Semi Auto with Paddle shift

[copperband]

Now that my car has gone over the 1000 mile mark i am driving it a little harder and was experimenting the other day driving in semi auto mode.

I was amazed at the difference, it's almost as though the car has an additional mode over the Sport mode.
The car seems to perform much more aggressively with full use of the rev range and really comes alive with all that Torque at the top of the rev range. I don't think you get to experience that in Auto and sport mode as the car still changes gear earlier than the red line.

My only complaint is that the paddles are too short, I drive with hands at 10 to 2 not quarter to 3 which is where the paddles appear to be situated?

[Outtlaw]

I love using the paddles to shift down, the blips are amazing and never got that sort of noise from the b7.

[Graeme4130]

I don't think I'll ever get bored of piling into a corner at 60 in third and banging it down to 2nd as the speed drops. Followed by a big pop us I go back into third on full throttle on the exit

[miatang]

Now that my car has gone over the 1000 mile mark i am driving it a little harder and was experimenting the other day driving in semi auto mode.

I was amazed at the difference, it's almost as though the car has an additional mode over the Sport mode.
The car seems to perform much more aggressively with full use of the rev range and really comes alive with all that Torque at the top of the rev range. I don't think you get to experience that in Auto and sport mode as the car still changes gear earlier than the red line.

My only complaint is that the paddles are too short, I drive with hands at 10 to 2 not quarter to 3 which is where the paddles appear to be situated?

Sorry to go off on a different note. Do these cars need to be run in? When I picked up my S4 I was told the nature of the beast is to drive them hard so no need to run them in? Be good to know peoples views on this.

[Outtlaw]

If I was you I'd drive it normally just to help loosen it up for the first mile, then drive it like you stole it

No real running in procedure, but i would just take it easy for the first 1k, not too hard and not too slow, moderate.

[SuprSi]

Like Outtlaw says 'not too hard, not too slow', most important thing is not to crawl around and baby it as the piston rings won't bed in well. The engines are so well built it'll work regardless but if the rings are seated well you'll loose less oil and potentially have a few more ponies if you're getting less blow-by.

Basically give it a decent amount of throttle and just short shift for a while. And make use of engine braking if you're using paddles as the negative pressure in the cylinders will work to pull fresh oil past the rings to cool the rings and clean the bores after accelerating. Avoid motorways, varied driving is key. This is only worth doing in the first 1000 miles really.

Glad you're enjoying the car copper, just drive it how you would normally now

[miatang]

Thanks for the info guys. Varied revs in varied gears sounds alot more fun than under 3000rpm for the first 1K