What gearbox have you got on your A3 / S3?
Manual or S-tronic?
Me? Ordered a S-tronic
Manual or S-tronic?
Me? Ordered a S-tronic
Gearbox - A3 / S3 - What Have You Got / Ordered?
- Thread starter Bristle Hound
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illingworth22
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Manual, the s-tronic has a too slow kick down, yes I know you can change it to manual but what's the point in spending the extra £1.5k then?
Got Manual A3, but decided to go S-Tronic on the S3 as fell in love with it on Test Drive, plus my commute is mostly stop start traffic so will make life easier 
Martin L
Registered User
S3 s-tronic. I'm a convert having had 3 DSG/s-tronic Audis in a row.
Manual gearbox while ok was too notchy/springy and I thought 6th was to geared too short.
Manual gearbox while ok was too notchy/springy and I thought 6th was to geared too short.
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I would have owned.
snakehips
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snakehips
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Yup, many people do. You just asked what's the point in spending extra so for many people the point is not having to use left leg, faster changes, more restful driving in stop/start traffic, and better compatibility with ACC and HA.
But I have no agenda, no intention of converting you, and certainly don't want this thread to turn nasty! Could be some interesting discussions though...
Nice choice for the new car, I am on my 1st S-tronic, have to say that I am well chuffed with what I got.What gearbox have you got on your A3 / S3?
Manual or S-tronic?
Me? Ordered a S-tronic
Never would have contemplated going away from a manual but do not regret it at all.
A3 with S-Tronic....this will be my first ever Audi and S-Tronic. Always driven a manual and fancied a change. Loved the S-Tronic's that I test drove so thought why not be lazy and take it easy for a change, So I did !! Only 6 days to go for collection.
S Line 184 quattro. Had no choice - S tronic only. Hate autos and given the choice I'd still have a manual, BUT the S tronic is a good box and I'm happy.
A3 Manual - picked up yesterday so not pushed it yet to determine the spread of gears. Never really considered an auto - old habits etc plus on the times I've driven an auto I've always scared myself thumping on the brake pedal thinking it was the clutch
CaesarBob
Registered User
A3 Stronic for me.
Doing 35k a year I spend far too much time in traffic, can't wait for mine to arrive! Had autos for the last 4yrs and have been driving a manual pool car since June which as a ice as it is, is too much hard work!
Doing 35k a year I spend far too much time in traffic, can't wait for mine to arrive! Had autos for the last 4yrs and have been driving a manual pool car since June which as a ice as it is, is too much hard work!
But it isn't open to a debate anyway as I don't wish to change and never will I do so...
Ordered a manual, but got an S-tronic
So far, tend to agree with cuke2u, but at least I didn't pay the extra
So far, tend to agree with cuke2u, but at least I didn't pay the extra
illingworth22
Registered User
and no hanging behind on a single carridgway in
You will get used to it..... Roundabouts are the only time I miss Manual now especially when I have a laps in the old concentration!
You won't find me hanging around waiting for the kickdown, or to have to change the box to auto, right gear for the right job always selected...
I drove both. Bought the S-tronic. Full manual in the S3 was hit and miss from 1st to 2nd (hard to get the power down), notchy into 3rd and felt slower - all in my opinion of course. S-Tronic manual was spot on and even the auto wasn't bad. I saw it as the best of both worlds. It suited me, my driving style and was my choice. I respect the fact that we are all different, in fact I love that we are all different, otherwise it was be ****** boring. Although I am annoyed that loads of people on this forum copied me by getting S-Tronic and Sepang Blue .
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I have had five A3s with s-tronic and I have never used the kickdown function in any of them. Just click the down paddle and in a split second you are in a lower gear. Click it twice and your two gears down. No waiting for kickdown to react. And that's in Auto. Just the same and just as quick when the box is set to manual. Certainly quicker than in any manual.
I never think of the s-tronic as an automatic gearbox but, because I drive it 99% of the time in manual mode, I think of it as a very fast changing clutch-less gearbox. One day all gearboxes will be like this
I've had five A3s with s-tronic and I have never used the kickdown function in any of them. Just click the down paddle and in a split second you are in a lower gear. Click it twice and your two gears down. No waiting for kickdown to react. And that's in Auto. Just the same and even quicker when the box is set to manual mode. Certainly quicker than any normal manual.
