A4 manual shifting?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 651
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From: Raleigh area, NC
A4 manual shifting?
My first slushbox in a long time.....does not seem like any faster to shift 1-2-3 but how about shifting down to 3rd for around town? Seems like once it gets into 4th hard to get it to kick down. Was on a 1/8 mile circle track with it, a guy suggested leaving it in 2nd.
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 97
Likes: 10
From: Minnesota
Depends on what you want. When I had an auto (A4) and was in traffic, where I felt I needed more immediate response, I would put in 3rd otherwise I just left it alone. BTW, keeping it in 2nd is even more responsive but, as I recall, when locked in 2nd, it does not down-shift to 1st when you come to a stop.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
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From: Prescott, Arizona
In my experience the A4 takes longer to drop to 1st or 2nd from 4th (overdrive) than it does from 3rd. For that reason, anytime I believe I will need more power rapidly in the near future, such as anticipating a pass, I put the A4 in 3rd.
I always have it in 3rd leaving the Hot Pitts on a road course track, except for the one time that I forgot and had the A4 in Drive. For the first few minutes of that session I thought I was having a transmission problem because of the delayed down shifting exiting turns. Once I figured out that I had inadvertently entered the track in Drive, I put it in 3rd and all was well again.
On the other hand, around town and in traffic, Drive seems reasonably responsive to me.
I always have it in 3rd leaving the Hot Pitts on a road course track, except for the one time that I forgot and had the A4 in Drive. For the first few minutes of that session I thought I was having a transmission problem because of the delayed down shifting exiting turns. Once I figured out that I had inadvertently entered the track in Drive, I put it in 3rd and all was well again.
On the other hand, around town and in traffic, Drive seems reasonably responsive to me.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,862
Likes: 594
From: Prescott, Arizona
I guess I have never driven the A4 that way to be sure on the answer, but I can tell you that if I get too slow, it will sure drop from 3rd to 1st (instead of 2nd) in the blink of an eye coming out of turn 11 at Laguna Seca at wide open throttle. For that reason, if I have my act together, I have to remember to manually shift to 2nd before going wide open throttle if I get too slow at this location. A drop to 1st at this location and at WOT breaks loose the rear tires, screwing up my line and exit speed.
I am thinking that the answer is yes, only 1st and 2nd hold in gear. I'll verify next time I'm out with the car.
I am thinking that the answer is yes, only 1st and 2nd hold in gear. I'll verify next time I'm out with the car.
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Joined: Aug 2014
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From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
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Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Oklahoma City OK
I have 3.73 gears in my A4 and I never use D unless I'm on the highway at cruise speed. The response in 3rd with the 3.73 gears around town is phenomenal. I've heard you risk transmission damage dropping from OD to 2nd when you floor it. Mine up shifts and down shifts just fine in 3rd.
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I've never really tried manually shifting my A4 - it has plenty of acceleration just stomping on the gas pedal. Something to consider would be to get a tune and have the shift points changed.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Boise Idaho
So maybe a dumb question, but I thought these auto's couldn't be shifted "manually" e.g. while driving without damaging something (unlike say a dual clutch auto). I thought you picked one and drove with it...
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 651
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From: Raleigh area, NC
Not sure if there is a fuel cutoff / rev limiter like more modern cars? My '12 Mustang would just fall flat once you came close to the rev limit.
Tried leaving it in 3 for local, not bad rev's stay around 2000 until about 55 so not much more wear, sounds better too!
Tried leaving it in 3 for local, not bad rev's stay around 2000 until about 55 so not much more wear, sounds better too!
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From: Greensboro Nc
Trucker
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 134
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From: Oklahoma City OK
Given the history of shift cable failures on A4 C5's I wouldn't think manually shifting gears around town is a good practice. Running in 3rd around town gives me more than ample acceleration and a click up to D when I get to cruise speed is easy on the cable.