According to my dealer the deposit is refundable until the car goes into production - which for a May delivery (am #1 or 2 at my dealership) would be in Feb (2 months before the first test drive)
Doesn't make sense to be able to walk away from the car with my deposit after having ordered it to my specs.
Though your '
there should be few substantive disappointments if a small SUV/crossover is what you desire.' - intrigues me
As for the SQ5 - this may sound odd, but the Audi is the rational choice, it's great and does everything. But I want to throw caution to the wind, spend ~5-7k more and tell my grandkids, I owned a Porsche
