s-tronic reviews please

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dannyboygti

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as above looking for reviews on the s-tronic ideally on the tdi engine but all round would be great, as I'm looking to purchase a 140/170 tdi s-tronic a3 but seen a lot of mixed reviews on google so some reviews from people on here would be great please :)
 
170 here
DSG you can drive it like a manual, (i have the paddles on the steering wheel) changes gear quicker than a manual, can be mapped too. Also if you got mobility problems having no clutch is such a god send, i'd never have a car without DSG again.
 
Needs an oil change every 40k too
Flat shifting helps to keep the turbo singing too, no drop in revs during changing gear.
 
had any issues with yours as heard the facelift models have issues
 
It's a no brainer, I fail to see how anyone can justify going manual now. Faster changes, better fuel economy all things being equal, ease of driving, paddles like Michael Schooomaker, etc etc.

Early ones had mechatronics issues but I haven't come across any after 58 plate. My own car's DSG box clunks from time to time but research and the opinions of several DSG gearbox specialists suggest it is a worn synchro on 2nd gear - something that having a manual box wouldn't avoid.

Added expense of DSG oil and filter changes every 40,000 miles are the car is more expensive to buy. I won't buy manual again.

Just get one.
 
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Love it. Very rare I use the manual shift, just leave it in auto most of the time, must be getting lazy.
 
Thanks for the replys guys set on a s-tronic now 2 more questions to ask though

Seeing some cars with the shiney s-tronic lever and some with the older style still all being facelift cars, is this for a different box or just purly for looks.

Also heard some of the s-tronic boxes are 7 speed is that on the diesels or just the s3s ?

Thanks again gents
 
dannyboygti said:
Thanks for the replys guys set on a s-tronic now 2 more questions to ask though

Seeing some cars with the shiney s-tronic lever and some with the older style still all being facelift cars, is this for a different box or just purly for looks.

Also heard some of the s-tronic boxes are 7 speed is that on the diesels or just the s3s ?

Thanks again gents
Click to expand...

Diesel s-tronic boxes are 6 speed wet clutch. I assume this gives a higher torque handling capacity.

The 7 speed dry clutch boxes you get in the petrol engined cars aren't so great, couple members on here have had judder issues when setting off. This does not apply to the diesel ones.

The level is purely for looks. On my car (2009) I have the slightly older style level and on newer cars they have the shiny silver/chrome one with S-line in the top.
 
As all above, DSG is great on my '09 Car, even with the 40,000 mile oil and filter changes it's no harder than engine oil and filter to do yourself. I wouldn't go back to manual now.
 
Thanks guys s tronic it is then found a lovelly silver 11 plate with 17k on the clock fully loaded so gunna have a look and drive of that :)
 
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i was a bit scared at first to purchase a S-tronic but its a no brainer like Sayam said. Wouldnt go back to manual now i have got it.
 
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The mechatronics, the brain and valves are the weak point on a DSG, If you ever need to have the mechatronics unit refurbed it will cost you no more than £1000, probably less if if its a small problem, its fairly rare and normally on the first issue models, if you had to change the flywheel and clutch on a manual it would cost you £400-500.
I love mine, just make sure you keep up with maintenance every 40k and you should be fine as they are a wet clutch system and wont wear out the clutch plates.
If they clonk going into gear be careful as this is something they cant repair and you will have to live with.
Careful of the 7 speed boxes as there was a recall on them worldwide and make sure the work was carried out or walk.
 
audismart said:
If they clonk going into gear be careful as this is something they cant repair and you will have to live with.
Click to expand...

What clonk is this that can't be fixed? Surely a strip and refurb process would find and replace the offending part?
 
audismart said:
Careful of the 7 speed boxes as there was a recall on them worldwide and make sure the work was carried out or walk.
Click to expand...

Interesting.

Can you remember what the problem was?

I was looking at a DQ500 for mine as the internals are generally stronger than the 6 speed.
 
