Sport mode or not in R-Tronic

[the_buch]

Early days, but I'm finding the differences between transmission modes to be quite subtle. I think I've got a very well-performing setup, and am learning how to modulate the go-pedal in concert with shifting to be very smooth and sufficiently quick.

With this in mind, for those who really understand the technology behind the R-Tronic transmission, which mode is going to be easier on the clutch and other components over the long term?

Thanks, Doug

[smoothy]

If in auto mode, under normal/light gas pedal use, I find regular setting will shift 2500-3k rpm, sport will hold the shift longer, up to close to redline. If I'm crawling in traffic, I'm just as happy to let the car stay in the lower RPM range on auto/regular, I don't normally use manual mode in those cases (its hard to dial the cellphone, shave, drink a tea and eat my McMuffin if I also have to shift). Manual mode I haven't really tried to see a diff between sport and regular, I do tend to leave it in sport in case it does improve the clutching.

[Jimk]

I always use maunual in sport mode. The first thing I do when I start the car is turn sport mode on. I tried the auto setting when I first got the car and did not like the slow, low rpm shifting. There is quite a bit of difference in the speed of the shifts depending on whether you are in sport mode or not. With practice you will learn when to slightly lift off the gas to help smooth the shifts. It is all part of the fun of learning the subltleties of a new car.

[Raptor09]

Wait so there is any reason to believe sport mode shifts would be 'preferable' for the car itself? That seems surprising especially under 6500 RPM first gear ASR off shifts (I find those are particularly and satisfyingly violent Though in more normal circumstances, I always thought sport mode would be harder on the components..seemed logical?

[the_buch]

I only use manual also ... the A-mode is just a bit too quick on the upshifts for my taste and so it's the difference between sport and not in manual that I am talking about as quite subtle to me (so far). It does seem to me logically that non-Sport should in general be easier on the clutch and drivetrain, unless it allows for more clutch slippage on engagement to be smoother??

[SebringSilver]

I always keep mine in Manual mode with Sport on. I'm not sure if it wears out the clutch any faster, but it sure is a lot more fun!

Glad to see you got the car, Doug.

[ianerrid]

Early days, but I'm finding the differences between transmission modes to be quite subtle. I think I've got a very well-performing setup, and am learning how to modulate the go-pedal in concert with shifting to be very smooth and sufficiently quick.

With this in mind, for those who really understand the technology behind the R-Tronic transmission, which mode is going to be easier on the clutch and other components over the long term?

Thanks, Doug

Theres another level of subtlety here, sport mode on its own shouldn't be particularly harder on the transmission but sport mode and full throttle upshifts ARE violent so ARE harder on the rest of the transmission (CV joints and diffs etc) and over time will create endfloat on these sub-systems. If you drive everyday on sport manual full throttle upshifts and us max revs engine braking - factor in some maintenance costs ;-)

IMHO, the worse thing for R-Tronic is if you trickle along in traffic all day/ everyday (not the R8's natural habitat anyway) - R-Tronic trys to mimic a slush pump auto and those slurry shifts mean more programmed clutch slip. In those situations I always use manual as I find it holds onto first for too long if I want to drive gently, for my taste.

Reading some of the posts from the US, either I have been particularly lucky or you have some really poor dealers out there (with the wrong training???)

[Raptor09]

Oh you can almost feel the unhappiness of the transmission in serious traffic... (If I'm in traffic it always seems to be the kind that moves at just too low to actually engage 2nd gear and keep the revs in a comfortable position but driving around in 1st gear with the engine just under the point of shifting doesn't feel too good either ) - I just never take it out near traffic times

I'm definitely preferring the sport mode shifts after the 24R4 update, I've noticed my car makes a more noticeable downshift bark ever since I got it (when downshifting at rather low revs, not any high rev stuff)... don't know if I'm imagining that but I noticed it from the day it came back

[harrison]

An R-tronik with an exhaust,filter kit and Sprintbooster will REALLY act unhappy(as its' driver) in heavy,heavy traffic.

[desperado]

The transmission computer in the manual is slower but more sophisticated than the one in the r-tronic.