Comments on: Audi releases details of new 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox

By: bigp

bigp — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:45:09 +0000

nice vovlo is coming out with one

By: C6Racer

C6Racer — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:53:17 +0000

SwerveEarly, I realize Audi has had this technology since the mid-’80s. They won the rally racing championship or something in like ‘87 then Le Mans the next year. I still think it’s a freakin crazy cool design. There’s really no real counter-shaft nor does it use just a single input shaft which I’m used to seeing in manual transmissions. It’s a trans-axle and transfer case all in one.

By: Need more oil for GM

Need more oil for GM — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:50:26 +0000

Across the world, tow truck companies are jumping for joy and ordering new pools and Audi service depts. are quaking in their knees. Audi couldn’t build a reliable unit to save their sorry ass. Hey Audi, why not round up a few of them reliable GM automatics that are known to be the best in the fricken world? Nobody in their right mind could trust anything else to last as long as a good ol GM Automatic. Especially not something from a bunch of slimeballs from Germany.

By: gilby7

gilby7 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:24:36 +0000

Automatics & DSG’s = soccer mom transmissions. Just kidding of course… I’m an “old fart” in his mid-40’s that still likes an actual “manual” transmission in my vehicles; a 4-speed, 5-speed, 6-speed. Any vehicle where I have to press in a clutch pedal and move a floor-mounted shift lever to shift with is ok by me, even a 60 hp 60’s Fiat or a 500 hp R8. The fact that anyone from a 10-year old boy to an 89-year old woman can put an automatic in “D” and go, I guess, is appealing and I can see why manufacturers are going this route. People, in general, don’t even want to take out the garbage anymore let alone move a shift lever to make a vehicle move down the road. Plus, how can a person drink coffee, text message someone, put on makeup, and eat while operating a manual shift vehicle? I do NOT want to hack on anyone that likes an automatic or a DSG transmission, I may need one some day. But until I can’t press on a clutch pedal anymore, I’d prefer a manual transmission. But, F1 drivers aren’t exactly bad drivers for having “automatics” either, come to think of it…

By: autonut

autonut — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:07:50 +0000

There is no doubt in my mind that DSG will shift faster then I can. There is no doubt, that it is extremely complex and now consumer must visit dealer vs. local tranny shop or guy to fix it. Hence a dramatic increase in cost of ownership. For luxury cars and their owners it is not an issue, since majority of Lexuses, Audi, Benzes and Bimmers are leased on corporate lease for 3-4 years (life of a bumper to bumper guarantee).
I don’t know if DSG is equal to fun factor, I shift from 5th or 6th into 3rd or 2nd, when I need it, and that’s a lot of clicks on DSG.

By: magneticred

magneticred — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:06:22 +0000

DSG’s are faster and, yes, better; but manuals are a whole lot more fun.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:30:57 +0000

A4 the big problem with the R32 is the ginormous weight of the cast iron VR6 block, and the fugly hatchback looks, not the DSG gearbox. Plus everyone is looking for a turbocharged car so they can get another 50 horsepower with an ECU flash.

By: The Stig

The Stig — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:24:41 +0000

Can we all agree that a dual-clutch manumatic is more interesting than a torque-converter type automatic?

By: mars_Smiley

mars_Smiley — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:53:46 +0000

when i stated that people “will always argue that manuals will do the best”, i meant that in a sense where the driver is as involved as he can possibly be, and if you are, for example, driving a hardcore sports car, wouldn’t you want to feel that you have done everything yourself and feel that sense of accomplishment. Would you really pay all that much money and have the car do everything for you? What kind of pleasure would you get out of that? If you are a person with more money that sense, which is a case with alot of these exotic car purchases, i can understand why people would by this. But for those that want to feel and control everything.. manuals will always prevail.

By: SwerveEarly

SwerveEarly — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:54:24 +0000

C6: Audi has used this setup since the intro of Quattro. Subaru uses similar set up. Audis are one of the few cars that you have pull entire engine & tranny to service tranny. A nightmare to service which caused many an Audi to be junked at relatively young age because the cost of fixing tranny is more then value of car . Also it forces the entire engine ahead of the frnt axle center line. Which is why Audis are frnt heavy plowing POS.

By: C6Racer

C6Racer — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:24:00 +0000

This transmission is crazy. It is essentially a longitudinally mounted trans-axle.

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:00:21 +0000

This R&D money would have been better spent developing a RWD platform. But as a long as there continues to be a legion of faux-enthusiasts stumbling over themselves to buy Audi’s, it’s not going to happen.

By: davebo

davebo — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:39:43 +0000

The problem with people who “will always argue that manuals will do the best” is that they’re mistaken. DSG’s will only get faster and better engineered, while human drivers aren’t undergoing any rapid evolution that allows us to shift in a couple hundredths of a second.
However the “old farts” that still want to listen to records over cd’s, well you could also call them music enthusiasts, and it’s not always a bad thing. The consumers have the money and the car manufacturers want it, so if enough people demand manuals then we’ll keep seeing them. Frankly I’ll take the speed over the quaint third pedal, but then again I buy cd’s too.

By: Pro_Lapse

Pro_Lapse — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:41:16 +0000

Ah sweet Audi

By: audi-lover

audi-lover — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:58:46 +0000

awsome

By: A4

A4 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:22:25 +0000

thanks mom

By: mars_Smiley

mars_Smiley — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:09:37 +0000

manual and dual-clutch gearboxes both have their advantages. Its all about what the consumer wants which is why they should just have the option of both.
Some people feel that these dual-clutch gear boxes lack the feel of involvement between the driver and the car, and if ur buying a sports car and going around a hairpin and silverstone, your going to want all the control and feel that you could possibly want, and people will always argue that manuals will do the best.
This topic is completely controversial and could be debated for the rest of time, so there is no purpose in arguing about it, just buy what you think will be better for ur purpose and call it a day.

By: A4

A4 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:59:03 +0000

kiss my ass madcapp, theres obviously alot of “old farts” out there since the R32 aint selling because everyone that is in the market for one wants a third pedal.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:52:52 +0000

That is the best transmission on the planet by a long shot, and whining for a manual is the equivalent of some old fart whining that vinyl records sound better than CDs.

By: A4

A4 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:47:26 +0000

as much as i think this is the best automatic out there they are relying too heavily on it and need to remember that enthusiasts often want traditional manuals.