Manual - S tronic

[SparkyMcA]

tried out the s tronic and was impressed with it, has there been any problems with it on the s3? if so a take it that its big money if anything goes wrong with it, was talking to few guys at audi because am yet to try the manual and they were guiding me towards s tronic aswell not 2 sure if its the way forward for big bills or enjoyment.

 

[NHN]

Manual clutches are flaky with power after a while, stronics are able to handle more power, so I would go with this

 

[Josh williams]

Im looking to swap my manual for a s tronic car at the minute as I'm not getting on with manual!

 

[Aidy06]

If I could help it I would never own a manual car again

 

[Mikemc]

If I could help it I would never own a manual car again

+1 and this is my second car and my 1st dsg. Absolutely brilliant bit of kit

 

[mjr901]

S-tronic is a much stronger box, tune your car to stage 2+ and even more with no worries about the clutches.

Manual will no doubt "make you feel more involved" but you'll need a new clutch fairly sharpish with any tuning.

S-Tronic is definitely the way forward. Plus you get manual mode anyway, launch control, lightening fast gear changes, no clutch in traffic!

Waaaaay more Pros than Cons.

I went from an 09 S3 manual to 61 plate S3 S-tronic for the sole reason to have DSG in my life. ITS WORTH IT.

 

[R34nel]

It may be easier, faster, hold more power, more economic etc but it really does take something away from driving.

Plus it looks a bit gay when you give Someone a lift and they go "oh, it's an automatic?"

Having said that I wouldn't refuse one but there's nothing like pulling off a perfect launch and gear changes in a manual car even if its less consistent and you don't always get it right!

How about doing the qtr mile? people would no Doubt be quicker with dsg but what's the fun in stamping on the accelerator then just waiting 'til you cross the line?

and I'm saying this after just parting with nearly £1200 and getting nothing more than a heavier clutch pedal (obviously has fixed the slipping clutch though

 

[mjr901]

It may be easier, faster, hold more power, more economic etc but it really does take something away from driving.

Plus it looks a bit gay when you give Someone a lift and they go "oh, it's an automatic?"

Having said that I wouldn't refuse one but there's nothing like pulling off a perfect launch and gear changes in a manual car even if its less consistent and you don't always get it right!

How about doing the qtr mile? people would no Doubt be quicker with dsg but what's the fun in stamping on the accelerator then just waiting til you cross the line?

theres paddles to play with though! Plus you can grab the gear stick and do it that way too...

I think this is one of the questions that only SparkyMcA can answer once he's driven them both.

 

[Aidy06]

It may be easier, faster, hold more power, more economic etc but it really does take something away from driving.

Plus it looks a bit gay when you give Someone a lift and they go "oh, it's an automatic?"

Having said that I wouldn't refuse one but there's nothing like pulling off a perfect launch and gear changes in a manual car even if its less consistent and you don't always get it right!

How about doing the qtr mile? people would no Doubt be quicker with dsg but what's the fun in stamping on the accelerator then just waiting 'til you cross the line?

and I'm saying this after just parting with nearly £1200 and getting nothing more than a heavier clutch pedal (obviously has fixed the slipping clutch though

If people that I give a lift to think "It's a bit gay", then they can walk

 

[R34nel]

If people that I give a lift to think "It's a bit gay", then they can walk

Lol, I've had a number of autos and dual clutch gearbox cars and I always had comments from petrol head mates when chatting about the car like "shame it's an auto" or "how good would it be if it had a proper gearbox"

Still people should use and drive what THEY like, it's just never been regarded as a cool car if its automatic although I guess times are changing, when I was a 'boy racer' you know 17yo, far to loud exhaust attached to an underpowered shopping car with Lexus lights and spending the evening parked in McDonald's, you really couldn't get away with driving an automatic.

 

[elrao]

The 6 speed 'dsg' in my s3 is nowhere near as good as the 7 speed s-Tronic in my s4 - although some of that could be down to the engine in the S4 being that much better.

Find the DSG a bit lumpy in normal mode, in sport you can find yourself at 6,500 rpm all the time. May look into a DSG map to see if there is a happy medium!

