A Review of a Flappy Paddle Car By a Guy Who Once Wrote an Article About Flappy Paddles

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
09/05/2013 at 15:04 • Filed to: None

Many of you may recall the article I wrote a few months back about !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I wrote such a compelling argument for DCTs that I actually went out and bought one. Here is my review...

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Lets start with the car: A 2011 Audi S4. Pretty much fully loaded with all the options, including Audi's "Stronic" Dual Clutch Transmission. The car itself is an amazing feat of modern engineering. Coming from the world of big, naturally aspirated V8s, the smaller displacement, higher revving V6 topped off by a positive displacement supercharger was a good bit of a change up for me. At 330 HP, I expected the Audi to be quick, but my god this thing is surprising (in a good way).

Inside the cabin, the wheel fits comfortably to your hands, and the paddles are comfortably within reach, but not in the way. Audi's central controls take some getting used to, but once you get the hang of how to operate the radio, its actually quite convenient. Upholstered in alcantara and leather, the bolstered seats hold you in place, while offering all the creature comforts you would expect, from power adjustments to seat heating.

And while all that is fine and dandy, this article is not meant to be a review of the S4, but more so, the review of a modern DCT in a performance car, from the viewpoint of a guy who has never before owned an automatic transmission.

Now don't mistake this article, I still believe that DCTs are a good option and can become a desirable transmission option. Just not yet.

I had wanted to write this article shortly after obtaining this car, but I decided to wait it out a bit and let the "new car excitement" out. As of this Sunday, the 8th, I will have owned this car for exactly three months, and let me say, that's about two months too long.

This car has been a love hate relationship for me since I have gotten to know it. It's not an exuberantly fast car from a dead stop, but it would still take the majority of sports cars in the sub $60k price range. Where it is really impressive is in the 60+ mph acceleration; it goes just the same as it would from a dead stop. But I hate some of the electronic quirks, like how I cant play Pandora through my connected device (I know, 1st world problems).

But what I really, truly despise, is this damned transmission. Lightning fast shifts, right? Yes, much faster than I ever could. Seven gears right? Yes, but when driving like a sane human, its in seventh by 45mph... Multiple driving modes? Sure, but basically useless. The "Dynamic" mode, or sport mode as would be, other than locking the diff, is pointless. It over stiffens the suspension causing the terrible Pirelli tires to loose traction, and when the transmission is in automatic, this mode is designed to extend the auto shift points (instead of shifting at 1750 RPM, it will shift at 4000 RPM or higher). The problem is, it hangs in the gears, under steady throttle (not WOT), it will hang up around 4000 RPM for about 5 seconds before shifting the the next gear. This would be great on the track but makes "Dynamic" mode othewise useless.

But I could probably look past ALL of that, if not for one thing. Manual mode. As one would expect, the term "manual" would assume manual control of the transmission. You would be mistaken.

Now I understand the point of safety controls that auto downshift for you when your RPMs are so low you are at idle speeds, and I also understand the desire to not allow people to bounce off the rev limiter, but everything in between should be in my control during "manual" mode. It's not.

At first I thought I had a malfunction with my transmission software. As I approached 6,500 RPM in 1st gear, I pulled the up paddle and the car shifted to second. Not even a second later, I felt the car bog down, and looked to see that I was now in third. Maybe I pulled twice on the paddle and didn't realize it? Maybe I held it down to long and it double shifted? So I tried again. First gear, pull, shift-shift 3rd. According to my owners manual, I am currently set up in the maxim amount of manual control; dynamic and manual modes.

Maybe I should try a rolling pull from second to third. Revs up to 6,500 in second, pull, shifts into third, not a second later, shifts into fourth on its own. So what good is this? If I were at a track day and had to play guess what gear the car will go to, I would end up off the track, more than likely, shiny side down.

After spending countless hours searching the internet and talking with an Audi tech, it turns out there is a small switch in the pedal box which is activated when your foot is depressed to the maximum. When this switch is active, you have nearly full control over the transmission (assuming you are in manual mode), otherwise, the transmission may choose to up-shift for you. This switch is inherently sensitive, and if your foot is not 100% in the throttle, the transmission will do as it pleases, and that does not please me.

There is a cure for what ails me. It comes in the form of a reflash to the transmission software, but it is not cheap, and it would void the warranty should anything happen to the transmission. As this is not a car I plan on keeping (I am actively searching for something I can enjoy; read manual transmission), I am not willing to shell out the $$$$ for a software upgrade.

So in my professional opinion, fight for the manual. Save yourself the aggravation and waste of money on DCTs. Unless you are buying a car that is built for the track, the software will drive you crazy and make you wish you had a bridge to drive off of.

