S-Tronic...?

[lil_coz]

Yea come to think of it they were quite tiny. Donno... just think I'd probably prefer them on the wheel. Will never find out because I'd want a proper manual. I did sometimes consider weather to go DSG as a next car but all this talk about you not being in full control has put me off. Hopefully they'll change its settings by the time it comes for me to think about a next car.

 

[bacardi]

Yes, you can change down gears using the paddles.
Again though, only if the ECU decides you're 'within the parameters'.
There were loads of times I'd be braking hard, looking to change down.
The ****** ECU wouldn't let me though, presumably because it thought my revs were too high and I was 'being silly'.
So it just flat refused to do it.
It's not as if I was being silly though, a manual car would take the downchange without complaint.

This is something the XKR does quite well too, if you are trying to downshift with too high revs on it will remember that you want a lower gear and select it as soon as the revs permit, (obviously within a short timeframe, not after 10 minutes )

perhaps something else Audi could address in software?

 

[h5djr]

Now call me a liar, but in a manual car, if you stick it into 2nd at too high a rev's, does it allow you - yes maybe, but at risk of either blowing the bearbox, or discintigrating the clutch, now surely the ECU not letting you change down is a good thing. This DSG vs manual will go on for a lvery long time, but in 20 years time, I bet there are no more manuals being made.

And yes I agree with GTI Jazz Blue, that the paddles should be column mounted, and not wheel mounted, but in situations where there could be confusion, I always used the stick

I agree. I normally drive using the paddles. It's so much more fun than have to keep pressing a clutch pedal, especially in country lanes etc, but if the paddles are not where I expect them to be I just use the stick. It's so easy when you get used to it. The stick only requires the slightest of touch forward or back to change a gear. This thing about not being in full control is slightly silly. It's very very rare that my box changes when I'm in tiptronic except when I ask it to, want it to or I stop at a junction or similar when it auto selects first gear. I don't drive with the with the revs bouncing of the limiter and never have done - diesel or petrol, so there's no reason for the box to change up without me asking and I normally change down when necessary long before the box does it.

 

[SteveTDCi]

this might appear daft but would you not want to be in the correct gear before turning the corner ? the only time access to the paddles becomes a problem is when the wheel turns more than about 70 degs and on quick corners you wouldn't expect to turn the wheel that much ?

 

[Oli.]

this might appear daft but would you not want to be in the correct gear before turning the corner ? the only time access to the paddles becomes a problem is when the wheel turns more than about 70 degs and on quick corners you wouldn't expect to turn the wheel that much ?

Not necessarily, in normal driving you can change gear at any point on the road??

 

[bacardi]

Not necessarily, in normal driving you can change gear at any point on the road??

You can, though taking a hand off the wheel, droppinga clutch while cornering at a decent pace is a recipe for some interesting slip angles

I guess one of the points Bowfer makes is that the DSG box WILL change up in these cases, which can be dangerous and unsettle the car, so while you can do it in a manual, you are unlikely to

 

[Oli.]

I disagree, changing gear in a DSG does not unsettle the car it's seemless, however using in a manual it would do, due to the clutch movement, gearchange etc

That my final twopennyworth on this, as DSG vs manual arguement can go on for ever

 

[h5djr]

I disagree, changing gear in a DSG does not unsettle the car it's seemless, however using in a manual it would do, due to the clutch movement, gearchange etc

That my final twopennyworth on this, as DSG vs manual arguement can go on for ever

Again I agree. I have purposely clicked a paddle to change up from 5th to 6th whilst taking a long fast corner and the gear change has not upset the car at all. It's so quick and seamless it has little or no effect.

A lot of the negative comments made on the DSG/S-tronic subject are made by people who have never used a DSG gearbox for any length time. It does take a little while to get used to a different type of gearbox and to get the best out of it. Obviously some people are set in their ways and do not wish to change or adapt. Fair enough, stick to a manual. I have been driving for 40 years and until July 2004 had always driven using a manual gearbox. Since then I have been driving with a DSG and have learned to get the best out of it and there is no way I would go back to a manual ever again.

 

[DeckedS3]

I'll add my 2p (i havent read the whole post)
I am a diehard manual fan! And I wouldn't dream of going automatic....
After I sold my R32 I've been given an Ed30 GTI to poodle around in that's fitted with DSG till my S3 turns up.
Now, to start with I hated it, although it's automatic it seemed very slow, despite how fast it says it is on paper. But now I've started using the paddles it really is awesome. You still need to drive the car, just like you would a manual, just no clutch. I expected the car to know what I was doing, like coming up to a roundabout in 4th and braking hard, you get to the line and boot it (it then drops 2 gears as it should but it takes a bit of time) but you should already know you need 2nd, so you tap the paddle twice and bang, your in gear and away! I love it now. The only issue I see now is being able to do a long hard pull in one gear, it always drops a gear and I don’t think you can lock in one gear for that purpose.....

