S tronic worth less than manual? Your thoughts?

Gavin96

Gavin96

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Evening folks looking at audi s3 prices as of late must say s tronic and manuals are now very similar in price do you think this is pretty common on other models aswell? Just curious is all :readit: having gone in a friends a45 amg was very impressed with it and made me consider the swap. Really like the interior of the merc but thats just my taste i guess.
 
Not sure about prices (today), but when I was selling my S3 last October a couple of sports car specialists did say that they can sell the s-tronics quicker than they can sell a manual! I was always a massive manual fan, but since having the A5 coupe with the s-tronic box!!! It is nice...very nice, I think even if I went down to a 1.5 A3 or similar I'd still get s-tronic. Depends on the car tbh.

One thing I would say MPG! the manual will be more, I was getting more out of a manula S3 than I am out of the s-tronic A5 (mainly around town driving). 'Book' figures for the A5 s-tronic urban mpg 39.8 and I'm getting 27! The S3 manual book urban mpg 31 and I was getting around 30-31!
 
For most cars, S-Tronic will sell faster, as most people can't be bothered to change gear for themselves. Therefore given the choice most would go for the Auto over manual.

Long term? I'd say manuals will be worth more, just because there'll be less of them. Supply and demand.

Just look at exotics. You can't buy a lambo, or a Ferrari with a manual gearbox. Yet look at the prices of old cars. The Manuals fetch more than the F1 paddle cars. Look at Porsche? Once the GT3 went Auto only, prices of 997 (and backwards) cars shot up in value. Now Porsche has started bringing back the manual gearbox due to customer demand. Hurrah !!!
 
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S32B said:
One thing I would say MPG! the manual will be more, I was getting more out of a manula S3 than I am out of the s-tronic A5 (mainly around town driving). 'Book' figures for the A5 s-tronic urban mpg 39.8 and I'm getting 27! The S3 manual book urban mpg 31 and I was getting around 30-31!
Click to expand...

That's because people have been brainwashed into thinking the Auto will achieve better mpg because the brochure says it will. But as we know, they cheat with official figure, as the gearbox will shuffle from 1st to 7th straight away, fooling the computer.

DSG boxes are heavier than a manual. Get worse mpg in the real world over a manual . And the best thing is, they cost about £1500 more to buy than the manual equivalent.
 
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wab172uk said:
For most cars, S-Tronic will sell faster, as most people can't be bothered to change gear for themselves. Therefore given the choice most would go for the Auto over manual.

Long term? I'd say manuals will be worth more, just because there'll be less of them. Supply and demand.

Just look at exotics. You can't buy a lambo, or a Ferrari with a manual gearbox. Yet look at the prices of old cars. The Manuals fetch more than the F1 paddle cars. Look at Porsche? Once the GT3 went Auto only, prices of 997 (and backwards) cars shot up in value. Now Porsche has started bringing back the manual gearbox due to customer demand. Hurrah !!!
Click to expand...

Lol
 
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Are these used prices ?spec/options on both gearboxes can level the prices out
Notice how the first two posts where manual men or post manual lol
 
jassyo06 said:
Are these used prices ?spec/options on both gearboxes can level the prices out
Notice how the first two posts where manual men or post manual lol
Click to expand...

Maybe only people who drive a DSG should reply?

Only kidding.

But there is truth in the value of manual Ferrari's, Porsches, and Lamborghinis. Humdrum stuff will differ of course, and I did point out that the DSG car would probably sell better. But there will become a time when the manual gearbox will all be extinct, and values of decent cars with manual gearboxes will rise in value.

But as with most thing come dealer trade-in, part-ex etc. Buy a manual and you'll get the sucking through teeth from the salesman saying if you had a DSG you'd get more money as they are in demand. Buy a DSG, and same salesman will suck through his teeth saying there is demand for a manual.

Surprised they have any teeth left.
 
Love My S3 Manual!
Its My Daily Driver -
 
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S32B said:
Not sure about prices (today), but when I was selling my S3 last October a couple of sports car specialists did say that they can sell the s-tronics quicker than they can sell a manual! I was always a massive manual fan, but since having the A5 coupe with the s-tronic box!!! It is nice...very nice, I think even if I went down to a 1.5 A3 or similar I'd still get s-tronic. Depends on the car tbh.

One thing I would say MPG! the manual will be more, I was getting more out of a manula S3 than I am out of the s-tronic A5 (mainly around town driving). 'Book' figures for the A5 s-tronic urban mpg 39.8 and I'm getting 27! The S3 manual book urban mpg 31 and I was getting around 30-31!
Click to expand...
Your A5 is a bigger heavier car that's why your mpg is less than a S3 S-tronic or S3 manual
 
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wab172uk said:
For most cars, S-Tronic will sell faster, as most people can't be bothered to change gear for themselves. Therefore given the choice most would go for the Auto over manual.

