R-Tronic falls out of gear?

[BlkwdwR8]

So I've had my 2011 R-Tronic Spyder about a week now, and have driven it a few times. On two different occasions now while stopped at a stop light with the car in M 1 S (Manual, first gear, Sport), the car just "falls" out of gear and goes into Neutral.

I haven't been able to reproduce the issue at will, and I'm not sure if it's me resting my hand on the console or near the shifter or what .. but it's a real eye opener when the light turns green, you step on the gas only to realize the car is now in neutral.

I also don't know if there's some safety feature on the car.. maybe I was at a slight angle? Maybe I let my foot off the brake and that triggered some safety mechanism? Given the car is so new, I haven't had it long enough to know what is "normal" and what is "a symptom".

Has anyone else ever experienced this? I've got a call into Audi HQ to see if others have seen this before, I'm waiting for a call back.

[GN-R8]

If you are stopped and remove you foot off the brake for a certain amount of time, the R-Tronic will go in to neutral. When that happens, you should also hear chime go off. Try putting your car in gear, pull off and stop and remove your foot off the brake. "Chime, Chime" and then it will go into neutral.
Drive it and enjoy it

[EJCR8]

If you take your foot off the brake, the transmission will go into neutral. Usually a few seconds. There is a "ding" sound then it goes into neutral. Ive done this several times while at a light...and yes I've done the Rev when I press the gas forgetting it's in neutral. I've gotten better at recognizing it.

[BlkwdwR8]

Awesome thanks for the help guys, that was it. I guess the music was too loud to hear the chime but I tested it just now and that's what it was.

Appreciate the help.

[FiftyPence]

I bet your call back from Audi HQ will be interesting 'that is a standard feature of the car Sir, nothing to worry about'

[StuM]

Not unusual, but rather, normal. I had an F430 that did the same thing, as a safety feature. The first time it occurs, and you're not aware, it scares you. Either shift back to first to take off or hold pressure on the brake peddle.
Enjoy and appreciate the wonder of the R8. It's a fantastic car!

[rawg]

If you take your foot off the brake, the transmission will go into neutral. Usually a few seconds. There is a "ding" sound then it goes into neutral.

+1

BTW, I hope I can catch a glimpse of your Spyder here in town, what color is it? I drive around Summerlin in the afternoons excusing myself from the wife for any errand.

[BlkwdwR8]

Black/black rawg. I'm in the Henderson area, not up near Summerlin very often.

I'll post pics in a week or so. It's in the shop getting some custom work done this week, should have it back around Friday they say.

[rawg]

Yeah, Ethan over there at Audi Henderson is my go-to service rep guy, nice guy. I have yet to make the trip there again though I'll have them attach my chrome front grill once it arrives.

[the_buch]

As an additional thought, I like to put the car into neutral at lights if I know it's going to be more than about 30 seconds (at which time you can then remove your foot from the brake on a flat surface) - no point in wearing out the throwout bearing while you're sitting there for a while. The embarrassment of reving and going nowhere provides an excellent training incentive for the driver to check the state of gear selection before taking off :-)