 

[Iggu]

A lot of the negative comments made on the DSG/S-tronic subject are made by people who have never used a DSG gearbox for any length time.

Drove my 3.2 for 4 years with DSg - it got worse (for me) each day as the frustration of not being on control mounted. I wasn't stuck in my ways - I was SO looking forward to getting DSG.

Having gone from manual to DSG to manual again : I'm a manual driver forever.

That's me done on this topic too.

 

[Gti Jazz Blue]

this might appear daft but would you not want to be in the correct gear before turning the corner ? the only time access to the paddles becomes a problem is when the wheel turns more than about 70 degs and on quick corners you wouldn't expect to turn the wheel that much ?

My example would be the T junction at the end of my Road, if I am in manual mode when I pull away it sits there in first gear until I either hit the rev limit and it changes up itself or I straighten the wheel and use the paddle.

Paul

 

[h5djr]

My example would be the T junction at the end of my Road, if I am in manual mode when I pull away it sits there in first gear until I either hit the rev limit and it changes up itself or I straighten the wheel and use the paddle.

Paul

In the case of pulling away from a T-junction, the red line with the 2.0TDI comes up so quick in first and second gear that I normally let the box handle those 2 changes and then use the paddles after that.

 

[h5djr]

Drove my 3.2 for 4 years with DSg - it got worse (for me) each day as the frustration of not being on control mounted. I wasn't stuck in my ways - I was SO looking forward to getting DSG.

Having gone from manual to DSG to manual again : I'm a manual driver forever.

That's me done on this topic too.

That's fine. At least you've tried it properly and found you prefer a manual gearbox. Each to his own. You'll be able to stay with a manual box until they stop making them or until we are all driving around in electric cars which don't require a gearbox at at all - hopefully not in my life time!!

 

[Iggu]

...until we are all driving around in electric cars which don't require a gearbox at at all

A depressing thought Dave - but an accurate one I fear. Glad you are enjoying your driving as much as ever after 40 years - I'm 22 years into my licence and it gets better and better ....

 

[bacardi]

I disagree, changing gear in a DSG does not unsettle the car it's seemless, however using in a manual it would do, due to the clutch movement, gearchange etc

That my final twopennyworth on this, as DSG vs manual arguement can go on for ever

It does unsettle, Its happened to me on a mid speed off camber left hander once, and it is not seamless at all, look at the "shift times" - if it were seamless it would be instant surely?

however I agree, a manual would be even more dangerous (though of course, you wouldn't even attempt the change in a manual)

 

[h5djr]

It does unsettle, Its happened to me on a mid speed off camber left hander once, and it is not seamless at all, look at the "shift times" - if it were seamless it would be instant surely?

however I agree, a manual would be even more dangerous (though of course, you wouldn't even attempt the change in a manual)

With your wheel bearings even changing gear in a straight line would un-settle your car.....

 

[bacardi]

With your wheel bearings even changing gear in a straight line would un-settle your car.....

and if you asked audi, that would be how it was designed sir, nothing wrong with it, it must user error, nothing designed by us could ever go wrong

 

[h5djr]

and if you asked audi, that would be how it was designed sir, nothing wrong with it, it must user error, nothing designed by us could ever go wrong

You obviously talk to the wrong people!

On the odd occasion I've had a problem I've had not problem with the technician or the dealer accepting that there is a problem.

 

[bacardi]

You obviously talk to the wrong people!

On the odd occasion I've had a problem I've had not problem with the technician or the dealer accepting that there is a problem.

Obviously I do as evidently according to 3 dealers and even Audi HQ my car is perfectly normal and what is to be expected for an A3, great story eh!

 

[h5djr]

Obviously I do as evidently according to 3 dealers and even Audi HQ my car is perfectly normal and what is to be expected for an A3, great story eh!

I must admit I don't rate the staff at Audi UK HQ very highly, especially the Customer Services department. I found one or two very knowledgable staff at Milton Keynes in the past but the Customer Services side is out sourced to an outside company and I've often known more about Audi and their cars than they have.

Most of technicians and staff at the dealers seem to be a lot better, but then I've only really had any dealings with Huntingdon Audi.

 

[bacardi]

I must admit I don't rate the staff at Audi UK HQ very highly, especially the Customer Services department. I found one or two very knowledgable staff at Milton Keynes in the past but the Customer Services side is out sourced to an outside company and I've often known more about Audi and their cars than they have.

Most of technicians and staff at the dealers seem to be a lot better, but then I've only really had any dealings with Huntingdon Audi.

If I were you I'd keep it that way too, they are certainly the best I've used, though to be honest they didn't have a lot to beat (Especially Hatfield Audi who managed to collect the wrong car from my office for a service!)