The Audi Thread

[epah]

Just to clarify slow moving traffic may prematurely wear a DSG box? The dual clutch?

Yes it does, this is due to the fact that a dual clutch doesn't have a torque converter, Slow moving traffic will overwork the clutch(s) in a dual clutch thus resulting in overheating.

 

[kripstoe]

Yes it does, this is due to the fact that a dual clutch doesn't have a torque converter, Slow moving traffic will overwork the clutch(s) in a dual clutch thus resulting in overheating.

How does it "overwork" the clutch, compared to a manual car which also has a clutch?

 

[Gazzacpt]

How does it "overwork" the clutch, compared to a manual car which also has a clutch?

It's a 7 speed box 1,2 and 3 are fairly close and it tries to be as efficient as possible so it stays in first for like a second before changing to 2rd and 3rd then down to second then 3rd fourth all the space of 3m. It's called hunting in an autobox. So in a normal manual you would crawl in first or second this thing is all over the place.
So you going slowly doing over 200 gear changes in a short distance while driving home in the heat with the transmission fluid getting hot and the clutches doing their thing.
This is why they recommended sport mode as it holds first and second longer so the system does alot less work.
It's quite something driving one of these things and watching it go through the gears. It's objective is to get to 7th as quickly as it can. It really only stays in first gear for half a second unless you floor it.
On the upside it's more economical than my 1.3 Tazz I use as a work car. Ave consumption is 6.5L/100km if I'm not in a rush. On a long trip I often see 5L/100km.

 

[Rouxenator]

How does it "overwork" the clutch, compared to a manual car which also has a clutch?

Sport mode only helps to reduce shifts between 1st and 2nd, provided you are going that fast. The real killer here is when you are going to slow for 1st to be properly engaged, then the clutch is forced to slip. The exact similar as riding the clutch in a manual car.

With a proper automatic the torque converter is more than happy to do that for you all day long with no wear.

 

[airborne]

Sport mode only helps to reduce shifts between 1st and 2nd, provided you are going that fast. The real killer here is when you are going to slow for 1st to be properly engaged, then the clutch is forced to slip. The exact similar as riding the clutch in a manual car.

With a proper automatic the torque converter is more than happy to do that for you all day long with no wear.

Which auto boxes have a torque converter? The CVT?

 

[Gazzacpt]

Which auto boxes have a torque converter? The CVT?

All proper autos have a torque converter. CVT uses a belt with some slip and dual clutch uses clutches much like a manual.

 

[airborne]

All proper autos have a torque converter. CVT uses a belt with some slip and dual clutch uses clutches much like a manual.

But aren't the more reliable torque converts types of viscous couplings, ie almost zero wear for the a life of a the a box vs a clutch system that can go in 50k km?

 

[Gazzacpt]

But aren't the more reliable torque converts types of viscous couplings, ie almost zero wear for the a life of a the a box vs a clutch system that can go in 50k km?

Correct. You still have to do fluid changes. Don't belive that crap about sealed gearbox and fluid good for the life of the gearbox. There are friction plates in an autobox and it shares fluid with the torque converter, particles of that can clog up fluid galleries and valves , the modern torque converters also lock up at a certain rpm or speed to make the drive train more efficient.

 

[Rouxenator]

[video=youtube;W42zsFYjZvM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W42zsFYjZvM[/video]

 

[FiestaST]

Audi South Africa names new (Cape Town-born) boss

A couple of months ago, we noticed that Audi South Africa managing director Paul Sansom had moved to Australia, where he took up a similar position with the German brand. And now Audi SA has named his replacement.

Trevor Hill succeeds the British-born Sansom and boasts more than 20 years of global experience with Audi. He arrives back in South Africa after spending two years at Ingolstadt automaker’s head office in Germany, heading up the global strategic project of internationalisation.

“Audi South Africa has a very robust and secure strategy. I will be looking to grow upon the good work done by my predecessor and ensure that at Audi South Africa, we deliver an excellent level of customer service to our very important customers,” said Hill.

“We have a modern and well-functioning dealer organisation who has invested heavily in the Audi brand and I would hope to ensure that we can deliver on our promise to make Audi the number one brand franchise for investors,” he added.

Hill was born in 1962 in Cape Town and started his career in 1989 by joining Volkswagen/Audi South Africa in Johannesburg as manager for dealer training and development. Before relocating to Dubai as managing director of Audi Middle East, he represented Audi in Germany, Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea, with key areas of expertise in training, dealer development, sales and marketing, before moving onto overall company leadership in the Middle East.

He became the regional director of Audi China in Beijing in 2006, where he was responsible for growing the Chinese and Hong Kong market from 58 000 units to 128 000 units in just three years.

He holds a higher diploma in Education (HdipED) from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, a certificate in motor vehicle retailing from the University of Cape Town and an MBA from Anaheim University in California.

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/audi-south-africa-names-new-cape-town-born-boss/

 

[S1lv3r H4wK]

Just an interesting update from my side, took my car for a service at Audi Pinetown (DBN'S better dealer) for an annual service which had a strange side effect.

