At Audi's press conference this morning we confirmed that Audi will bring the S4 sedan to North America in the fall of 1999 with 250 hp. The breaking news is that a Tiptronic version will also be available shortly after.<p>NeilM<p>

This is garbage. There are certain cars that just are NOT meant to use automatic transmissions. I suppose that Audi is just responding to the market, but it's the damn market that is ensuring that you can't get fantastic cars like the GS400 or the M-B CLKs with a 5- (or 6-) speed... :-( :-(

If you don't want an automatic......don't buy one. The post says that a Tiptronic will ALSO be available; we already know the S4 will have a 6-speed. BTW, did you ever consider that people with less than 2 functioning lower limbs might like to drive high performance cars also?<p>CraigB

(nt) in subject means no text in message

You wrote: "did you ever consider that people with less than 2 functioning lower limbs might like to drive high performance cars also?"<p>This is a fair point. I apologize for not being sensitive to this.<p>And, to be honest, it doesn't really bother me all *that* much if someone wants an automatic M3 or S4. It's their life, and if they have two functioning lower limbs and still want an automatic, well, let them piss away $45,000. It's not *my* money.<p>What *does* bother me is that, more and more, because of the market, we are not able to even MAKE that choice. Because the ratio of automatics to manuals sold is rising steadily, companies are not even offering manual transmission in supposed high performance sport sedans. I don't care if there are tiptronic S4s on the lot; what scares the crap out of me is the day that there are ONLY tiptronic S4s on the lot. That day may not be that far off if enthusiasts don't vote with their wallets...

Pricing information and the like apparently will not be released yet.<p>Steve S.<br>97 2.8QM<br>

Until the day when I HAVE to drive an automatic (for some reason or another), I'll only own manual cars. Hopefully, the trend towards only offering automatics in certain performance cars will stop or change at some point. <p>Also, I apologize if my previous post sounded like a flame (it may have come across that way).<p>CraigB

...automatics can actually outperform the manuals, although I don't quite remember why. Maybe it was the ability to shift faster than a person would when flooring it, or something like that, but definitely they were saying that as the horses get higher, the loss due to being automatic got lower. Anyone know what I'm remembering, or am I just hallucinating?<p>Dank<br>1.8T (Manual, so no flames!)<br>

...you might be hallucinating ;-). There's no way an automatic could outperform a well-designed manual piloted by a good driver. The loss due to the torque converter might drop as a percentage of total output, but there's no way of eliminating it entirely.<p>Of course the wild-card is the "nut that holds the wheel". I myself don't claim to be a god-like driver; I'm still mastering the fundamentals of heel-and-toeing. (You try it with size 12 feet! ;-) But all things being equal, a manual tranny will *always* be faster than an automatic.

Hey Everyone,<p>If the S4 will have a Tip transmission, that means there might be a possible tranny upgrade route for Tip owners with high horsepower plans!<p>Can't wait for more info.<p><br>James Wu<br>A4 Club of Vancouver<br>1998 Black/Onyx 1.8tqa<ul><li><a href="http://vancouver.a4.org">A4 Club of Vancouver</a></li></ul>

BMW dealers are starting to get a supply of those little M breadvans ... I mean coupes, and some non-M ones as well.<p>All of the non-M versions I have seen to date are AUTOMATICS! What the hell is that all about?<br>

according to what I read in some article. Sorry for not being specific. It's supposedly similiar to the ones they have in the F1 cars, the clutch is operated by a computer which adjusts according to how much gas you are giving it. <p>Jeff<p>a4 1.8t "manual"

AKA the SMG:<p>Sequential Manual Gearbox (I think).<p>Uses a real clutch, actuated by hydraulics and electronics.<p>C. Gröos

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