Tiptronic/Steptronic/Smart shift

[Manhattan]

A lot of cars have these options but does anyone actually need this? I usually try it out once or twice when I get bored driving but it seems unnecessary and doesn't add much if anything to the driving experience. Who actually uses these functions?

[J-hop]

I don't get them either, I used to try to use them when driving cars at the rental place I used to work at but having driven standard since I had my learners I can't stand the detached feeling these systems have.

I still hear people try to claim "it's just like driving a standard except you don't have to clutch".... RIIIIGHHHT, and riding a bike with training wheels is just like riding a regular bike except you don't have to balance

[Xtrema]

Really, this topic again?

[Troll-ol]

Solution - get a standard and call it a day

[Tik-Tok]

My audi has tip. I use it whenever I'm merging onto Deerfoot, to keep the RPMS above 3000k, so I don't have turbo lag when I finish the corner and want to pass the guy in front of me who thinks its fine to enter Deerfoot at 40km/h.

Other than that... pretty much forget about it.

[Maybelater]

I had it in my Volvo and I thought it was fun if you wanted to piss around, otherwise, it didn't serve much purpose.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

Just a neat selling feature.

I have piss loads of fun on the Nissan CVT's that have it.

It's self defeating on a CVT, but its a lot more fun, you just have to pretend its going faster and enjoy it for what it is.

Juke's are way more fun with CVT paddleshifting then the standard 6 speed. Even though its slower.

But in the end on any slush box, Drive "sport" is always faster. Especially on trannys like the NAG1 or the 7Gtronics etc.

[frizzlefry]

I have a 2009 A3 3.2 S-Line and it has the DSG paddles. I like it, but not all tip transmissions are equal. I had a tiptronic “manual mode” on my 2004 A6 and it was pretty much useless. But the DSG is awesome. Only complaint is that the pedals move with the wheel which hinders the ability to use them during turns. I use the pedals mostly to hold a lower gear in high traffic so I can quickly zip into an opening in the lane next to me, or if its winter and I want some engine braking going down a hill. Tap the left pedal, goes into manual mode, shifts down and holds the gear. Hold the right pedal in for 2 seconds and it goes back into drive mode so you don’t have to dick around with the shift stock. If I am driving aggressively I just use sport mode. It turns the car into an outright BEAST. I have never seen a sport mode so damn aggressive before. It’s awesome. Pretty much shifts down as soon as you tap the brake. Plus with the DSG on the 3.2 A3 you get launch control. Turn off traction control, stability control, put it in sport mode, hold the brake while you slam the gas…keeps it at 3100 RPM until you lift your foot of the brake. The DSG tip is worth it for that alone. It’s a riot.

[dirtsniffer]

dsg or dual clutch is diferent in my opinion from tiptronic.

torque converters are ghey

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by dirtsniffer
torque converters are ghey

Not that bad on a 8sp Audi I tried recently, the shift is only a tad slower than my DSG and much faster than the old tiptronic.

It's doesn't matter. Manual will eventually be only available on niche high margin products. EPA #s will spell the doom of the heel/toe.

[J-hop]

Originally posted by Xtrema


Not that bad on a 8sp Audi I tried recently, the shift is only a tad slower than my DSG and much faster than the old tiptronic.

It's doesn't matter. Manual will eventually be only available on niche high margin products. EPA #s will spell the doom of the heel/toe.

I pitty the next few generations of young tuners, unless you are a mechanic buy trade, good luck ever servicing these transmissions.

what was so wrong with the manual transmission? yea sure these paddle shifting dual clutch thing-a-ma-jigs are cool for "tuners" who have shops build them cars and who never have to deal with the headaches, but what about the backyard joe who wrenches everything himself?

100 years from now i bet U of C will be offering autotech degrees because vehicle systems are going to be so complex only someone with a 4 year degree and 5 years work experience will be able to even attempt working on these cars.

hyperbole aside I honestly think car manufactures are trying to make it so only their trained technicians can service vehicles.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

Factory techs like myself will never service anything internal on a transmission.

All manufacturers want cores and to rebuild them in separate specialised facilities. I believe only common truck transmissions like the 4l60 are still being rebuilt in house.


There's really not a lot to the DSG in comparison to the standard manual gear box. It's just a special input shaft and two actuated clutch mechanisms.

Compare that to what has happened to engine and valve management and you find that everything has been progressively getting more complicated, but not to the point of needing degrees.

[frizzlefry]

Originally posted by J-hop


I pitty the next few generations of young tuners, unless you are a mechanic buy trade, good luck ever servicing these transmissions.

These transmissions, at least the older gen Audi tiptronic, are designed to never be serviced. The DSG does have a service at 40,000 miles. A how-to can be found here: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=169356
But overall the VAG transmissions are basically designed to be replaced if required. Not repaired. I asked my Audi dealership about cracking open my 2004 A6's tiptronic transmission and flushing it and was told that Audi won't let them do it. So not even the tech in Calgary certified to service the V10 R8 is allowed to crack a tip transmission open. Its not that they are making it so you can't service it, no one can. Of course there are DIY articles for almost all VAG transmissions all over the internet if a warrenty is not an issue.

[J-hop]

imagine even 20 years from now some poor kid trying to source a new tiptronic transmission for there 2011 audi or something because they blew theirs.

Basically you can't keep one of these cars for your lifetime. My family has two vehicles with 300,000+ on them which were kept for the simple fact they are great vehicles and very reliable. One of them did require a transmission rebuild recently(not because it died but as preventative maintenance), imagine if that were a new tiptronic transmission, the car would have to be garbaged as it would cost several times the vehicles worth to source a new transmission.

[dirtsniffer]

Originally posted by AE92_TreunoSC
...
There's really not a lot to the DSG in comparison to the standard manual gear box. ...

i heard replacing the clutches for the dual clutch m3 is like 3500.

[G-ZUS]

Originally posted by J-hop
One of them did require a transmission rebuild recently(not because it died but as preventative maintenance)

First time I hear of anyone rebuilding a transmission as preventative maintenance

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Originally posted by G-ZUS



First time I hear of anyone rebuilding a transmission as preventative maintenance

Why would you rebuild a tranny if it was working fine?

[Mitsu3000gt]

IMO manually shifting an automatic for fun is useless unless you have:

1) Proper paddles (left - down, right - up. None of this crap where you push forward/backward so you can shift both ways with 1 hand)
2) Fast shifts (most have a lag of 1-2 sec or so which takes all the fun out of it)
3) Rev matching down shifts

Otherwise I would prefer to just leave it in auto. Some auto's have VERY good "sport" modes, such as BMW.

In any other case, manual or DSG would be my preferred way to go.

[frizzlefry]

Originally posted by J-hop
imagine even 20 years from now some poor kid trying to source a new tiptronic transmission for there 2011 audi or something because they blew theirs.

Basically you can't keep one of these cars for your lifetime. My family has two vehicles with 300,000+ on them which were kept for the simple fact they are great vehicles and very reliable. One of them did require a transmission rebuild recently(not because it died but as preventative maintenance), imagine if that were a new tiptronic transmission, the car would have to be garbaged as it would cost several times the vehicles worth to source a new transmission.

I love my Audi and will always buy Audi. But if you have a 20 year old Audi I think the transmission is likely the least of your worries

[bituerbo]

I have an '00 A6 w/tip, with a VAST tip-chip. Basically changes Drive to Sport (as my car didn't come with a sport mode) and reduces shift times to about 0.2 secs... I use it all the time.
With stock programming tip was too lethargic and I never used it.