Sayam said:
What clonk is this that can't be fixed? Surely a strip and refurb process would find and replace the offending part?
Click to expand...
A mechatronics refurb wont sort the clunk, its in the box itself, new gearbox or gearbox rebuild needed and thats not cheap, I'm not sure if anyone actually rebuilds a dsg gearbox yet?
 
When you test drive the car, make sure the gears change smoothly using the gear lever in manual and the paddles on the steering wheel, try in auto as well. Listen carefully for any whining in any gear. In auto mode you don't tend to notice which gear you are in , as it is that smooth. You can see which gear you're in as it is displayed in the display in front of you. When parking or reversing very slowly it can be a little awkward to precision park within inches of movement, it's not a problem, just something you get used to with some delicate footwork.
 
audismart said:
A mechatronics refurb wont sort the clunk, its in the box itself, new gearbox or gearbox rebuild needed and thats not cheap, I'm not sure if anyone actually rebuilds a dsg gearbox yet?
Click to expand...

The DSGDOKTER will refurbish and also sells rebuilt and new boxes.
They also remap.
 
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Thanks for the all the replys guys im viewing a 2011 170 s-tronic sportback black edition thats fully loaded and has only done 17k with audi history aswell so wouldnt think theres gunna be any issues but inwould have the box serviced anyway to be safe if i purchase it
 
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audismart said:
A mechatronics refurb wont sort the clunk, its in the box itself, new gearbox or gearbox rebuild needed and thats not cheap, I'm not sure if anyone actually rebuilds a dsg gearbox yet?
Click to expand...

Yeah bud lots of places refurb them now, and they're springing up all the time. Don't forget inside it's just a posh manual gearbox, nothing special lol :)
 
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razza1 said:
Make sure you get a warranty that covers the box, in the S4 it'll cost you over £10k to replace the box if it's not a mech unit (£4K) or clutches (£2.5k) issue
Click to expand...

I considered this but for the £1200 or so a decent warranty was costing me I can just bank the cash and replace mechatronics or clutch packs or have a full refurb. The S4 box is definitely more expensive to work on looking at the prices you're quoting.
 
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Love mine even though mech unit failed in Aug, got new one with 2yr guarantee but at cost of over 2k. Was fully serviced too so watch out on early ones mines 56. Also, mine has jerky neutral to 1st, learnt to live with it now as I haven't yet figured out what it it, was same before and after new mech... Still prefer it too a manual though.

Does anyone know what year they revised the box and made improvements? 2011?
 
Interesting, Is your car a an early 2006 or late model, I think the changeover was in between. Mine is a late 2006. I've not had any problems whatsoever.
 
Its 56, so late. Think the gear boxes are the same up to 2010/11
 
They have changed the type of oil filters from the first issue box too, maybe the older filters were letting in too much contaminants in the mech unit?
 
I've driven manuals in all my previous cars until I decided to bite the bullet and try the S-tronic in my Audi S3 and must say it is a big difference but a lovely difference. Some say it's a novelty but I love not having to sit clutching in and out in traffic and just being lazy to and from work and have the option to switch to manual mode if I do want to interact with the car so to speak.

I can honestly say I'd happily drive S-tronic in all my future Audi's over a manual but each to their own.
 
I think the mechatronics issues were only on the early ones, although I suppose any mechatronics unit could fail and any time...
 
Sayam said:
I think the mechatronics issues were only on the early ones, although I suppose any mechatronics unit could fail and any time...
Click to expand...
We can only pray to the Stronic God , we will be spared expensive repairs
 
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Soot1 said:
Which begs the question, are we using the new oil? Anyone know what the latest spec oil is?
Click to expand...
The mineral oil is more for hotter climates and on the 7 speed boxes.
There hasn't been as many problems on the 7 speed reported in Europe or the UK.
Would be interesting to find out if the oil for all the DSG boxes wet and dry are now running mineral oil though.
 
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