The occasional run to Suffolk or Yorkshire. I'll ask the question, with the same car but one with manual, me driving, and one with s-tronic over the same journey who do you think would arrive first?
Gearbox - A3 / S3 - What Have You Got / Ordered?
- Thread starter Bristle Hound
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It is interesting to hear the various views on both the manual and s-tronic boxes but with the s-tronic in particular you really need to specify which s-tronic you're talking about because the response from the different boxes can be different. All petrol A3s except the 1.8TFSI quattro and the 1.6 TDI have the 7-speed dry-clutch s-tronic whilst the A3 2.0 TDIs and the S3 quattro have the 6-speed wet-clutch version.
All of my experience is based on the 6-speed version. I did drive a 7-speed some time ago and I did not find it as smooth at the time as my then 6-speed but things may have changed.
All of my experience is based on the 6-speed version. I did drive a 7-speed some time ago and I did not find it as smooth at the time as my then 6-speed but things may have changed.
I have test driven one dave but hated it, but this is about choice isn't It? I prefer the tactile experience of manual shift over what I felt was artificial computer game playing detached feel from the s-tronic. Why on earth would I waste 1500 quid on something I don't like?
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Fair comment
But like other options, it's each to their own. What suits others might not suit you or I
Think there was a similar 'debate' on Hill Hold Assist on here recently ...
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For (UK) S3 buyers, I doubt the price difference between manual and S-Tronic is a big factor - I went for manual not due to price but because after extended test drives in both, I preferred the manual - 6,000 miles in and no regrets but I can see why folks are S-Tronic fans, they are amazing gear boxes.
Quite true, I just wondered weather your comments were actually from experience from using a s-tronic. As you say it's all about choice and at least Audi offer us plenty of that
Horses for courses. I dislike the smart gearboxes that VAG use (DSG/S-tronic/multitronic). I ordered a Golf GTD last march blind, when the order books opened, 9 weeks before I had the opportunity to try the first wave of demos out. First test drive was on a DSG, and I despised it - kept over-riding my wishes when I had it in manual/paddleshift mode - I only found out later that it was in eco mode and over-rides the manual gear changes when they are not considered to be economical.
For me there seems to be 2 main reasons to pick an auto S3 - the extra few fractions of a second knocked off the 0-62 time, or a genuine like of autos and leaving the car to sort the gears out. For some that don't generally like autos, the slightly shorter 0-62 time might be enough to get them to take up the auto. Mine will be a manual when I place the order.
For me there seems to be 2 main reasons to pick an auto S3 - the extra few fractions of a second knocked off the 0-62 time, or a genuine like of autos and leaving the car to sort the gears out. For some that don't generally like autos, the slightly shorter 0-62 time might be enough to get them to take up the auto. Mine will be a manual when I place the order.
I'm going for manual (As usual), just found it more involving. My mind can't compute the difference in the 0-60 time with the Auto in the real world, only on paper.
Just wish I could get the (Vastly superior) recaro seats out of my current car into the s3
Just wish I could get the (Vastly superior) recaro seats out of my current car into the s3
As you say it's horses for courses. I use my s-tronic in manual mode 99% of the time and the only time the box over-rides my decision is when I'm in too higher gear for a situation in which cases it changes down before I do. I never run mine to the red line so it never changes up for me unless it's from say 1st to 2nd when a first drive away "in a hurry". I have never tried driving my current 184 quattro in eco mode. If I wanted a car to be economical I would not have purchase a 184 quattro. To me the s-tronic and quattro add greatly to the fun element of driving and Audi only offer the quattro on an A3 with the s-tronic which is just right for me. I do the driving and gear changing and mostly using the steering wheel paddles. The only time I use auto mode is with ACC in a traffic queue. Just sit back and let the car to the work until the queue disappears. Enjoy your manual gearbox on your S3 whilst you still can.
Manual on order, pick up next week. Automatics entertain me briefly but I'm not ready to convert.
One of the minority who've picked a manual .
I drove a S-Tronic on a demo drive and although it was entertaining (especially the fruity noise on the gear changes) but it wasn't for me. I feel more involved in the driving process with a manual, albeit at the cost of faster acceleration times.
. I drove a S-Tronic on a demo drive and although it was entertaining (especially the fruity noise on the gear changes) but it wasn't for me. I feel more involved in the driving process with a manual, albeit at the cost of faster acceleration times.
One of the minority who've picked a manual
I drove a S-Tronic on a demo drive and although it was entertaining (especially the fruity noise on the gear changes) but it wasn't for me. I feel more involved in the driving process with a manual, albeit at the cost of faster acceleration times.
