Why is the R Tronic so disliked?

[blackspyder]

i think opinions are also different in different markets...
Most US cars are Auto, most cars in Europe are manual.

[MrClean]

And yet Audi of North America saw fit to only bring in the manual version of the TT-RS. Perhaps this is a company that doesn't bow to convention.

As a TT RS owner, I believe Audi brought the manual only to keep the price down on such a low volume, more price sensitive category car.

Same true for the Golf R that just arrived.

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As for the topic, I believe the manual would ultimately be my choice but this thread topic and discussion have me curious about the R-tronic.

I've (briefly) driven the V10 R-tronic at a 200 mph event but don't recall it well enough to have a strong opinion. That said, I don't remember it was bad and do remember the overall driving experience being smoother, more refined than the Superleggera they had. What is clear in my memory is that I did spend more seat time in the Lamborghini and preferred it to the Audi V10 enough to do my 1st 200 mph attempt in it.

However, the R8 4.2L (the one closer to my price target) would be a big price drop and (expectedly) a different expectation level.

[martinm1]

Just to add to the thread. I just drove both a v8 and v10 that were brand new 2012 models for the audi R8 experience in Sonoma. I did not detect ANY difference whatsoever in the 2. They were both quite good. I have a 2011 M3 with dual clutch and have had a Maserati with automated single clutch. have also driven gallardo with e tronic. The dual clutch transmissions are definitely smoother in auto mode.
"S tronic" or tiptronic transmissions are just not the same thing. These things are aweful if you actually like to feel the car changing gears. Just get an automatic and forget the paddles--it is boring. I love manuals (have an Elise SC and had an RS4), but the computer controlled manuals are nice if you drive the car every day and occasionally want to focus on things other than shifting--they are quite adequate. If you enjoy being engaged in driving then you want the manual transmissions that are automated. I would probably pick a dual clutch over single, but frankly in manual mode where you will have the most fun they are not much different. Not sure why folks think smoother is better. It is like saying that a quiet exhaust is better than a loud one. When I am driving one of these cars, I want it to sound wicked and I want to know for sure that I have changed gears!

[ignomini]

Just to add to the thread. I just drove both a v8 and v10 that were brand new 2012 models for the audi R8 experience in Sonoma. I did not detect ANY difference whatsoever in the 2. They were both quite good. I have a 2011 M3 with dual clutch and have had a Maserati with automated single clutch. have also driven gallardo with e tronic. The dual clutch transmissions are definitely smoother in auto mode.
"S tronic" or tiptronic transmissions are just not the same thing. These things are aweful if you actually like to feel the car changing gears. Just get an automatic and forget the paddles--it is boring. I love manuals (have an Elise SC and had an RS4), but the computer controlled manuals are nice if you drive the car every day and occasionally want to focus on things other than shifting--they are quite adequate. If you enjoy being engaged in driving then you want the manual transmissions that are automated. I would probably pick a dual clutch over single, but frankly in manual mode where you will have the most fun they are not much different. Not sure why folks think smoother is better. It is like saying that a quiet exhaust is better than a loud one. When I am driving one of these cars, I want it to sound wicked and I want to know for sure that I have changed gears!

Well said. Owning both an RT R8 and DCT S4, I would choose the RT again on the R8 over a DCT. In the S4, I would just buy an automatic and be done with it. The manual shifting experience on the S4 has been very disappointing. As martinm1 states, the experience with DCT is underwhelming, and even in manual dynamic mode, it still makes decisions on your behalf, which often lead to confusion. While the RT will, in certain situations, shift for you, on balance it makes for fun and spirited driving. For my mind, the car is just too fast to make mistakes when changing cogs.