[Closed] Audi S Tronic - real life useage....

Paddles are ok to play with when you first get it. Novelty wears off and they're pretty useless cos the DSG is so good in auto you don't need em.

As Dez says, you may use the paddles when over taking every now and again as I prefer them to letting sport mode do the gears but other wise stick it in Drive and relax.

If you hit the paddles in drive it will put the car in manual mode for you. Just knock back on the stick to go back to normal drive.

What car did you go for?

Novelty wears off

My experience of Audi also. 😆

Are you finding the initial take-off is painfully.

Slow?

I hate my auto A6 with a passion. Just last night someone stopped to let me turn right and by the time the car had decided to do something about the fact my foot was on the go pedal, the other driver had assumed I was ignoring them and had started back off again, almost causing a collision.

BTW, the paddles can be used in started D mode and they automatically flip back to full auto after a few seconds if you don't use them.

Just be careful about clicking down when coming to a junction though - if the car is in (auto) third and is about to drop to auto second at the same time you manually click it down it can end up in first - done that a few times now 😳

Yep, stick it in D for the usual.
S is a bit harsh as holds the revs a bit too long

Manual option still shifts down (and up to avoid engine damage) automatically too

Paddles work in all modes but best in the manual option

[i]My experience of Audi also.[/i]

I gots VW 😛

Autos - stick in D, ignore til you stop, then back in P. S is not much use imo when you have manual override (i.e. the paddles). For me, in S, it holds a nice high engine speed to keep the turbo spinning say 2,300rpm, but then when you floor it it pauses to slam it down two gears to get you at 4,000rpm. Well changing down two gears puts you on the same shaft so you get a second's pause, which defeats the object of sport mode.

Paddles useful when trying to drive fast on twisty roads; when preparing to overtake; or sometimes when towing.

I think in D, you can tap down a few gears with the paddles ready for an overtake then you are in manual mode for something like 20 seconds then it reverts to D. If you want manual control indefinitely it's something like press them both.

I don't have paddles, I have to move the stick to get manual mode, and this doesn't do the manual for 20 seconds thing, which would be quite useful when preparing to overtake.

Also, if you double tap the accelerator it automatically drops it down a gear 😉

And for full manual (in mine anyway) push the gear stick away from you to the left then either use the paddles or gearstick to change up and down.

Also, if you double tap the accelerator it automatically drops it down a gear

?

?

Double tap on the accelerator pedal pre-selects a lower gear.

Like SRAM then. I definatly prefer the BMW WOT button.

[i]Autos - stick in D, ignore til you stop, then back in P.[/I]

This, and if on pressing the accelerator it just gets noisier rather than faster, buy a more powerful one 🙂

Let us know how you get on Iain.

I'm considering DSG for my next car, as 3 days a week of taxi-ing the missus along a crawling M8 every morning in a manual is starting to do my head in.

Double tap on the accelerator pedal pre-selects a lower gear.

In order to tap you'd have to lift off first? OR you mean press down twice from wherever your foot originally was? How does this not make the car surge forwards jerkily?

great, thanks for the info. Have gone for A6 estate, with 2.0 diesel, not S Line.

In order to tap you'd have to lift off first? OR you mean press down twice from wherever your foot originally was? How does this not make the car surge forwards jerkily?

You should try it in your car, see if it works.

[i]I'm considering DSG for my next car[/i]

Do it. I maintain the paddles are useless for all but wannabe-Clarksons though.

Double tap on the accelerator pedal pre-selects a lower gear.

I can't say I've ever known this on any of the auto boxes I've driven. There is the button underneath the accelerator that when activated forces a kick down but i've never heard of double tap.

You should try it in your car, see if it works.

Hmm.. I've noticed you can push down to get it to select a lower gear, but that's just a normal part of acceleration - I'll try it.

My car doesn't have some of the fancier features, being a normal Passat and now quite old. No launch control for instance.

I've had DSG for 6 months and would not go back to a manual car, its better in every way from stop start traffic and motorway cruising to hooning it on B roads.

Dont have the double tap feature (or cant activate it) but theres a kick down at the bottom of the accelerator travel. push down to bottom of travel, once its at end press harder, you'll feel a button press and it kicks down a gear.

Obviously make sure road is clear ahead.

