I am worried about the R tronic. Ease my concerns, please!

[cmxi]

Before everyone protests this thread and directs me to the search function, I have done my research and read just about every thread about the R tronic available to me, from its problems to its software updates.

Like I mentioned in my first post, I have been driving an S550 equivalent for the past 10 years. The last manual I had was a Porsche 928s, which I sold in 1997 in favor of a Range Rover. Given my recent driving history, my son suggested that I get the R tronic. He noted its flaws, but alluded to the fact that I wouldn't be overly enthused about having to use my left leg more than is already necessary at my age. For those of you that have read my story, my son somehow convinced me to buy an R8 in less than 24 hours without ever having sat it one or driven one, and having seen one in person just once. Am I excited about the purchase? Yes. Am I nervous that I might have made a very rash decision? Very.

I've read a lot about the fact that the R tronic, especially in Automatic mode, is not smooth. I've read reviews outside of this forum that say this vehicle isn't even worth buying if you're not going to get a standard. Others ridicule it for being old technology. Fine. There will always be critics. So then, how do I make the best of the situation?

------------------------------

Based on my research, these are the three most enlightening posts and one review that I found:

A. "The R-tronic transmission is a manual transmission at heart but the vehicle uses electronics to operate the clutch and shifter for you. Driving the car is easy but getting used to the transmission is a different story. Its not a typical automatic transmission. It feels like when you're driving with another person in a manual car. You never actually know when the car is going to shift and when it does, (depending on throttle angle and load) it can surprise you. Eventually you will learn when its going shift but be ready for a little bit of discomfort at first. At full throttle, you wont be disappointed!"

B. "With R-Tronic you can be lazy and Auto mode it or choose to have fun by using manual and keeping both hands on the wheel and getting perfect downshift throttle blips. Even in auto mode, since the lastest software update, you can choose exactly what point it changes up in auto mode, just lift <very> slightly at any speed and it changes up."

C. "Rtronic drives much better if you shift it manually rather than leave it in auto. When the engine is cold, I change gears between 3,000 and 4,000 rpm. When warm up, change gears at whatever rpm you want to. In fact, the engine feels looser, more eager to rev, and encounters less resistance as it revs pass 4500 - 5000 rpm. This is with 3500 miles on the clock."

D. "And around town, it’s smooth, handling stop-start traffic and low-speed parking manouevres very well indeed. Head out onto the open road, floor the throttle and upchanges are pretty smooth too, but only if you take control yourself and remember to lift off the accelerator slightly – if you don’t, progress can be jerky.

Annoyingly, flooring the throttle can sometimes result in the transmission kicking down a gear too, when all you really want is for the [engine] to call on its huge [torque] reserves. On the downshift it’s great, though, blipping the throttle and provoking a glorious bark from the exhausts with every pull of the left-hand paddle."

------------------------------

Now, to my questions:

I. I will absolutely try to adapt a driving style that makes use of the paddle shifters/gear box for manual shifting as much as possible, but there is a chance that I may resort to driving in Automatic mode more often than not.

a. Am I going to hate it? Is my wife, who has never driven a manual, going to be completely unable to drive it should I need her to?

b. Are the shifts going to be harsh enough that it's going to take the fun out of owning and driving this car?

c. How badly would I regret just keeping my foot on the throttle without lifting up to anticipate a shift?

d. Is the R tronic really as bad as people make it out to be in slow driving conditions and in traffic? I've heard some people suggest that the R tronic is better in traffic than the standard. Others say the opposite. What is your experience?

e. Have the software updates really helped the R tronic since first impressions?

II. Assuming all is well and the members of this forum can give me tips to really enjoy the R tronic, what about tapping its true potential? I read a couple of reviews that mention that the R tronic in Automatic mode records a 0 - 60 in 4.6 versus 4.4 in the standard. That's minimal and negligible - I understand that. But many people maintain that the R tronic should be able to record a time that is as fast or even faster than the standard.

a. How do I tap the R tronic's true potential off the line? Can it be tapped in Automatic mode or does it have to be in manual? What have you, as drivers, found to be the best settings for true performance off the line?

Some have suggested (i) Automatic Mode On, Sport Mode On, Magnetic Ride On, ASR On, and ESP On. Others suggest the opposite (ii) Manual Mode On, Sport Mode On, Magnetic Ride On, ASR Off, ESP On. Some say, bollocks, (iii) ESP and ASR Off (which I would never do). What has worked for you?

------------------------------

I appreciate all of your comments.

