Why don't people realise the R-tronic is simply a manual?

[Simpleman]

I mean I loved the clicks of the traditional manual as well, but with the R-tronic I can also use the gear stick for changes. All the feel is there sans the wrestling with the clutch, and the sound of the clicks. Plus the paddles let you shift down two gears so much quicker.

I overtook a few cars uphill and the downshifts from 5th to 3rd were awesome.

Gentlemen, it is not an automatic so no point comparing with the new S-tronic. I really love the gated manual, but I do think the R-tronic makes it so much easier to use.

[omeletpants]

The manual transmission is a dying breed and one of the niceties of driving a car. My first one was a 1977 TR7 which was a horrible car and have owned 9 since. I want the interaction with the road. IMO no automatic can replace that. Get them while they are still available. JMHO

[SebringSilver]

Holy hubcaps, Batman. You've owned 9 Triumph TR7s???

[SebringSilver]

The manual transmission is a dying breed and one of the niceties of driving a car. My first one was a 1977 TR7 which was a horrible car and have owned 9 since. I want the interaction with the road. IMO no automatic can replace that. Get them while they are still available. JMHO

Funnily enough though, the single-clutch automated manual gearbox also appears to be a dying breed.

Maybe Audi should just be really original and offer all three: traditional gated manual, R-tronic, and S-tronic! Everyone's happy!

[randombloke]

Gentlemen, it is not an automatic so no point comparing with the new S-tronic. I really love the gated manual, but I do think the R-tronic makes it so much easier to use.

you need to own the car for some length of time before the penny drops - car journalists don't, most people who have spent a few hours behind the wheel on a test drive don't.

the received wisdom is that it's a poor automatic - which is like saying the r8 is a poor car to carry a dog in. You can do it, but it's not the point of the thing.

[andyhofer]

Manual all the way, the automatic is well, too automated.

[omeletpants]

Holy hubcaps, Batman. You've owned 9 Triumph TR7s???

LOL. Yeah, that would have been hell on earth. Just one fortunately.

Worst car ever. Alternator goes out day 1. Dealers employees steal my custom stereo. Head light wont open in winter. Engine catches on fire on the highway. And I'm not even mentioning the bad stuff

[Audi-OEM]

Manual. There is a certain type of feedback that you receive through your ears, butt, hands and feet that just gives you a better idea as to what exactly the car is doing.

Just like wet shaving...a manual will always exist!

[SebringSilver]

I've noticed that razors now come with not 2 blades, but 3 blades, 4 blades, and in one case, I believe 5 blades.

Will there be a triple-clutch gearbox next? Quadruple clutch? Where does it end? There have been so many different types of transmissions offered by various carmakers over the years, I'm quite astonished that there now seems to be a consensus in the public psyche that the "dual-clutch automated manual" is the best type of transmission for a high-performance car. The dual-clutch, in fact, seems to be the iPhone of transmissions.

But when everyone's doing it, someone has to innovate. It'll be interesting to watch the incubation process of the "next big thing" in transmissions.

[randombloke]

But when everyone's doing it, someone has to innovate. It'll be interesting to watch the incubation process of the "next big thing" in transmissions.

If the goals are discrete gear ratios, fastest possible changes between those ratios, and minimimal drivetrain losses, then there isn't a huge amount of scope for improvement over the dual clutch. it's pretty much the pinnacle of what they want a transmission to be, so any real innovation will have to involve a change in what is demanded from a transmission.