Found the standard auto box great on my 3L A6. Sport mode is mega torquey

Hardly ever used mine in S. Use the paddles to drop down when I want a quick overtaking push
(Petrol or Diesel). Occasional drive the car in manual mode, usually on twisty roads when pushing along and don't want the auto changing up if you lift off the revs or when approaching a corner you and want to change down. Personally I prefer a manual on a sporty A/B road but thats a tiny fraction of my driving.

Pull away always slower/different in an Auto, same in both my cars petrol and diesel.

Enjoy 8)

I have 2016 DSG. Its interesting to hear how frustrated that some other users are finding initial take off - I wonder if they have changed the software and mechanisms over the years. Mine is very "adequate" on take off, although quite a different car application.

I occasionally use the paddles but like everyone else says - the novelty wears off in day to day driving.

double tap. 😆

you lot.

Audi A3 2.0 TDI Quattro here with S-Tronic. Works well, generally just leave it in Drive. Paddles are only for when your bored or if you want to go for an unexpected overtake.

I use the drive mode selection a bit e.g. right turn out of side road, I may pre-select Dynamic mode.

I've mainly had manuals before but would happily stick to autos from now - along with pipe and slippers.

Audi A3 2.0 TDI Quattro here with S-Tronic

I think that will be same engine and transmission as my A6, so good to know.

GTI DSG here, leave it in D mostly, and drop to S for any overtaking (by pulling back gear shifter), find this is somewhat akin to a manual, in that you get to do something with your hand, but rather than change down, you're changing mode, no real lag on mine doing this. Sometimes leave it in S just for the fun of pushing the pedal and having that instant go! I did find at first pulling away in D was very slow, even compared to my old SUV, just needs a bit more aggression with the pedal though.

Not the same brand or even a dsg gearbox, but I had a Jaguar XE on test in December which had a d mode, sport mode, and the option to shift with paddles (8 speed zf automatic box).

I tried the paddles a few times over the 2 days I had it on test, but then reverted back to leaving it in D. They worked fine and think I'd use them if overtaking on an a/b road, but the rest of the timeout was easier to leave it in D or S. worked so well I couldn't see the point in the paddles.

My new XE turns up next week 🙂

Ss the Audi DSG system the same as in Skodas?

I just leave my S205 in Drive, and mostly in either Comfort or Economy mode, with the occasional foray into S+ for country roads when the relaxed setting means that it'll change down 3 or 4 gears to come out of a corner uphill.
The main use I have for the paddles is to force downshifts to bleed off speed when coasting up to a stop either at lights or roundabouts.

probably won't go back to a manual now I've lived with the auto in mine now - A6 Allroad 3.oL Diesel. But - I tend to skip sport and go for manual, but only if I want to hustle in the back roads. Other wise it's D all the way, but I'd maybe have a different opinion with the same box on a smaller engine...

There's a lot of different auto/ dsg boxes in audis.

For example we had a sq 5 with 8 speed dsg, we've now got a a6 with 7 speed dsg and they are completely different boxes. The a6 is much quicker to take off.

We've also had another a6 with had the s tronic gearbox the op mentioned and that was completely different again and dare I say the worst of the lot. Something to do with the car creating the ratios for you, pulling away in that was scary slow.

Pick your gearbox carefully!

I have a VWAG DSG and during normal driving the gear changes are fast and seamless. The pick-up from a standing start is painful at times, you almost need to pre-judge a gap and take a leap of faith.

Just bear in mind that a DSG is an "automated" manual so still has a clutch but is operated automatically (so it needs to be engaged). It's not like a traditional torque converter auto (driven those as well and the take up is immediate as it's always "engaged").

95% of the time the DSG is great and would buy another. Quick changes and good mpg make it better than autos of old.

Just to add - mine is the 7 speed but I don't find the take up that bad as to put me off buying one - you'll get used to it.

@squealer - to the Audi creating the gears - that sounds like a Multitronic (continuously variable) transmission and they're not particularly good (I think Audi are phasing these out now).

Not sure which version comes on the A6 now....

It is described as 7 speed S Tronic Quattro

Ahhh yes my mistake, it's the multitronic that's the terrible one. Good news they're phasing that out!

S tronic is what we have on our a6 now and it's great.