 

[Ads]

it's just never been regarded as a cool car if its automatic although I guess times are changing

Times have already changed.

A car that you can change up and down gears instantly using paddles on the steering wheel is waaaaaay "cooler" than a car that uses a gearstick and clutch set-up that has been around for about 90 years. Not to mention that engine/exhaust sound when going up gears in a dsg.

I'm yet to have someone step into my car and comment that a manual is more cool. The only comments I usually hear are "sh*t that was a quick gear change, that's cool as f*ck!".

Or something like that.

 

[SparkyMcA]

a do like the idea with the paddle shift and popping from exhaust when going down a gear, very crisp changing take it the 0-60 is that bit quicker. made me feel more relaxed driving it compared to my focus st, much bhp does some of your s tronics have? has it been perfectly fine when remapped as a dont want a big bill end of it

 

[S.]

if i was buying again i would go s-tronic. love the manual, but since i do mostly town driving and rush hours, it's pain in the a$$ changing gears every 25 sec. also when you want to go for a blast, there are paddles on the steering wheel which i bet give you that special feel.
when i was buying mine with plans to take it stage 2+ (or even beyond sometime in the future) i've heard horror stories that s-tronic box can't handle more power, and as it was introduced 2009 on the facelift s3 there wasn't enough reviews. then years after i've seen that they are pretty good, making shifts lightning fast, and great acceleration times, and handling stage 2+ power much better than stock chocolate clutch.
few months ago i had to upgrade the clutch on a car with 25000 miles.

 

[SparkyMcA]

so the s tronic is better for more power now that its been out few years and hardly any bad reviews? ill keep it standard for a while then a think stage 1 would be fine for me tbh

 

[S.]

so the s tronic is better for more power now that its been out few years and hardly any bad reviews? ill keep it standard for a while then a think stage 1 would be fine for me tbh

i've never heard about stronic failing (might be wrong, somebody feel free to corect me), while clutch slips and dual mass flywheel failtures have been reported. ask google she knows probably better than me

 

[Josh williams]

I'd drive both mate, but I seriously regret getting a manual now, my s3 is quite modified and I'm looking to try and swap cars with someone or put mine back to standard to sell it and buy a s tronic.&nbsp;<br><br>For me there are many more pros with the s tronic box than cons.&nbsp;

 

[S3Alex]

if i was buying again i would go s-tronic. love the manual, but since i do mostly town driving and rush hours, it's pain in the a$$ changing gears every 25 sec. also when you want to go for a blast, there are paddles on the steering wheel which i bet give you that special feel.
when i was buying mine with plans to take it stage 2+ (or even beyond sometime in the future) i've heard horror stories that s-tronic box can't handle more power, and as it was introduced 2009 on the facelift s3 there wasn't enough reviews. then years after i've seen that they are pretty good, making shifts lightning fast, and great acceleration times, and handling stage 2+ power much better than stock chocolate clutch.
few months ago i had to upgrade the clutch on a car with 25000 miles.

Each has it's good and bad sides I guess....

The manual stock clutch is rubbish as we all agree,and needs an upgrade anywhere around Stg1-2.
The gearbox is pretty robust and will cope with at least 450-480lbs.

The DSG/S-Tronic box is fine up to and bit beond Stg2+ torque(i.e.360-380lbs) with nothing more than a remap for the clamping pressures,but once you get beyond that,and into the realm of big turbos,then you are into big money territory,when the clutch needs rebuilding for more torque.

Companies like HPA do offer clutch rebuilds for up to 500lbs,but they are very costly.

I'd drive both mate, but I seriously regret getting a manual now, my s3 is quite modified and I'm looking to try and swap cars with someone or put mine back to standard to sell it and buy a s tronic.&nbsp;<br><br>For me there are many more pros with the s tronic box than cons.&nbsp;

I don't really have any regrets here,and maybe I would have bought an S-tronic had it been an option at the time,but having gone the route I've taken with the car,it now makes little difference,as both require extensive work once you get into BT country.

 

[Josh williams]

Yes although my stage 2+ is more than good enough for me and i wouldnt go further than that alex even if i had a s tronic.

