Audi SQ5 alternatives?

[Lucas_R]

Hi all,

Been a while since i was on here (sold my MK6 GTI about a year ago). Wife needs a bigger car to accommodate our child and all of her paraphernalia - she desperately wants an Audi SQ5, but finding a nicely looked after one with <60k on the odometer is around $55k which is around $10-15k more than what i was hoping to spend.

As an alternative, im trying to draw her attention to the following:

- 2013/2014 Q5 3.0TDI (turbo V6 diesel 180kw/560nm)
- 2013/2014 Q5 3.0TFSI (supercharged 3.0L V6 petrol 200kw/420nm)

Obviously, these cars look very boring in comparison to the SQ5, but with some rims and a few dress up bits i know i could improve the look for relatively little outlay.

The supercharged petrol V6 is very rare, with only 4 for sale in all of Australia but there is a nice 2013 model white one in Sydney with 42,000km for $40k which is right about what i want to spend. This engine is the same as what is fitted to the Audi S4 and S5 and with a tune you can get another 60kw/80nm out of them...even more if you upgrade the supercharger pulley). With a few dress up bits (new wheels, SQ5 style front grill, tinted windows etc) i think i can make this car look very nice (not quite an SQ5 but very nice none the less) for around $43k total outlay.

The diesel is very torquey, but my concerns are the diesel smell (i hate it), the noise, grotty diesel fuel pumps, and the fact that we do a lot of short trips (and a total of approx 10,000km per year) which are not really the right conditions for a diesel to be operating in.

My question is, what would you choose (petrol or diesel) if it were your choice?