DISCUSSION (13)

deekster_caddy > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 15:09

So if you are in Manual mode and don't touch the paddle shifters will it auto shift all over the place?

CAR_IS_MI > deekster_caddy
09/05/2013 at 15:12

Yes. If you are in manual mode and floor it 100% it will shift at the rev limit (understandably to not destroy the engine). If you are not at 100% throttle it will do as it pleases. It may shift at 4k, maybe 5k, it's anyone's guess.

Z_Stig > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 15:16

Well there are good DCTs and bad DCTs. BMWs ///M DCT is a good one. This Audi box doesn't sound too hot.

That being said, good ole-fashioned manuals all the way!

ddavidn > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 15:18

Wow. I'm still a die-hard manual fan for my own vehicles, and tolerant of whatever folks want to choose for their own vehicles, but yikes. I didn't think it would be that bad. I want to like these things, and really did enjoy your earlier article.

kouryuuk > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 15:19

I have a GTI with a DSG, I have never had any of these problems, I have full control in manual mode from 1750rpm to 6800rpm redline. In sport mode it will auto downshift to keep the engine above 3500rpm. I think DSG's/DCT's are getting better and better, you just have to find a good one that you can live with, It sounds like you got one that isn't quite there yet. Good luck with that transmission tune, I know most APR tunes for GTI also tune the transmission so look into a 2 in 1 deal where you can tune the engine(MOAR PAOOOOWWER) and also take care of the transmission programing.

deekster_caddy > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 15:30

interesting. Most of the recent autos I've driven have 'safety' where if you leave it in 1 and get to redline, it will shift anyway, but only at redline. So that part makes a little sense, but the part-throttle shifting seems unusual.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 16:09

Technology is great. I love it.

But every new technology that comes between the driver and the actual, physical operation of an automobile means a loss in feel and connection with the machine.

For the average driver, it's of no consequence, and it's preferred. For the enthusiast, the experience is what it's all about. They want isolation; I want to feel and hear (and be in control of) everything the car is doing.

CAR_IS_MI > kouryuuk
09/05/2013 at 16:17

Whats sad is that for the money this car costs, you would expect the better DCT. Iv'e driven the R8, as well as Porsches and Ferraris with DCTs, and none of those were like this. It is rather upsetting. I looked into the APR, and if I wanted to keep the car, thats where I would go, but at $2,xxx on a car I am not keeping, I'll pass.

Victorious Secret > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 18:23

Welcome to the world that is the shittiest DCT the VAG group has ever made.

More importantly, the single shittiest programming map VAG has ever created.

Go drive a 2013 S4 and you'll realize that every single problem you have no longer exists. But Audi are cocks and won't give old users the upgrade, voiding the warranty is a no-no although that GIAC flash is all kinds of HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT WHY DIDNT THEY DO THIS AT THE FACTORY

In essence, if you look at a pre B8.5 S4, get the damned manual. The DCT is a shameful attempt when the GTI has one that works better. FFS, THE ONE IN MY HYUNDAI WORKS BETTER.

Goofnik > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 20:58

Guy at a client of mine has much of the same complaints with his B8 S4. Honestly, it's really an Audi thing.

I remember about a decade ago that if you got an A6 2.7T with a Tiptronic, it would shift out of first into second, automatically, at 3000rpm. I kid you not. Why pull for thousands of rpm more when you can just do the most ridiculous and worthless short-shift ever.

Not all DCTs are awful. Porsche's current generation of PDK is good enough to where it's almost unnerving — good enough that I'm getting my Cayman S with PDK (and Sport Chrono, Sport Suspension, PTV, Sport Exhaust) instead of the 6-speed. After having driven both (twice), I have no reservations with PDK.

Thunder > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 21:37

Um..... jumper the little 100% switch on the throttle so it thinks it's always at WOT? Or is that not a physical switch, but rather a software recognition of the drive by wire throttle?

kouryuuk > CAR_IS_MI
09/05/2013 at 23:55

Yea, It's quite a shame as it would be a good car if the programing were different.

magman007 > CAR_IS_MI
09/06/2013 at 13:46

Wow, thats some absolute horse shit, and a foul play by audi. My e46 m3, probably the first car to make everyone hate paddle shifters because it was a single clutch and a head of its time a bit. Would stay in gear, no matter what. Bouncing off the limiter? No care. It would down shift when pulling up to a stop, and that was it.

I also had a foot mounted switch under the pedal, however its sole purpose was to activate burn out mode. I have not heard of any other dual clutch transmissions that play so foully.