For me its just much better, i had a auto range rover and looking back now i enjoyed the way you can just sit back and relax however if you need to you can put it into s mode and the paddles become very fun!

 

[R34nel]

Times have already changed.

A car that you can change up and down gears instantly using paddles on the steering wheel is waaaaaay "cooler" than a car that uses a gearstick and clutch set-up that has been around for about 90 years. Not to mention that engine/exhaust sound when going up gears in a dsg.

I'm yet to have someone step into my car and comment that a manual is more cool. The only comments I usually hear are "sh*t that was a quick gear change, that's cool as f*ck!".

Or something like that.

the engine sounds w*nk on a dsg car! I hate that seamless engine note, sounds EXACTLY like an old torque converter spazmatic, I've not driven a s3 with dsg but I drove the r32 and hated it, completely ruined the car, with an auto you don't get the pull when you change gear and floor it again you just get pull when you floor it that gradually gets less as you go up the gears. I would only be able to entertain it if it had some software to give total control and stop the car interfering

 

[S3Alex]

the engine sounds w*nk on a dsg car! I hate that seamless engine note, sounds EXACTLY like an old torque converter spazmatic, I've not driven a s3 with dsg but I drove the r32 and hated it, completely ruined the car, with an auto you don't get the pull when you change gear and floor it again you just get pull when you floor it that gradually gets less as you go up the gears. I would only be able to entertain it if it had some software to give total control and stop the car interfering

I think that's the benefit of remapping the box if you can,as the rpm and shift limits can be changed,along with launch control etc,so it does return more of the control to the driver.

Yes although my stage 2+ is more than good enough for me and i wouldnt go further than that alex even if i had a s tronic.

For me its just much better, i had a auto range rover and looking back now i enjoyed the way you can just sit back and relax however if you need to you can put it into s mode and the paddles become very fun!

I can appreciate that.

I had an A4 3.0TDi Avant a few years ago,and the thing was just effortless to drive,maybe a bit too much that way,but so relaxing.

 

[fangio]

DSG Tuning Software - JBS

 

[R34nel]

I know that you can change the gearbox software, I meant that I couldn't live with it without having done so. Jbs are my local and have done all the work on my car besides revo software

 

[Ads]

the engine sounds w*nk on a dsg car! I hate that seamless engine note, sounds EXACTLY like an old torque converter spazmatic

You're generalising mate.

This sounds far from w*nk to me. Ok, it's mainly exhaust, but that's how it is when pushing on anyway. They all have that flutter when changing gears...

 

[Sevv]

Each has it's good and bad sides I guess....

The manual stock clutch is rubbish as we all agree,and needs an upgrade anywhere around Stg1-2.
The gearbox is pretty robust and will cope with at least 450-480lbs.

The DSG/S-Tronic box is fine up to and bit beond Stg2+ torque(i.e.360-380lbs) with nothing more than a remap for the clamping pressures,but once you get beyond that,and into the realm of big turbos,then you are into big money territory,when the clutch needs rebuilding for more torque.

Companies like HPA do offer clutch rebuilds for up to 500lbs,but they are very costly.




I don't really have any regrets here,and maybe I would have bought an S-tronic had it been an option at the time,but having gone the route I've taken with the car,it now makes little difference,as both require extensive work once you get into BT country.

thats is so true..while the DSG is awesome... but as Alex said when going big power 400-500++ then DSG would cost you a bucket load more then a manual box..

 

[immo]

thats is so true..while the DSG is awesome... but as Alex said when going big power 400-500++ then DSG would cost you a bucket load more then a manual box..

I have a manual and specifically asked a manual when I had it sourced, but tbh I now kind of wish I'd gone for auto. Solid auto gearboxes always make a car feel a bit more lux in my opinion.

 

[R34nel]

You're generalising mate.

This sounds far from w*nk to me. Ok, it's mainly exhaust, but that's how it is when pushing on anyway. They all have that flutter when changing gears...

the only part I don't like is the sound of the gear change, it sounds like an auto, compare it to something like bmw's smg gearbox and that sounds like manual but operates like the dsg