Long term? I'd say manuals will be worth more, just because there'll be less of them. Supply and demand.

Just look at exotics. You can't buy a lambo, or a Ferrari with a manual gearbox. Yet look at the prices of old cars. The Manuals fetch more than the F1 paddle cars. Look at Porsche? Once the GT3 went Auto only, prices of 997 (and backwards) cars shot up in value. Now Porsche has started bringing back the manual gearbox due to customer demand. Hurrah !!!
Click to expand...
I dont think comparing classic manual Ferraris to modern auto Ferraris is relevant. The manual classics are more expensive due to limited production runs and hence rarity not because they have manual gearboxes.
 
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Flowrider99 said:
I dont think comparing classic manual Ferraris to modern auto Ferraris is relevant. The manual classics are more expensive due to limited production runs and hence rarity not because they have manual gearboxes.
Click to expand...

Which was the whole point I was making. Manual car are becoming less manufactured and sold, Therefore in the future, and manual car will probably fetch a premium over the DSG equipped car.
 
I'm not so sure, besides the cost saving with just having one gearbox there must be some sort of demand to supply ratio. If there was a high demand for manuals then they'd be silly to stop making them.
 
Well, if vinyl records can make a comeback who knows, manuals might come back into fashion.

To me though a manual gearbox is in the same category as a pull out choke, adjusting points, etc - part of motoring history that I dont miss.
 
If I am correct, I think the most powerful 'manual audi' you can buy today is a TTS.

That is the limit and manuals are mostly now restricted to none performace models ?!
 
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On the odd occasion when I have to drive a manual, it really does feel like stepping back into the dark ages.
 
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wab172uk said:
That's because people have been brainwashed into thinking the Auto will achieve better mpg because the brochure says it will. But as we know, they cheat with official figure, as the gearbox will shuffle from 1st to 7th straight away, fooling the computer.

DSG boxes are heavier than a manual. Get worse mpg in the real world over a manual . And the best thing is, they cost about £1500 more to buy than the manual equivalent.
Click to expand...
I went auto as my knees are ruined from rugby and couldn’t handle driving a manual in traffic any more.

I do think a manual is a bit more involving but these latest generation autos are brilliant, once you understand how to tee them up and work with them the changes are pretty much instant.

I haven’t driven a manual S3 so can’t compare economy but I think the 7th gear in the auto is when you see the big gains on the motorway.
 
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** Not a car engineer **

I'd have thought that even in reality the autos are more efficient than the manuals? Maybe a bad example but I know my mum rarely uses the highest gear in her A1, even when cruising at higher speeds. My point is, the stronic isn't going to be lazy to shift gears, while a human can be.

Either way, I'd never go back to a manual. If we had no control of the gears (no paddles, knock stick to left, knock stick into sport ..etc) then its a different story, but with the stronic, yeah... I doubt I'll ever own a manual car again.
 
I’ve got a manual and am a fan, that said I wouldn’t not buy an s-tronic if it came up as I think they’re both brilliant boxes in the own right. As for value, the s-tronic will command more money, I’d say 1k to 1.5k.
 
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jassyo06 said:
Your A5 is a bigger heavier car that's why your mpg is less than a S3 S-tronic or S3 manual
Click to expand...
No you miss the point, the book MPG on the A5 is wayyyy over what I get. The book MPG figures for the S3 were spot on....I'm not comparing the 2 different cars. So if the S3 s-tronic says 32 mpg expect less.
 
S32B said:
No you miss the point, the book MPG on the A5 is wayyyy over what I get. The book MPG figures for the S3 were spot on....I'm not comparing the 2 different cars. So if the S3 s-tronic says 32 mpg expect less.
Click to expand...
But you do get 32 mpg on a S3 S-tronic already lol
 
Starry said:
I’ve got a manual and am a fan, that said I wouldn’t not buy an s-tronic if it came up as I think they’re both brilliant boxes in the own right. As for value, the s-tronic will command more money, I’d say 1k to 1.5k.
Click to expand...
It varies but S-tronic cars are normally £700- £900 more expensive
 
jassyo06 said:
It varies but S-tronic cars are normally £700- £900 more expensive
Click to expand...
Not from my experience, I've recently bought my saloon and the s-tronic's were all a grand plus more. There will obviously be exceptions to this.
 
Starry said:
Not from my experience, I've recently bought my saloon and the s-tronic's were all a grand plus more. There will obviously be exceptions to this.
Click to expand...
Optional extras play a part as well but a grand l will agree on lol
 
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S32B said:
Not sure about prices (today), but when I was selling my S3 last October a couple of sports car specialists did say that they can sell the s-tronics quicker than they can sell a manual! I was always a massive manual fan, but since having the A5 coupe with the s-tronic box!!! It is nice...very nice, I think even if I went down to a 1.5 A3 or similar I'd still get s-tronic. Depends on the car tbh.