I never think of the s-tronic as an automatic gearbox but, because I drive it 99% of the time in manual mode, I think of it as a very fast changing clutch-less gearbox. Works very well with ACC in traffic queues - about the only time I have mine in Auto. One day all gearboxes will be like this
Maybe they but until then I will choose manual over the s-tronic anytime, I don't have acc either. I put the savings I made to a different use as I really do not drive enough mileage these days for any benefit in wasting my money...
wait.. you don't really drive much mileage these days, but when you do, you prefer a manual box to be in the right gear at the right time...
...... lol?
...... lol?
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Say what
If you are referring to the cost - yes unlike its GOLF R cousin, where the dsg is a A$2,525 (about GBP 1,450) option on the S3 if you want a manual you pay the premium...
Manual S3 for me. I've been battling with the DSG box on my 8P diesel for the last 5 years, I will not miss it one bit. S-tronic is an automatic gearbox as it changes gears automatically. It's not a traditional torque converting gearbox, but it's still automatic. I'd prefer a traditional auto over a dual clutch thing as they are smoother at slow speeds and the torque loss that was an issue with older boxes is not really an issue any more.
The manual mode on the s-tronic still automatically changes gears for you. It will kick down if you mash the throttle into the floor, it will change up at red line line and change down if the revs get too low. I don't have a problem with the red line, or the auto downshifts at low revs, but the kickdown thing is a pain in the backside. When in manual it won't let you change to gears that the clever gearbox thinks are not appropriate. For example, if you are cruising at 40mph in 4th gear it won't let you have 5th. You can keep clicking the paddle but it will ignore you. In my 8P 5th gear is the right gear for cruising at 40 on a level road, just over 1000rpm, what you have to do is accelerate to about 45, then it will allow you to change up to 5th, then let the car slow to 40 and it will keep you in 5th. How is that "manual"? Pulling away at junctions is a total nightmare (but I think this is mainly due to my DSG being an early model) and the drive train is clunky at slow speed, especially in manual mode. The automatic modes aren't great either. "D" hangs onto high gears too long and "S" is close to pointless unless you like constant kick downs.
These experiences are from 60,000 miles and 5 years in a 2005 2.0 tdi with DSG, so newer cars may be better or different, but I test drove an 8V S3 S-tronic and most of my gripes are still relevant from what I could make out.
I know I'm going to antagonise all the s-tronic fans on here, but I loved the gearbox for the first few months but over time it just got on my nerves, and after a while I ended up hating it and wishing I had to use my left leg.
The manual mode on the s-tronic still automatically changes gears for you. It will kick down if you mash the throttle into the floor, it will change up at red line line and change down if the revs get too low. I don't have a problem with the red line, or the auto downshifts at low revs, but the kickdown thing is a pain in the backside. When in manual it won't let you change to gears that the clever gearbox thinks are not appropriate. For example, if you are cruising at 40mph in 4th gear it won't let you have 5th. You can keep clicking the paddle but it will ignore you. In my 8P 5th gear is the right gear for cruising at 40 on a level road, just over 1000rpm, what you have to do is accelerate to about 45, then it will allow you to change up to 5th, then let the car slow to 40 and it will keep you in 5th. How is that "manual"? Pulling away at junctions is a total nightmare (but I think this is mainly due to my DSG being an early model) and the drive train is clunky at slow speed, especially in manual mode. The automatic modes aren't great either. "D" hangs onto high gears too long and "S" is close to pointless unless you like constant kick downs.
These experiences are from 60,000 miles and 5 years in a 2005 2.0 tdi with DSG, so newer cars may be better or different, but I test drove an 8V S3 S-tronic and most of my gripes are still relevant from what I could make out.
I know I'm going to antagonise all the s-tronic fans on here, but I loved the gearbox for the first few months but over time it just got on my nerves, and after a while I ended up hating it and wishing I had to use my left leg.
I'll have to disagree with you, but I like your input
I love s tronic, could easily move back to manual, but neither do I make pathetic excuses for either one (not you ^)
I love s tronic, could easily move back to manual, but neither do I make pathetic excuses for either one (not you ^)
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I got the DSG gearbox. It is lovely but mine makes strange noise: a whine accelerating and steady at 130/140 kph and a strange hissing noise accelerating at low revs.
Aussies prefer automatics, Audi said they expected about 5% of S3s to be manuals, but charging a premium when its is an option elsewhere seems more like maximising profits...
