Anyone here owns the R8 R-tronic and a new A8 or A7 with the 8 speed?

[aquarianuw]

I know I am spoiled, but my A7's 8-speed transmission is smooth as butter and fast as lightening. I am in the market for a used R8 and was wondering if anyone with experience of both cars, could compare the feel of the 8 speed vs. the R-tronic 6 speed.

I know some of you would say to test drive one, but most dealers would not let people do that easily. Maybe I will sincerely ask my local Audi dealer .

[kullydeol]

I have driven a lot of cars over the years and the difference I noticed between a lot of them and the R8 is that the gearbox can be savage (aggressive gear changes) when you drive it hard, but I like that. Its a performance car end of the day! However, it is very smooth when you drive it at cruising speeds once you get used to driving it. But takes some getting used to as if not used to it can feel jerky if the gears changes aren't 'controlled' by the driver (with accelerator). In sport mode the gear changes are soooo fast that there is no way you match the speed manually.

[SebringSilver]

Driving it in Auto mode, an 8-speed Audi Tiptronic is going to be smoother than an R-tronic. Driving it in Manual mode, the R-tronic is much better than a Tiptronic. I don't think many people drive the R-tronic in Auto mode, and I don't think many people drive the Tiptronic in Manual mode.

Kind of hard to compare.

[aquarianuw]

Driving it in Auto mode, an 8-speed Audi Tiptronic is going to be smoother than an R-tronic. Driving it in Manual mode, the R-tronic is much better than a Tiptronic. I don't think many people drive the R-tronic in Auto mode, and I don't think many people drive the Tiptronic in Manual mode.

Kind of hard to compare.

What do you mean by "better"? Thanks.

If you ever come to Seattle, let me know!

[SebringSilver]

Try holding a gear on a spirited drive in your Tiptronic, even in Manual mode. LOL

[aquarianuw]

Are you saying the R-tronic won't up shift for you when you redline in manual mode?

[SebringSilver]

Correct. It's a manual gearbox with an automated clutch. Full throttle gear changes are fast, brutal even. They'll slam you back in your seat. I don't understand why people want cars that don't let you know you're shifting from one gear to the next. Okay, people who drive Lexuses want that, and Buicks. But we're talking about sports and supercars, right?

[aquarianuw]

Believe it or not, my old 2006 Acura RL could hold a gear in the manual mode. It even had paddle shifters!

[drifting]

Its sports car you want a manual 6 speed box not R tronic

[SebringSilver]

Believe it or not, my old 2006 Acura RL could hold a gear in the manual mode. It even had paddle shifters!

It also had a torque converter, unfortunately.