I just got a 1.8T (1500 miles). I noticed that the revs stay high when shifting between gears. Normally I'm used to the tach dropping when you push the clutch in and take your foot off the gas when shifting to the next higher gear. With this engine, it stays high, so when I shift quickly into the next higher gear, the engines rpms ARE PULLED DOWN by the clutch engaging. Never had this on my old GTI. Makes it a little less than smooth transition. I find it a little strange.

Is this normal......should I not shift as fast and wait for the revs to drop before engaging the clutch.

Thanks,
Joe

This is the engine computer intervening here. When you quickly let off the gas, the engine computer wants to burn off the remaining fuel instead of allowing it out the exhaust unburned.

I guess this is the typical of most modern engines, but it's particularly noticable on 1.8T cars.

Does anybody know if this goes away when the engine is broken-in?

after I chipped my car the revs seem to dip more normally between shifts. Not sure if this just an impression, or real, but I remember being struck by right away during my first chipped drive. Now, I don't even think about it.

BDW

You'll probably notice that the more gently you drive the car the more normally revs drop between shifts. Why? Because there isn't much turbo boost. However, under high-load (lots of throttle) conditions, the turbo is spooled up and tends to maintain boost between shifts, keeping the revs up.

hangs on to revs much less now, which makes for smoother shifts. It also responds better to throttle blips when rev matching, as I mentioned above.

1.8qms Melange AutoThority

had heavy flywheels. That is why the revs take a little longer to come back down. This is also why APR makes a lightweight flywheel. Contact APR if you want the specifics. I don't have any advice for you though concerning when to shift, you'll just have to get used to it like I did. I don't really care for the 'hang time' either, but I've adapted. Or spend the $ and purchase APR's setup.

99.5 1.8

when blipping throttle in neutral. Drove my friends TT today, and it doesn't hang at all. TT is drive by wire. Convinced me it has to do with engine management system of the A4/Passat.