The "new" R8 has been released in Europe for awhile now, but....

[aquarianuw]

No one here can share the S-tronic experience?

[blackspyder]

yeah, theres been a post on it.
We have demo cars now at local dealerships.

[mark_nimda]

yes, there has been a post on it. TBH, though, best way of judging is to be patient and wait for them to come in so you can drive it yourself. In fact, hopefully you can find an r-tronic at the same dealership to compare.

[andyhofer]

Perhaps I should nip down to my local and give it a whirl.

R8 2014.jpg

[Simpleman]

Gentlemen, I shall write up my impressions soon - probably over the weekend.

[Zmann]

I have no doubt but that the new gearbox will be faster and more technologically advanced. That said, it will be less engaging in manual mode. I have an R-tronic R8 and a new dual clutch M3. While the latter is clearly faster and smoother, it lacks engagement. May as well be an automatic from an enjoyment perspective even though I always keep it in manual. Is it better? It just depends on what you are pursuing. If you want 0-60 times, the new box wins. If you want fun, driver involved cruising, I'd stick with the R-tronic. My two cents.....

[richardw331]

As above, i would never swap mine for an S Tronic.

The R Tronic is superb, the delays between the gears give it much more "wow how much power there is" - the kick back feels awesome.

On the R Tronic you get the lovely long burp at around 7,000 RPM - on the S Tronic you get a little blip - no comparison.

Finally, the S Tronic feels to me like one long continuous gear.

I know all of this because i owed a TTRS S Tronic prior to buying my R8.

By all means the S Tronic is far far better around town but you don't buy an R8 to cruise around town..

In fact im so pleased with R Tronic, im keeping my R8 for as long as it will run :-)

[andyhofer]

Personally, I'd always go with the manual, but I'll book myself a test drive this weekend with any luck just to experience the S tronic.

[jmejones]

As above, i would never swap mine for an S Tronic.

The R Tronic is superb, the delays between the gears give it much more "wow how much power there is" - the kick back feels awesome.

On the R Tronic you get the lovely long burp at around 7,000 RPM - on the S Tronic you get a little blip - no comparison.

Finally, the S Tronic feels to me like one long continuous gear.

I know all of this because i owed a TTRS S Tronic prior to buying my R8.

By all means the S Tronic is far far better around town but you don't buy an R8 to cruise around town..

In fact im so pleased with R Tronic, im keeping my R8 for as long as it will run :-)

I agree totally.

[blackspyder]

Not sure where the feels disconnected type comments are coming from (comparing saloons or SUVs to the R8 experience of DSG just doesn't follow). I've driven the DSG version and its amazing, it makes the R8 a more complete package. Manual would be a second option and id simply never own an Rtronic car at any price, they just don't work. Rtronic has none of the benefits of either a manual or a modern dual clutch system, but all the downsides of both.