leaving the dock
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An OEM sport exhaust kit that Audi is evidently now offering through Audi dealers and/or as a port installed option isn’t going to cause any problems at lease return. Nothing to worry about there.
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Yeah, I’m a bit confused b/c haven’t most German luxury cars had fake exhaust tips for yrs? And it also isn’t that hard to check to see if the exhaust tips are fake or not.
::shrug::
One question,
what does that mean buy another Audi/Porsche? Is that free replacement or you still have to pay out of pocket if any $$ differences come from new car + old lease negative equity (I assume the buyout comes together with the swap)
Definitely not to the level of the SQ5 that I’m aware of.
But I agree in that if the sport/real exhaust was big enough of an issue to be a deal breaker (given this thread) then I would have for sure checked that it was on the car before taking delivery.
It seems like maybe the OP and the sales rep were a bit confused about what exactly the sport/real exhaust included and/or looked like.
That said, if the OP agreed to a deal on a car with the sport/real exhaust, but the car the dealer delivered doesn’t have it on it, then that’s for sure a legitimate gripe no matter how trivial some may make it out to be.
Luckily it sounds like the dealer is willing to make it right.
It’s the latter.
Yeah, for me, it’s not so much that it’s trivial, but I also wondered (since OP used the plural to suggest that multiple features were missing) if some of the prob could’ve been avoided by simply reviewing the window sticker beforehand?
But I agree that it’s fortunate that the dealer is willing to rectify the issue.
I don’t get this post. The title says the SQ5 is “not at all what I thought” but the post only mentions the exhaust issue. And the dealer offered to correct that, so problem solved?
Are there other things about the SQ5 that make you want to switch? The post doesn’t mention them. Since you’ve already driven 1,000 miles so already know the car well.
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I think it’s missing rear footrests as well
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As someone who’s on his third car in this Q5 generation its a no brainer: Take option #1 and live with the car. You will grow to love its mix of practical and sport and this exhaust kerfuffle will be a distant spec in the rear view mirror.
You dont have to “commit” until you know all the facts: Find out what price a car is that you like…and if you dont like the price, tell em so, and, if they wont budge choose another option. You probably did not marry your wife until you met her family, and knew if she could cook and where she worked, so dont commit to buy a car until you know all the details, either. After you have inspected car number 2, negotiated it, as well as know details you did not know when you bought car number 1, then decide. Dont repeat making a hasty decision without all the facts and details, which obviously matter to you. Do your homework, and know what price others are paying for similar cars (you can use edmunds, for example), and, know how much car number 2 will depreciate with 1000 miles.
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