It just had a routine inspection service with an oil and pollen filter change but upon collecting and driving off it struck me. Whoa.. the car accelerated in a manor I'm not used to I immediately looked down expecting it was left in sport (DSG Box) but no. It was in normal Drive. Thinking that I was imagining things I drove home, only to realize on the freeway that it can't be... the gear changes are more lively and the car is quicker to shift down when applying power the throttle response also felt quicker. Best way to describe is that it felt like it was somewhere between Sport and the old Drive I was used to.

Monday morning I phoned the dealer and spoke to the workshop tech who informed me there was no ECU or Gearbox software done and agreed that the oil would not do this. So I am still clueless to what was done but now feel like I have a reawakened car.

I would like to hear your input?

 

[vigras rojara]

Dealer probably stole your spare wheel....

 

[yebocan]

I have no confidence in Audi stealerships...my first service , outside warranty...change the oil, spark plugs and a couple of filters...and also gave my a quote of 22.5k, excluding Vat and labour to replace mechatronics...as it was failing, oddly had not experienced any issues.

Anyways...thanks to so help from guys on here, was referred to German Auto Specialist.. https://www.facebook.com/groups/856797247741553/

was not the mechatronics, it was my clutch that was busy failing and has now failed....anyways, car is now in to replace it. How the hell they missed the clutch was going, is beyond me.

I retract my endorsement of the above German Auto Specialists...if you value your sanity, you will give them a pass. Was doubting my own sanity, after all the rave online reviews and recommendations...my experience was more in line with this google review...least only took me three weeks to put an end to being part of their madness.

https://www.google.co.za/search?q=g...8#lrd=0x1dcc5eca20c2b965:0x806a8c6c04e2ea3b,1,

 

[curbs2012]

Any suggestions as to which audi dealer to use in Cape Town?

 

[Gaz{M}]

Just an interesting update from my side, took my car for a service at Audi Pinetown (DBN'S better dealer) for an annual service which had a strange side effect.

It just had a routine inspection service with an oil and pollen filter change but upon collecting and driving off it struck me. Whoa.. the car accelerated in a manor I'm not used to I immediately looked down expecting it was left in sport (DSG Box) but no. It was in normal Drive. Thinking that I was imagining things I drove home, only to realize on the freeway that it can't be... the gear changes are more lively and the car is quicker to shift down when applying power the throttle response also felt quicker. Best way to describe is that it felt like it was somewhere between Sport and the old Drive I was used to.

Monday morning I phoned the dealer and spoke to the workshop tech who informed me there was no ECU or Gearbox software done and agreed that the oil would not do this. So I am still clueless to what was done but now feel like I have a reawakened car.

I would like to hear your input?

The car learns your driving habits and over time can go into a sedate driving mode if you spend a lot of time cruising slowly or in traffic. Probably during the service, when they plug in the diagnostic tool, the ECU was reset or the battery disconnected which can reset the car to a default factory "half sport" mode as you say. My car also does this if I start driving enthusiastically, it then becomes more lively for a few drives after that and then gradually becomes "sluggish" again as the normal work traffic routine is learnt by the ECU.

 

[Kolmogorov]

Any suggestions as to which audi dealer to use in Cape Town?

Been using N1 City (Deon) for as long as they've existed (closest to home) and they're decent compared to what I hear about Claremont/V&A. Somerset-West is further out and also decent from what I hear.

Had a lemon of Q5 with issues that got referred all the way to Germany, and (most of the time) they put in a good effort to try and resolve it. If you've got specific issues like that just keep on pestering them and escalate to dealer principal and/or Audi SA.

 

[curbs2012]

Been using N1 City (Deon) for as long as they've existed (closest to home) and they're decent compared to what I hear about Claremont/V&A. Somerset-West is further out and also decent from what I hear.

Had a lemon of Q5 with issues that got referred all the way to Germany, and (most of the time) they put in a good effort to try and resolve it. If you've got specific issues like that just keep on pestering them and escalate to dealer principal and/or Audi SA.

Thanks... will give them a shout... first audi service experience..hoping it goes well.

 

[S1lv3r H4wK]

Thanks... will give them a shout... first audi service experience..hoping it goes well.

Audi is overall very professional, you will have a good experience!

 

[StrontiumDog]

I retract my endorsement of the above German Auto Specialists...if you value your sanity, you will give them a pass. Was doubting my own sanity, after all the rave online reviews and recommendations...my experience was more in line with this google review...least only took me three weeks to put an end to being part of their madness.

https://www.google.co.za/search?q=g...8#lrd=0x1dcc5eca20c2b965:0x806a8c6c04e2ea3b,1,

Weird, 95% of the reviews for them are top notch but there does seem to be from time to time horror experiences as per the aforementioned bad review.

 

[yebocan]

Weird, 95% of the reviews for them are top notch but there does seem to be from time to time horror experiences as per the aforementioned bad review.

That is just the thing...I was expecting the same level of service delivery that formites, here and elsewhere, rave about. Just being a sign post for others...not cool, nor fun being part of the other 5%.