One thing I would say MPG! the manual will be more, I was getting more out of a manula S3 than I am out of the s-tronic A5 (mainly around town driving). 'Book' figures for the A5 s-tronic urban mpg 39.8 and I'm getting 27! The S3 manual book urban mpg 31 and I was getting around 30-31!
Click to expand...

Is your A5 the 190 bhp and Quattro?
 
jassyo06 said:
But you do get 32 mpg on a S3 S-tronic already lol
Click to expand...
lol well I must just have a heavy right foot then :p as I get nowhere near their figures!!!! I was basing my first reply on my like for like s-tronic workings out :p

Audi's 'Book' figures:

S3 manual urban mpg = 31, = I was getting 30-31 in my manual, so they were bang on.
A5 s-tronic urban mpg = 39.8, = I'm getting 27 mpg so a lot less than what they say!
S3 s-tronic urban mpg = 32.1, = ??? BUT as they are way out on my stronic I'd expect them also to be out on the S3 s-tronic. (Obviously not).

I assumed how they do the tests to get the figures for the s-tronic urban is completely different to real world urban driving, so it's not easy to replicate the driving style that they do/use to get the figures, hence such a big difference.

Mike. said:
Is your A5 the 190 bhp and Quattro?
Click to expand...
Yes and no :) I do miss the quattro at times, more so than the speed! I had 4x4 or quattro cars for 4 winters and not a single snowflake fell, as soon as I go 2wd we get a bad winter with snow and ice all over the place!!! :D
 
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S32B said:
lol well I must just have a heavy right foot then :p as I get nowhere near their figures!!!! I was basing my first reply on my like for like s-tronic workings out :p

Audi's 'Book' figures:

S3 manual urban mpg = 31, = I was getting 30-31 in my manual, so they were bang on.
A5 s-tronic urban mpg = 39.8, = I'm getting 27 mpg so a lot less than what they say!
S3 s-tronic urban mpg = 32.1, = ??? BUT as they are way out on my stronic I'd expect them also to be out on the S3 s-tronic. (Obviously not).

I assumed how they do the tests to get the figures for the s-tronic urban is completely different to real world urban driving, so it's not easy to replicate the driving style that they do/use to get the figures, hence such a big difference.


Yes and no :) I do miss the quattro at times, more so than the speed! I had 4x4 or quattro cars for 4 winters and not a single snowflake fell, as soon as I go 2wd we get a bad winter with snow and ice all over the place!!! :D
Click to expand...

I now have an A3 with the 190 bhp with Quattro and s-tronic (after my manual S3 was stolen). I was expecting to have better mpg than the S3 but getting around the same.
 
Mike. said:
I now have an A3 with the 190 bhp with Quattro and s-tronic (after my manual S3 was stolen). I was expecting to have better mpg than the S3 but getting around the same.
Click to expand...
Do you notice much difference in the acceleration? What mpg are you getting around town?
 
S32B said:
Do you notice much difference in the acceleration? What mpg are you getting around town?
Click to expand...

Off the line it doesn’t seam much different. The s-tronic helps a lot low down the fears off the line. But when at speed then I notice the difference in acceleration from day 50. I’m getting around 26-28mpg I would say. Still only on 3500 miles.
 
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Mike. said:
Off the line it doesn’t seam much different. The s-tronic helps a lot low down the fears off the line. But when at speed then I notice the difference in acceleration from day 50. I’m getting around 26-28mpg I would say. Still only on 3500 miles.
Click to expand...
OK thanks, handy to know as most of my driving is in 30/40 limits anyway!
 
S32B said:
OK thanks, handy to know as most of my driving is in 30/40 limits anyway!
Click to expand...

My driving to work is 2 miles down a duel carriage way, with a roundabout half way down there. And then 3 miles down a 40.

I think the S3 did better mpg on longer drives also, partner often wants to go the Manchester shopping from north wales, and the S3 did better around 40mpg. A3 did 35 when went last week.

Will be getting another S3 when the new shape comes out I thinks!!
 
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GeoffT said:
On the odd occasion when I have to drive a manual, it really does feel like stepping back into the dark ages.
Click to expand...
That's how it feels for me too. After driving a DSG, manuals look terrible to drive in traffic jams.
 
Mike. said:
My driving to work is 2 miles down a duel carriage way, with a roundabout half way down there. And then 3 miles down a 40.

I think the S3 did better mpg on longer drives also, partner often wants to go the Manchester shopping from north wales, and the S3 did better around 40mpg. A3 did 35 when went last week.

Will be getting another S3 when the new shape comes out I thinks!!
Click to expand...
I'll look at the S3 again in 2020 :) Happy to keep this for the full 3 years....so far :p I'll also look at the new merc A class:

 
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