What makes a manual gearbox more 'involving' than an s-tronic in manual mode?
Personally I have felt just as involved during the last 10 years I been using an s-tronic in manual mode as I did during the 37 years I drove with a manual gearbox.
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I feel more involved when I'm coordinating my arm and leg inputs, matching revs to road speed (especially on down-changes) and generally taking control to ensure I'm in the right gear at the right time.
Basically the same as I do with the s-tronic except that I don't have to use my leg at all, just my hands on the paddles.
Basically yes, but in the case of S-tronic its the electronics that are matching the revs, controlling the clutch release and changing the gear. I like to do that myself - that's what make it more involving for me.
I'm not suggesting my choice is right or wrong, better or worse. It's my preference
I'm not suggesting my choice is right or wrong, better or worse. It's my preference
Ben Daniel Grant
2018 Q5 Sline Navarra Blue missing my Sepang S3
Manual S3 for me! Looked at the 184ps TDI Quattro but was only available in the s-tronic and my new car had to be a manual in the Quattro which only left me with the S3, I liked the s-tronic gear box was great fun and an awesome box but on a 36k car didn't want to take the risk in case I got bored long term, I love driving and whist I'm still young wish to make full use of my left leg lol
And did anybody read the drivel in the Saturday Telegraph last weekend when in answer to a question about rumours about problems with S-Tronic boxes, the journalist said that the 6 speed was a wet clutch (correct) but that Audi changed the 7 speed from a dry to a wet clutch (Doh!). His evidence seemed to be that there was a recall of 7 speed boxes to change the oil! What a plonker!
I was tempted by the S-Tronic, had one during the test drive and I did like it, but the sales guy told me that you do get used to it quickly and the novelty does wear off...which I thought was a strange thing to say for a SALES guy considering it cost more!!! However, during the test drive on all types of road/speeds/acceleration I did start getting the feeling that I wasn't involved as much as I wanted to be....so I went for a manual.
I think that the S-tronic would be nice if you were in stop-start traffic, or just fancied a lazy drive, no doubt there will be times when I wish I'd gone S-tronic, but it's not like it's going to be my last car!!!
I think that the S-tronic would be nice if you were in stop-start traffic, or just fancied a lazy drive, no doubt there will be times when I wish I'd gone S-tronic, but it's not like it's going to be my last car!!!
I didn't much like the manual S3 I test drove; the gearbox felt a bit clunky and difficult to engage smoothly, especially the low gears. I probably would have gotten used to it in time, but I figured I'd try an s-tronic. No regrets so far.
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Seconded, having been a manual gearbox person for some time i didn't expect to be impressed by a semi auto, but the S-Tronic is fantastic.
David83S1
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Given the strength of feeling on this forum I had been wondering whether I made the right decision to stick with a manual (excuse pun) on the S3 I took delivery of at the end of Nov.
No longer. Finally got to give it the beans and use the revs a few times last night on empty roads. Lovely experience planning gear changes, matching revs whilst changing down under braking, really involving.
No longer. Finally got to give it the beans and use the revs a few times last night on empty roads. Lovely experience planning gear changes, matching revs whilst changing down under braking, really involving.
I agree with most of the above, particularly "D" hanging on to high gears to improve fuel economy.
I am still getting used to the S-tronic characteristics in my car. It's certainly not perfect but it's good enough for me to persevere and learn to master it.
Can't we have this thread merged with the other poll? Seems stupid to have two thread an exactly the same topic...
Eliot Ness
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Ordered my A3 in manual (TDI 150).
I would have gone for Stronic but then I had to go for TDI 184 to keep quattro, which means I had to 'spend' - on top of the price tag for the extra ph - another 1,600 € for nothing, just because of the CO2 emissions.... So, I much preferd to fill the car with options that would be usefull (this is my only car).
Too bad, you cannot have TDI 150 quattro & STronic, would definitely have gone for it.
Yet, I heard a salesman say it will come...
I would have gone for Stronic but then I had to go for TDI 184 to keep quattro, which means I had to 'spend' - on top of the price tag for the extra ph - another 1,600 € for nothing, just because of the CO2 emissions.... So, I much preferd to fill the car with options that would be usefull (this is my only car).
Too bad, you cannot have TDI 150 quattro & STronic, would definitely have gone for it.
Yet, I heard a salesman say it will come...
Audi Ultron
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A3 - S-tronic
When I ordered my car (Jan 2014) the 1.8 TFSI Quattro was only available with the S-tronic, which was fine as I wanted an auto anyway.
When I ordered my car (Jan 2014) the 1.8 TFSI Quattro was only available with the S-tronic, which was fine as I wanted an auto anyway.
