Does "manually" shifting a tiptronic actually make it any faster? (Audi S8)

Noriaki · Jul 6, 2001

Does "manually" shifting a tiptronic actually make it any faster?

The Audi S8 has an automatic transmission.
And besides drive you can slide to the right and have up and down shift control.

But I concluded in another thread that manually shifting the tiptronic is NOT like a manual gearbox.

My question is, is it actually faster than just leaving it in the regular drive position?

mrCide · Jul 6, 2001

Doesn't a tiptronic shift by itself anyway if you don't shift it in manual mode?

AmbitV · Jul 6, 2001

can't you work the engine harder by letting it go to higher revs before shifting gears? I think when it is on automatic transmission they make the shifts at lower revs for a smoother more luxurious ride

Amused · Jul 6, 2001

No, not in straight line drag races. BUT, it does make it so that during spirited (speed up, slow down rapidly, speed up again) driving YOU can be in control and choose the proper gear, instead of the auto always dumping you into high gear when you let off the gas and causing the downshift delay inherent to automatics when you get on the gas again.

Amused · Jul 6, 2001

<< can't you work the engine harder by letting it go to higher revs before shifting gears? I think when it is on automatic transmission they make the shifts at lower revs for a smoother more luxurious ride >>

The tiptronic tranny in auto mode will, if floored, not up shift until redline. If you're in tip mode, and you redline, it automatically upshifts so you wont blow the engine.

vi edit · Jul 6, 2001

The nice thing about triptronic is that you can allow the engine to rev up a little higher into the RPM's than what the normal computer controlled shifting would allow.

While this would be nice in a small four cylinder, or in a car like a honda where an engine hits it's peak RPM's at those higher RPM's, in a car such as the S8 with a monstrous V8, you really don't gain a huge increase in HP/Torque by ridding that much higher.

Just my $.02

I actually am not a big fan of the triptronic. I found them rather irritating. I would MUCH rather prefer a manual tranny. Maybe I just didn't have time to adjust to it

.

Noriaki · Jul 6, 2001

Heheheh
The V8 isn't monstrous, it's only a 4.2L

A Ford FE or Chrysler Hemi is monstrous

7 liter baby

Hehehe j/k I know what you meant though.

I'm just trying to figure out why they bother with tiptronic...
I mean an Auto is fine for certain things...but why tiptronic?
I can't see any benefit....

vi edit · Jul 6, 2001

While it's displacement isn't that incredible, it's horsepower is nothing to snicker at. That car is putting out just about as much HP as a 5.7L 'Vette.

As for why they include it - look at the market audience. It's a yuppie-mobile. They want all of the "feel" of going fast (IE shifting) without out the work or skill necessary (IE Clutching).

Pyxis · Jul 6, 2001

<<I'm just trying to figure out why they bother with tiptronic...>>

It's for wannabes that can't handle a manual trans

Noriaki · Jul 6, 2001

ROFL good point.

The S8's 4.2L V8 puts out 360HP, the 5.7L V8 is only 350 in the Vette

Edit: oops 'scuse me, that's the regular Vette, the Z06 is 385.

vi edit · Jul 6, 2001

Just looked up the specs on the S8. It has 360 ponies under the hood. That's only 25 less than the Corvette Z06.

bigshot · Jul 6, 2001

but the 2002 Z06 vette puts out 405HP/400 lb tourque all on 5.7 350 small block

Noriaki · Jul 6, 2001

True enough

And the Vette is alot lighter.

I would which handles better though...the S8 has that Quattro AWD....and it's not as heavy as it looks (it has a lot of aluminum)....

mrCide · Jul 6, 2001

<< <<I'm just trying to figure out why they bother with tiptronic...>>

It's for wannabes that can't handle a manual trans >>

or spoiled daughters girlfriends and wives

vi edit · Jul 6, 2001

The "normal" A8 decks in at 4,068 pounds. That's not exactly a featherweight.

As for what car handles better, I think that a "normal" C5 'Vette would hand an S8 it's ass on a track.

bigshot · Jul 6, 2001

the handling on a corvette is superb...can pull a 1g on the skidpad from what ive seen in magazines and shows. i know first hand that taking a 90 degree turn at high speeds is feesible.

i havent had the chance to drive an audi with AWD quattro but i would believe it would handle very well as well but not as good as the vette especially at high speeds

Mule · Jul 6, 2001

<< It's for wannabes that can't handle a manual trans >>

Porsche's have a clutchless manual transmission. It's not the "tiptronic" crap, but a true manual gear box without a clutch. I would prefer that over any other transmission.

Noriaki · Jul 7, 2001

I"m pretty sure Porche is also Tiptronic.

Ferrari has a Semi-Auto (which is what you described). I believe the BMW M3 is getting one next year.

The A8 is 4000! Holy crap. I thought it was like 3600 or 3700 (not that that's light, but if you factor in the AWD adds a couple hundred).

The Vette can pull 1G on the skidpad eh?
that's pretty impressive.

I didn't realize that.

Just for curiosity anyone know what the Viper pulls on teh skipad?

Freejack2 · Jul 7, 2001

There is a very very good reason why a person might want tiptronic. If you don't really want to give up a manual transmission, but you realize it's going to be hell driving in stop and go traffic with one, tiptronic allows you to sit in stop and go traffic and not have to shift your car a zillion times wearing down your clutch. On the occasion your not in traffic heavy enough to prevent acceleration you can do that with a tiptronic. Also if you want someone else to do part of the driving and they don't know how to drive standard they drive a tiptronic. If Saturn made a tiptronic model I would have gotten one. Far as I know only even remotely affordable tiptronic right now is the new Acura RSX's.

Don Vito Corleone · Jul 7, 2001

<< There is a very very good reason why a person might want tiptronic. If you don't really want to give up a manual transmission, but you realize it's going to be hell driving in stop and go traffic with one, tiptronic allows you to sit in stop and go traffic and not have to shift your car a zillion times wearing down your clutch. On the occasion your not in traffic heavy enough to prevent acceleration you can do that with a tiptronic. Also if you want someone else to do part of the driving and they don't know how to drive standard they drive a tiptronic. If Saturn made a tiptronic model I would have gotten one. Far as I know only even remotely affordable tiptronic right now is the new Acura RSX's. >>

Actually there are a number of affordable manumatic transmissions available from Chrysler and others. For my money I still prefer a true manual.

vi edit · Jul 7, 2001

You can get a triptronic in a $22,000 VW Passat. Not bargain bin, but by no means outrageously expensive.

Noriaki · Jul 7, 2001

Tiptronics don't seem very useful....

I want a Semi-Auto

Oh wait...those cost as much as some cars

Does anyone know what the Viper pulls on the skidpad?
1G? More? Less?

vi edit · Jul 7, 2001

Shootout between Vette Z06, Viper ACR, and Cobra R

NFS4 · Jul 7, 2001

<<

<< It's for wannabes that can't handle a manual trans >>

Porsche's have a clutchless manual transmission. It's not the "tiptronic" crap, but a true manual gear box without a clutch. I would prefer that over any other transmission. >>

Porsches DO NOT have clutchless manuals. They are ALL Tiptronic.

Does "manually" shifting a tiptronic actually make it any faster? (Audi S8)

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