We still have an A3 8P with a manual box and I have to say its much sweeter than the 8v which feels very 'notchy' in comparison, just wondered if anyone had any thought along the same line?
8v Manual gearbox
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I think if you didn't have the 8P you'd soon get used to the feel of the 8V and it would probably feel normal and not notchy. I graduated from an 8P to an 8V and the 8V did feel a bit notchy. However, I put it down to the fact that it was a brand new car and needed bedding-in. 18 months and 14, 000 miles later, the 8V box feels silky smooth.
My old 8v 1.4 the clutch got changed twice due to slippage. When i sold it at 14k miles it had been through two clutches. Audi did honour the claims both times saying its their fault and not driver abuse. Seems like the 8v clutch is made of chocolate!
Mines coming up to 30k hence the question, think I may have issues or as Audi will no doubt call it a 'characteristic' !
Dunno about the 8p but the gearchange on my focus was better, but then the 8v isn't bad at all just that all of the controls on a focus are very good..
I find the Gearbox extremely "notchy" - particularly 2nd Gear.
However, just did a round trip from Swansea to Newcastle (upon Tyne) and the gearbox has really "loosened" up.
Car is on 14k and 18 months old.
Feels much better now - more like a Mainstream Brand, which is much, much better.
However, just did a round trip from Swansea to Newcastle (upon Tyne) and the gearbox has really "loosened" up.
Car is on 14k and 18 months old.
Feels much better now - more like a Mainstream Brand, which is much, much better.
Demari46
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Gearbox is shocking for a 30k premium car!!
Second gear is extremely notchy, almost feels like the clutch is still engaged it's that bad.
I've had my manual since late November and I traded it in by mid Feb, I'm currently waiting for my s tronic, this box is amazing in my eyes.
Also found the mag ride is 100% worth the £1000 it's a whole lot better than the super hard s3 suspension
Second gear is extremely notchy, almost feels like the clutch is still engaged it's that bad.
I've had my manual since late November and I traded it in by mid Feb, I'm currently waiting for my s tronic, this box is amazing in my eyes.
Also found the mag ride is 100% worth the £1000 it's a whole lot better than the super hard s3 suspension
i had a a3 8v with a manual gearbox i found it notchy more so in second gear . bought the car brand new and was notchy from day one . on a cold morning it was even worst . that one got stolen so i bought one with a s tronic box and it is the best thing i've done i'am never going back to manual .
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Mag ride on the S3 saloon is fitted as standard..I agree with you on the S Tronic This is the second one I have had now .It will have to be a really special car for me to go back to 'manual'...
This is a thread about a symptom of the manual gearbox, not a manual versus stronic, there's been more than enough of those so can we keep on topic for once...
May be, but one of the main reasons I first changed from a manual to an s-tronic back in 2004 when I purchased my first 8P was the poor quality of the manual change. It used to be very notchy changing in to second gear and always graunched when engaging reverse. I tried an s-tronic and have never looked back.
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The only time I thought this thread was about manual vs stronic is when I read your post....
But notchy it really isn't and I don't get any graunching when going into reverse, I guess all those years of not using a left leg must pay a price..;-)
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No problems with notchiness or graunching, etc. its a perfectly serviceable box IMHO.
This seems to be another one of those areas (like steering) where people, seemingly, are such sensitive flowers they cannot accommodate variations between makes/models
Again its only my opinion but a good, experienced driver will very soon, automatically, adapt fairly quickly to whatever the characteristics are of the vehicle he/she is driving. Obviously the laws of physics and individual vehicle faults will have to be taken into account.
This seems to be another one of those areas (like steering) where people, seemingly, are such sensitive flowers they cannot accommodate variations between makes/models
Again its only my opinion but a good, experienced driver will very soon, automatically, adapt fairly quickly to whatever the characteristics are of the vehicle he/she is driving. Obviously the laws of physics and individual vehicle faults will have to be taken into account.
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Geez mate, are you trying to break the ASN world record for simultaneous thread participation??!! (trying saying that after a skin full !! lol)
.......err, manual gearbox..........sorry haven't got one................
Mine was very notchy when new but is fine now (25k miles). It took at least 10k miles to bed in. I really like it now, very slick box in my opinion. On the bogging down thing, another thread on this useful forum explained that you need to turn the traction control off. Hey presto, all the revs available to set off in a hurry. Now the lazy auto has zero advantages 
(just kidding stronic boys, I know you love your gearbox)
(just kidding stronic boys, I know you love your gearbox)
Mine was very notchy when new but is fine now (25k miles). It took at least 10k miles to bed in. I really like it now, very slick box in my opinion. On the bogging down thing, another thread on this useful forum explained that you need to turn the traction control off. Hey presto, all the revs available to set off in a hurry. Now the lazy auto has zero advantages
even with my ESP fully off, it still bogs down drastically...
Audi have no doubt improved them since I last had one, after all it was 12 years ago. Since I first tested an A3 with an s-tronic I've not driven one with a manual box.
Had a long debate with a few mates about this the other day.....
Driving a number of manual cars for over 7 months last year from a range of manufacturers while waiting for a new company car, I came to the conclusion most manuals are now notchy and vague. The exception being my dad's A3 TDI 6 speed and new MINI. Both I thought had really nice actions and smooth to shift.
My mate reckons it's down to many manufacturers neglecting manuals and investing instead in auto's etc.
Think there might be some truth to that but (currently) I think the VAG boxes drive very nice.