^^^ ahh, that's a relief, cheers !

I did try and get the dealer to do me a deal on Michelin CrossClimates from new but there is no incentive for them to have 4 factory tyres in stock so will run with originals until next winter/when they wear out and swop then. Hopefully the standard tyres and Quattro will be substantially better in the snow and ice (central Scotland) than current RWD BMW...

On the take up from standing start point I'm mystified.

I've racked up 11000 miles since June on a 2012 DSG and never really felt it lacking and I live in the ill road mannered, selfish south where a gap of more than a fag paper is weakness.

You need half an ounce of anticipation (no more than to release the clutch on a manual) and give the throttle a measured prod. Oh and make sure if you've been creeping forward it's not slipped into crawling in 2nd.

I'd say the one thing its weak with is cross camber/uphill reversing and even then only when you're trying to sneak back those last 2cm (trying to get boot tight to wall/short spaces). I think it's a product of how the clutch engages so gently at a crawl. If you have delicate left foot skills i still think a manual does this so much better (although I'm getting better with the dsg the more I do it). But it's a mild inconvenience I'm happy to live with.

I tend to:

D - virtually everything (99%)
S - short slip roads
Paddles - if I briefly want to be two gears lower in anticipation of an upcoming gap in moderate traffic (e.G. Middle lane of motorway doing 50, outside doing 70) or for an A road overtake.
Manual - some kinds of slow moving traffic.

I could happily live without everything but D mode but the other bits just make isolated situations a touch easier.

On the take up from standing start point I'm mystified.

I find it's not standing starts that are the problem, but when you haven't quite stopped. As you're slowing, it tries to stay in a high gear for too long, so if you're almost stopped and then want to go quickly it wants to shift down first. Once you're actually stopped, it drops to first and it's ready to go. Putting it in S helps a bit. I've got the 8 speed auto (not DSG) on mine, but I suspect it's similar on the DSG.

I've got a DSG box on my orange toy, I bought it new, I've used Sport once and that was by accident.
The paddles are useful if you are in Auto because if you flip the downshift it reverts to manual and then if you squirt the throttle it drops either 1 or 2 gears down .. once you back off the loud peddle it reverts back to Auto, but I have to say I honestly can't remember the last time I used the flappy paddles. The Auto is just sooooo smoooooooth maaannn.

Enjoy your new car.

I just find mine very snatchy on take up, 180ps through the front wheels perhaps doesn't help. A less than delicate start just results in spin/traction control confusion.

But with the Quattro system Audi have got something absolutely spot on...fantastic.

Ps. 2 wheel drive now but had Quattro in the past

I just find mine very snatchy on take up, 180ps through the front wheels perhaps doesn't help. A less than delicate start just results in spin/traction control confusion

Golf GTI Edition 40s have up to 260, so not sure it's a power thing.

They've definitely got better over the years, I've driven 2008, 2012 and 2015 variants all in Golf GTIs/R32s, and they're smoother on the newer ones for sure. I love mine (2012 Golf GTI), wouldn't go back lightly. Not tried any of the 7 speed ones though, so it's a bit of a moot point.

Agree with everyone else that D is for virtually everything, paddles for shifting down, S for sounding good.

As others have said the paddles don't get much use after the novelty wears off. In my case I didn't use then enough to remember which was up and which was down, easier to push the stick across and use that. You get used to pulling way, there's a neck to getting the revs up without engaging the gear too early, I had a old PD turbo diesel and the lag combined with the box was fine once you adjusted. I do less town driving now so I've got back to manual.

A teeny blip of the throttle when you release the brake peddle is the best/smoothest was to eliminate any lag. I sometimes get it if I roll up to a roundabout at about 10mph, and nothing's coming, so pull off into the roundabout .. on occasion a bit of lag, but a small blip of the throttle eliminates it. Takes a little bit of thinking because you don't want to dab it, just small blip.

pdw - I suspect nail/head interface. I tend to go for 5mph or stop and try to do nothing in between.

The other one for lack of speed away is the stop-start. There's a magic point in the brake pedal travel where it will restart without creeping but it never feels 'right' holding it there for more than a second - like it's itching to go. Glad it has an off switch!

