Are the Tiptronics anygood?

[matt8442]

Hi all am about to take the plunge andnow buy an Audi S5, have always liked the look of them and now finally can afford one. Just one thing is bothering me though. Am seeing a lot of 2009 models in my price range of 35000 pounds, with tiptronic boxes. But have read an article from EVO mag statting the tiptronic boxes are sluggish and slow down the cars acceleration. So do I discount them completely? Has anyone here got an Audi S5 with the tiptronic box, and if so how do you find it? Is it really that bad? Before anyone asks me if I just test drive the car, I cannot yet as I am in Afghanistan for another month, and want to narrow my search further before I get back. Thanks for your time ladies and gents........................
Matt

[Ian_C]

It's probably worth noting the final drive is significantly taller in the tiptronic S4 and S5 V8s. On a motorway cruise, the manuals don't give the greatest economy due to the relatively short sixth, whereas the autos are doing fewer rpm hence give a handy mpg gain. The downside is that the performance is blunted by the longer gearing - as well as the torque converter slip.

If it helps, the S5 V8 manual I had for two days a while back seemed to have the same gear ratios as mine (S4 V8). They both happily maintain 30 mph doing 1,100 rpm in sixth - no way the auto box would allow this! Mates A8 4.2 wouldn't even hold top on cruise control at 70-80 mph up motorway inclines - you had to slip into tip mode to lock it in top.

[HYFR]

get a manual

[Phil3103]

Matt, I've got an auto S5 and drive it everyday. I also test drove a few manual S5s before I got mine.

The Tip box in the S5 is excellent. In D it's lovely to drive without the car always wanting to rev it's nuts off - something I always found the RS4 did and it made it a pig to drive in traffic. If you really want the car to do that, then just drive it around in S mode. Off the mark in S mode the car is as quick as anything else I've driven - including the RS4.

The other thing to keep in mind with the manual is that unless you've got the feet of a ballet dancer, you've continuously be catching your left foot on the chasis. The pedals are in a really weird place. I'm sure if you do a search you'll read lots about it. I'm sure this is the reason why the manuals seem to retail much lower than the Tips.

And of course you can always use M and the paddle shifters anyway if you don't like when the box changes gear itself.

As with anything, each to their own. Definitely go a test drive a few before you buy. I hope this has been useful. Anything else you want to know just drop a line on here and we'll do our best to help.

[Ian_C]

The other thing to keep in mind with the manual is that unless you've got the feet of a ballet dancer, you've continuously be catching your left foot on the chasis. The pedals are in a really weird place. I'm sure if you do a search you'll read lots about it. I'm sure this is the reason why the manuals seem to retail much lower than the Tips.

The gearbox tunnel is asymmetric on the B8 apparently - both manual and auto. The Germans understandably took preference and made the LHS have the larger footwell. Unfortunately this was not reversed for the RHD market. I only read about this several months after I drove one, didn't find the clutch pedal a problem at the time even with my size 10 /11 feet, although I did notice the footwell and whole driving position was quite cosy. You sit low with the transmission tunnel between you and the passenger quite high. As one of my friends pointed out your left knee is up against the side of the dash in a B6 B7, and this is even more noticeable in the B8 coupe.

[matt8442]

Thanks for the advice Phil, have finally made my mind up and brought the following car. www.pistonheads.com/sales/2448154.htm
Will be picking it up from the Dealer in 2 weeks time, and am really happy. Love the colour and the list of toys it comes with so all in all should be a great summer. Already looking to go to Europe in a few weeks in it and have a blast round there. Thanks again for taking the time to reply everyone.

[Phil3103]

Matt, good choice. That's a wicked spec. You'll have a blast in Europe in that. I've dealt with Stoke/Stafford Audi before and they are good blokes.

They've had that car for a good few months, so I hope you're getting a good deal on it!

If it falls through, give me a shout as mine's up for sale as I'm changing job and don't need a car anymore. Could save yourself a few grand!

Enjoy the car. If you're anything like me you'll be looking up all sorts on the car between now and when you pick it up. Any questions just ask.

[Cjamesenorf]

Good choice in car, shame its not a manual tho... lol
sorry no, i appreciate that some ppl like autos, but not for me.