The Audi Thread

AdrianH said:
Have you tried braking with your left foot. You'll end up head butting the dashboard if you aren't careful.
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Ja nee, tried to teach myself many moons ago but it's not safe.

Need to launch it with the left foot on the brake though, but that's different.

I know an old oom who loves his big Audi (A6 4.2's) and he left foot brakes perfectly. But he obliviously perfected it 30 years ago and never jumps into a manual which is where it buggered me up.
 
SauRoNZA said:
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Whoa slow down - I didn't say it was rubbish and said I'd choose it.

Maybe some are more sensitive to lag than others? The 3 DSGs I've driven, I have initial lag on pull off only. It's not a one off thing that I am the only one that feels it either - just Google DSG lag and there are 1000's. In the end the driver compensates after a while of driving, but it's there.

Manual mode that doe everything automatically isn't really manual - or am I wrong? It over rides and automatically changes for you.

VWSA advanced driving - DSG is often in the wrong gear when coming out a corner where as the manual is - well - where you want it ie more control.

I could go the other way and ask why manufactures even bother with manuals if the DSG is the best thing ever ?

EDIT : Plenty of discussions about the lag. Here's a local where they just learned to live it, like I said http://www.audiclubsa.org.za/cgi-bin/yabb25/YaBB.pl?num=1358346708

Same club with most saying manual is the more exciting drive http://www.audiclubsa.org.za/cgi-bin/yabb25/YaBB.pl?num=1385014810/0
 
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AdrianH said:
Have you tried braking with your left foot. You'll end up head butting the dashboard if you aren't careful.
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pretty easy to teach yourself IMHO. But you'd want to do so when driving alone, with very little traffic ;)

The 8P had the brake pedal slightly offset to the left, so you could left-foot brake. But the 8V has it closer to the accelerator, so not so easy.
 
SauRoNZA said:
10k warranty that probably only pays 6k for the gearbox.
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I've seen these warranties paying out decent figures, there was some discussion on it a while back.

I remember because when I had the opportunity to get an aftermarket warranty, I also wrote it off thinking they'd be snoep. I was wrong.

Better off saving your money just to have the DSG repaired by a specialist.

I can't tell you the finer details with any accuracy but I know the common issues especially related to the Mechatronics unit are actually fixable for less than 18k which is generally the most it will cost you if it goes really wrong.

But yes some models are more prone to failure and should be avoided outside of warranty. However newer ones (and much older ones oddly enough) are fine.

My DSG has 150 000km on today with no drama.
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Indeed. This is the info the OP needs, instead of throwing around figures of "R75,000", which incorrectly scares off people interested in higher performance/German cars.
 
Dolby said:
Whoa slow down - I didn't say it was rubbish and said I'd choose it.

Maybe some are more sensitive to lag than others? The 3 DSGs I've driven, I have initial lag on pull off only. It's not a one off thing that I am the only one that feels it either - just Google DSG lag and there are 1000's. In the end the driver compensates after a while of driving, but it's there.

Manual mode that doe everything automatically isn't really manual - or am I wrong? It over rides and automatically changes for you.

VWSA advanced driving - DSG is often in the wrong gear when coming out a corner where as the manual is - well - where you want it ie more control.

I could go the other way and ask why manufactures even bother with manuals if the DSG is the best thing ever ?
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If you are referring to the initial clutch uptake as the lag then I guess I know what you are referring to. However I would expect that as it would be a very jerky affair otherwise with an electronic clutch setup. As you say driver compensates, it's more a driving style thing than a lag thing. Surely you don't expect it to be exactly the same as a manual considering it's all very different.

As for manual mode it only shifts up when overrevving or down when lugging. I would call this a safety feature and a good reason to buy a second hand DSG over a manual as someone can't cockup the engine, gearbox or clutch being a chop. Sport mode helps this quite a bit.

Wrong gear on track because of the above or because in auto?

Manufacturers are bothering less and less with manual for this reason. Lamborghini don't make them at all any more and neither Ferrari I think. Lower end Mercedes only have manuals at the bottom end.
 
PostmanPot said:
Indeed. This is the info the OP needs, instead of throwing around figures of "R75,000", which incorrectly scares off people interested in higher performance/German cars.
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In all fairness, this was last year. Its probably closer to R80k now.
 
AdrianH said:
Not at all. If you want want a replacement DSG geabox from AUDI or VW, that's how much it will cost after everything has been done.
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Why would anyone go to Audi or VW for an out of plan car?

AFAIK the DSGs usually fail in a certain way - mechatronics unit as discussed - ±R18k at a specialist.

Nothing more than scare tactics. What do you drive?
 
PostmanPot said:
Why would anyone go to Audi or VW for an out of plan car?

AFAIK the DSGs usually fail in a certain way - mechatronics unit as discussed - ±R18k at a specialist.

Nothing more than scare tactics. What do you drive?
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Audi A3 stronic
 
PostmanPot said:
Wasn't there a new Porsche announced, which comes in manual?
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Pretty sure it will be a limited run and not the norm. But I didn't actually know Porsche dropped manuals as well.