My A6 Quattro was excellent in snow on stock tyres, up/down our steep unswept road and through various snow storms in Switzerland, even up quite a steep track under a ski lift in resort. Whether the colder and icier conditions I expect you have in Scotland will test the rubber more I don't know. I'd be quite surprised if you wore the tyres out in leas than a year although mine was a but heavy on fronts. Can't you flog the originals fo a local tyre place or on ebay ?

My A6 Quattro has just got 24,000 out of a set which I find quite impressive for a big heavy car with a V6 3.0 turbo diesel engine.

My wife's Mazda 3 gets about 12,000 out of each front set. 😯

My A3 got 45,000 miles out of the first set of tyres

Good news on the tyre wear, sound about double that of my current 5 Tourer...

I'll be using the as supplied factory tyres till they wear out, but it sounds like they still work ok in snow and ice with the 4wd setup.

[i]Whether the colder and icier conditions I expect you have in Scotland will test the rubber more I don't know.[/I]

First snow of the winter for us (Scottish Borders) today and while the xdrive on my new car (BMW's Quattro copy) means I've no problem getting traction on the slippery stuff to go forward, almost foot wide low profiles means its a bit 'hairy' braking 🙂

We did 18,000 miles a year and changed less than once a year although mostly dual carriageway/motorway type miles. Fronts did wear faster perhaps monitor and do a switch front/rear.

Good news on the tyre wear, sound about double that of my current 5 Tourer...

And I don't always drive like an angel either 😉

Fronts did wear faster perhaps monitor and do a switch front/rear.

I use my 7spd DSG something like this-

D- most of the time
S- anytime I'm on a decent driving road and feel like hooning about
Paddles- properly twisty country roads when I'm being a bit of a dick

It is a bit slow on the uptake sometimes but it's not so bad. Generally pretty happy with it, though it'd not necessarily be my first choice for the type of car it's in (small hot hatch) I suspect it'll suit a A6 luxo barge well.

Picked up my new A4 with S-tronic gearbox at the start of December. It then failed with less than 100 miles on the clock 😕

Given a loan A5 with the 8 speed multitronic, utterly terrible and I started to get really worried the gearbox in the A4 was going to be just as bad when I got it back. Needn't have worried, the 7 speed s-tronic really is a cracking gearbox. I like the way you can override the gearbox with the paddles if you wish but it will then go back to auto if you don't touch them again or you can move the selector across and have it in full time manual using either the selector to change up and down or the paddles.

I suspect it'll suit a A6 luxo barge well.

My wife's car (Seat people carrier) has DSG. It's great. Usually, we stick it in drive and forget about it.

I only use the paddles when overtaking and wanting to drop a gear in preparation (not often) and also in snow when I want to force a higher gear to avoid wheel spin.

That's pretty much it.

johndoh - am I right in thinking yours has the multitronic box rather than the 7 speed S Tronic Quattro ?

johndoh - am I right in thinking yours has the multitronic box rather than the 7 speed S Tronic Quattro ?

ah, ok, I was 'hoping' that the bad experiences you have had with yours was due to a different box. Is it something to do the the bigger engine ? A lot of folks on here with the S-Tronic one and 2.0 diesel seem to like them..

It is a known issue with them ([url= http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/s-tronic-acceleration-lag.218077/ ]you just need to Google[/url]) but clearly it bothers some people more than others.

My brother has had a few autos and has recently bought an Ibiza FR with the same box and he agrees with me that there is a delay that he hasn't experienced in other cars but he isn't unduly bothered about it.

Ohh, and to add to that, I recently had a newer A5 as a courtesy car and the lag isn't as bad as on mine (63 plate). I spoke to the dealership and they sad that the newer boxes have been slightly retuned/remapped to improve them so if you are getting a new car it probably won't be a problem.

thanks for info. It is my first auto so I won't know any different 🙂

I'd say the one thing its weak with is cross camber/uphill reversing and even then only when you're trying to sneak back those last 2cm (trying to get boot tight to wall/short spaces). I think it's a product of how the clutch engages so gently at a crawl. If you have delicate left foot skills i still think a manual does this so much better (although I'm getting better with the dsg the more I do it).

On mine, if I let it roll forwards down the hill the clutch catches it (assuming it's not too steep) and the car will creep backwards - even if it feels like it won't.