[AnOutsider]

1a) Can't say if you'll hate it (I doubt it), but your wife will be able to drive it fine.
1b) They were for me in the beginning until I learned how to drive with the car... We recently got a MT6 S5 and the shifts are actually pretty similar. A combination of wearing in and driver-acclimation should conquer that.
1c) I don't anymore, especially at WOT, but I did notice the other day that when I shift (I always keep it in Manual mode) I subconsciously feather the throttle a bit in 1-2 and 2-3 gears.
1d) mine used to (and occasionally still does) buck at really low rpms (like when you're creeping up a hill). This is especially true in Sport mode, and I think it's more the car gets confused on whether you're wanting to gun it or what... so sometimes it'll switch into beast mode, you get alarmed, ease off the throttle, it stops, you hit the throttle again etc...
1e) software updates, or breaking in/driver training... not sure what it is, but I no longer fear a low RPM start

2) not sure how it can do that when it's not a DSG really, so no technical advantage. I think the driver's experience of knowing where to shift probably helps ergo M mode being faster? Dunno.
2a) Either way works, as I say though I keep it in Manual and feather it in first unless I'm looking for a roaring start (keep in mind I'm supercharged and have a Stasis exhaust)

For me, the best is sport, manual mag on. I don't really turn the ASR/ESP off unless I'm launching it.

Overall, I think you'll enjoy the nice balance of control and comfort/convenience the R-Tronic gives you in day to day use -- it'll all come down to you though.

[tcoop1]

There are a lot of guys here with much more experience than me with the R-Tronic.......but I will say in my, albeit limited, opportunities with it that the best way to drive it is to keep it in Sport and lift of the gas(feather as you mentioned) as you would with a true manual and it will be smooth. Consider it a clucthless manual, it is not a DSG, it will not shift for you if you keep the throttle in. In Auto, it does seem rather disjointed, your passenger, and you, are never quite sure when the shift will happen. Keep it in Sport and you will be happy with it and no left leg concerns......

Just my humble opinion, I ended up with an MT6 as I am a knuckle dragger.....;_)

[the_buch]

I've just moved from a six-speed Porsche 993 to the R8 R-Tronic. I'm really enjoying getting used to the subtleties of driving it smoothly. I would have never tried (or succeeded) to shift my Porsche's gearbox this fast :-) I am using Manual shifting in normal mode and then switch off to Sport with the firmer suspension on the twisties. With where you're coming from, I think you'll love it! And, my wife is very comfortable to drive it in A when "necessary".

[ardy6931]

I was afraid of going to a sequential gearbox before my first bmw that had it, i had heard the same thing, it was jerky, harsh shifts, not good at low speeds and in traffic.....with a few days of practice it becomes second nature like a manual.

its very easy to drive the r tronic, if you put it in auto mode or manual mode, all you have to do while shifting to make it smooth is slightly lift off the gas pedal during the shift. I am very happy with the r8 rtronic, its defnitely much smoother than my bmw m6 and m3 with stage 2 and 3 smgs.

[ignomini]

I've just moved from a six-speed Porsche 993 to the R8 R-Tronic. I'm really enjoying getting used to the subtleties of driving it smoothly. I would have never tried (or succeeded) to shift my Porsche's gearbox this fast :-) I am using Manual shifting in normal mode and then switch off to Sport with the firmer suspension on the twisties. With where you're coming from, I think you'll love it! And, my wife is very comfortable to drive it in A when "necessary".

+1 on this comment. I also have a 993, and consider the RT a faster safer system when pushing the car.

The auto mode is funky, period. However, as others are saying, you quickly get to the point where your manipulation of the throttle is what makes the tranny shift. With a manual, there is no auto option, good or bad. Drive the RT in manual mode and save auto for rare occasions. The key here is the car manipulates the clutch for you, and it's the clutch which is the real killer in traffic. The effort to pull a paddle (or push the lever) is nothing.

My first day in the car I was a little lost, and was over manipulating the throttle trying to smooth my upshifts (downshifts are always perfect). By day three, I stopped worrying about it and started letting nature take it's course. I have no doubt smooth shifting will quickly become second nature. The journos who love to complain about the RT never take the time to learn this gearbox.

One last point in favor of the RT, it can never get caught out on a shift. DSGs try to predict your next shift. If you go up when it's ready to go down, or vice versa, you'll get a clunky shift. It is not a coincidence that McLaren is building a preselector into their DSG system. By doing a half pull on the paddle, you tell the box which way you're going next. The RT doesn't care, but a DSG does.

[SebringSilver]

Anyone with concerns about the R-tronic transmission's smoothness should verify with the dealer's service department whether the 24R4 update has been done on the car. It makes a very significant difference to the way the gearbox behaves, and is much better for it.

[harrison]

I had the 24R4 flash done the other day. Car feels good. Can't say better. Lap times will reveal. But I'm sure the service manager liked the way I made my car sound while shifting. Dealer requests that I leave the Sprint booster off for 1 thou. mi. The dealer seems to think that the booster triggered some faults warnings. (after 1 yr of usage...suddenly faults pop up?) car is perfect now. Had my third-third brakelight installed. I'll know more about the flash after I get a chance to drive her a bit.

[Jeff]

You're obsessing too much.

I'm very happy with the R tronic. Treat it as a manual without a clutch and you'll be fine.

And your wife -- or anyone who doesn't know how to drive a manual -- can put it in automatic mode and drive it without a problem.

[tcoop1]

I agree with Jeff....you will be fine, if you are used to a M-B 550, the R-Tronic will be better as it will give you the feel of a clutchless manual, for those other times that someone needs to drive it in auto, boom, you are there.

I understand the obsession aspect, I obsessed for months over which one to buy...;_)....get it and enjoy.