SauRoNZA, do you sit in traffic?
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Not at all, I ride a motorcycle for traffic. :)

But when I bought the GTI I took a year off motorcycles as my wife and I worked in the same area and drove together so yes the primary motivation was traffic.

But I shot down many other cars for not having proper automatics and also 4-doors. Was keen on an A3 but the sportback only came with DSG in 2009 and so I wasn't prepared to fork out that kind of money for it just to be an Audi.

Almost bought a Volvo C30 T5 but found my mind when I picked up the fuel stats and then accepted the boot was useless. The Tiptronic in the Volvo actually wasn't too bad.

Opel don't do Auto, neither did Ford so didn't even look at the OPC's or ST's.

Checked out the Mercedes C230 Sport Coupe but it was the V6 version and not the original 1.8 Supercharged and so it was horribly lethargic. A nice enough car all round, but still an "old man" car like the Mercs of the previous generation.
 
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PostmanPot said:
Why would anyone go to Audi or VW for an out of plan car?

AFAIK the DSGs usually fail in a certain way - mechatronics unit as discussed - ±R18k at a specialist.

Nothing more than scare tactics. What do you drive?
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Just had the clutches on the wife's Q5 2.0T S-tronic replaced. From online research I was convinced it was the mechatronic unit (especially since it has the earlier V1 unit that is more prone to failure) that had to be replaced. Car is out of plan now, got an extended warranty...hoping it covers the mechatronic in full if it ends up failing.

Btw any recommendations for DSG/S-tronic specialists in Cape Town, preferably in the northern suburbs?
 
PostmanPot said:
Why would anyone go to Audi or VW for an out of plan car?

AFAIK the DSGs usually fail in a certain way - mechatronics unit as discussed - ±R18k at a specialist.

Nothing more than scare tactics. What do you drive?
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I list that 18k as a worst case scenario if it's all gone horribly wrong, but this based on conversations with my mechanic so don't quote me black and white on that stuff.

A good mechanic would do preventative maintenance that will save you money.
 
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Kolmogorov said:
Just had the clutches on the wife's Q5 2.0T S-tronic replaced. From online research I was convinced it was the mechatronic unit (especially since it has the earlier V1 unit that is more prone to failure) that had to be replaced. Car is out of plan now, got an extended warranty...hoping it covers the mechatronic in full if it ends up failing.

Btw any recommendations for DSG/S-tronic specialists in Cape Town, preferably in the northern suburbs?
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My car goes to Engine Techniques in Brackenfell. You can chat to Wessel Maritz - 072 9038897

Not sure if he does this kind of work directly or sends it off but I'm very happy with his work ethnic. Just don't expect the full dealership service from them, it's a family owned business and their focus is good mechanic work...so they don't do extras like washing your car and what not.

What I believe happens with the Mechatronics is that they use this one magical word to describe the "chip" controlling the system and then refer to the entire system as that. What actually happens in most cases is the mechanical lets call them "pushrods" that fail or seize. These can in fact be services and repaired without replacing the entire system or gearbox.
 
SauRoNZA said:
If you are referring to the initial clutch uptake as the lag then I guess I know what you are referring to
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Yup - the initial engaging. It may only be a few hundred milliseconds, but it can be felt and is irritating. Coming from a supercharged 3.0 manual to an S Tronic 2.0T, it feels like the car takes 2 seconds to actual move between both the lags. Once moving I love it though.

However I would expect that as it would be a very jerky affair otherwise with an electronic clutch setup. As you say driver compensates, it's more a driving style thing than a lag thing. Surely you don't expect it to be exactly the same as a manual considering it's all very different.


SauRoNZA said:
As for manual mode it only shifts up when overrevving or down when lugging. I would call this a safety feature and a good reason to buy a second hand DSG over a manual as someone can't cockup the engine, gearbox or clutch being a chop. Sport mode helps this quite a bit.
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... then it isn't manual if if's between the parameters. It's a gimmick that allows you to change between 2,000 - 6,000 only. Even if you're in 'manual' and stop in 3rd gear, it'll default to 1st automatically. So in those 3 scenarios it does everything automatically and there's little extra control.

Sport changes in the same spot as D - so it revs no higher anyhow. The only thing Sport seems to do is hold the gear as opposed to shifting up when your foot comes off. I can put it in Sport and drive normally .... then it shifts at 3,000rpm, just like D. Sport, I imagine, will help with the below track issue - but nothing in a straight line.

SauRoNZA said:
Manufacturers are bothering less and less with manual for this reason. Lamborghini don't make them at all any more and neither Ferrari I think. Lower end Mercedes only have manuals at the bottom end.
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Plenty still prefer a manual a car for driver enjoyment ; look at the links I've sent and check the people that owned both. Control and enjoyment is generally the manual.

EDIT : Like I said earlier, I'll take the S Tronic any day - but the lags compared to my manual are definitely noticeable. I see you almost looked at a C30 T5? Golf 6 GTI using either LC, Sport or Drive couldn't out launch me simply mashing my pedal down.
 
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What would it cost more or less for a five year old 2010 A3 1.8T stronic non-Audi maintenance plan? Who does one go to for this?
 
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