Driving a number of manual cars for over 7 months last year from a range of manufacturers while waiting for a new company car, I came to the conclusion most manuals are now notchy and vague. The exception being my dad's A3 TDI 6 speed and new MINI. Both I thought had really nice actions and smooth to shift.
My mate reckons it's down to many manufacturers neglecting manuals and investing instead in auto's etc.
Think there might be some truth to that but (currently) I think the VAG boxes drive very nice.
I had a new clutch replaced under warranty at 19k miles. Was an intermittent problem that took the garage forever to sort. But apart from that it's still a hoot to drive when giving it some..i think I would have preferred S-tronic for my daily 3.8mile town commute now tho but maybe have that next..
I am not saying I don't like the manual box on my S3 or the 2.0TDI I had before it but I do prefer the manual change on my wife's new Mini very smooth with very good positive engagement
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But I've been reliably informed the manual doesn't bog down, and how much better it is than the s-tronic on launching or pulling away from a junction... #v8
I've had s-tronic in the past on 2 cars.
i should have had it on this one too!
id happily say, that i can not in anyway, keep up with an S-tronic from launch. its just easier and faster.
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Blimey... that does go against what I have previously been informed...
Blimey... that does go against what I have previously been informed...
I dont think you're informer is very useful. Or at least honest.
Kugaman1
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Mines manual.
Its very smooth and an easy to use box.
My knees are just about done, so my next car will be an auto. However, the current S3 has a light clutch and easy gear change...Im perfectly happy with mine.
Its very smooth and an easy to use box.
My knees are just about done, so my next car will be an auto. However, the current S3 has a light clutch and easy gear change...Im perfectly happy with mine.
Mine is manual, done 14k miles.
I really like the gearbox, very smooth and easy to use. Definitely got better with use and as Kugaman1 above perfectly happy with mine and wouldn't change it.
As for fast launches just practice it, I get mine off the line with no bogging down. S3 seems to prefer a slight slip but drive away from the line rather than the good ol' Impreza jump of the clutch at 4k revs approach!
I really like the gearbox, very smooth and easy to use. Definitely got better with use and as Kugaman1 above perfectly happy with mine and wouldn't change it.
As for fast launches just practice it, I get mine off the line with no bogging down. S3 seems to prefer a slight slip but drive away from the line rather than the good ol' Impreza jump of the clutch at 4k revs approach!
And it seems to me that those who have s-tronic feel the need to defend their purchase, I wonder why that's so?
Have to be honest and say I don't understand the arguments on the forum............buy what you want/prefer.
I prefer a good manual and have not bought RS/AMG because of it, whenever I drive a DSG/auto there is always a time it doesn't do exactly what I want when I want so for me wouldn't buy one.............simples.
I prefer a good manual and have not bought RS/AMG because of it, whenever I drive a DSG/auto there is always a time it doesn't do exactly what I want when I want so for me wouldn't buy one.............simples.
First the on topic bit;
Ive not driven an S3 with a manual, although I've driven plenty of other VAG cars with them, and I've found them to be... unremarkable.
Like much in the world of VAG, it works with a competence that means it becomes almost un-noticed. This is a good thing as it means they've paid it a bit of attention.
Like all cable and/or rod operated transverse gearboxes there can be a bit of notchiness as the linkages loosen and the Bowden cables settle in, but the days of really catastrophically bad manual changes are long gone. That said, decades of using poor front drive gearchanges mean that public expectations are actually rather low. Compare a typical front driver to something like an Honda S2000 or a Mazda MX5 you'll find there's a there's a huge gulf in feel and operation. Those gearboxes are a joy to use, and show just what a good manual change can be like.
Now the slightly off topic bit;
Edit: redacted off topic bit in light of on-topic preferences shown by previous posters.
(Still think an S-Tronic is engineering porn that makes farting heffalump noises though.)
Ive not driven an S3 with a manual, although I've driven plenty of other VAG cars with them, and I've found them to be... unremarkable.
Like much in the world of VAG, it works with a competence that means it becomes almost un-noticed. This is a good thing as it means they've paid it a bit of attention.
Like all cable and/or rod operated transverse gearboxes there can be a bit of notchiness as the linkages loosen and the Bowden cables settle in, but the days of really catastrophically bad manual changes are long gone. That said, decades of using poor front drive gearchanges mean that public expectations are actually rather low. Compare a typical front driver to something like an Honda S2000 or a Mazda MX5 you'll find there's a there's a huge gulf in feel and operation. Those gearboxes are a joy to use, and show just what a good manual change can be like.
Now the slightly off topic bit;
Edit: redacted off topic bit in light of on-topic preferences shown by previous posters.
(Still think an S-Tronic is engineering porn that makes farting heffalump noises though.)
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To be fair my post wasn't in defense of purchasing s tronic it was purely stating that You were trying to keep the post on topic... At that time there was no hint of it being a Manual vs S tronic debate...The only first mention of it was your post... As for purchasing a car which has S tronic I see no reason at all in defending my purchase.It is a choice I made and I am more than happy with making that choice....Now thanks to You it has turned into an S tronic vs Manual thread...
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No need to justify it at all. You've been on this forum long enough to know there are way more members who specced manual and wish they'd specced S-tronic than the other way around...........................it's faster and way more versatile...................now get back on topic and stop trolling...................
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Can vouch for that, 3 weeks and 3 days after a full knee replacement I drove my manual S3 without any problems
It "bogs down" if you have too low revs, or have ESP switched on, or don't know how to let a clutch out without keeping the revs up.
The manual, will, unequivocally, be faster from 0-30, from standstill, compared with DSG without launch control.
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