Has any one else felt that when changing from 1st to 2nd that the change isn't that smoth? I have no problem with the other shifts, just when I go from 1st to 2nd it not always smoth. Some times it slides right in at higher speeds but then at slower speeds it doesn't. Could this be a problem or is it just me.... Any advice would help. Thanks in advance.

99.5 QM

It's a problem when the engine is cold but after a couple miles you can rev it higher in 1st, and that will make it easier to shift to 2nd.

99.5 1.8TQM

Exactly, when you first start of it does it but then after you've been driving for a while it goes away. So its normal???

But it's more noticable on the A4, especially for a brand new car. It seems the transmission needs to warm up as well as the engine and then it gets pretty smooth. I find myself shifting fairly fast from 1st to 2nd. Not quite powershifting but not slow either. It goes into 2nd easier then than if you shift slowly. You have to find the balance between not going too slow and not being too rough on the transmission and it seems to work pretty well. Some people have suggested the gearbox won't be fully broken in until 7-10K miles. I have 5,500 miles on mine.

99.5 1.8TQM

...the synchros to catch up when cold. So what I do is before I go into second, I apply just enough pressure to the lever that I'm not going into second...and I can literally feel the synchro "kick in" after about half a second. Then I proceed with the shift...

Of course I'm speculating that it's the synchro...the reason I say it's the synchro is that if I shift too fast when cold...it seems like I can feel teeth grinding cuz the synchro hasn't matched up speeds between the input shaft and the gear cog...

So the moral is to shift slowly and very deliberately when warming up, once warm let er rip!

Just my 2 cents...
-Ash 98.5 1.8TQMS

...waiting at a red light? You're waiting for it to get into 2nd and in the meantime the huge SUV behind you keeps accelerating. I always hit (no, not literally :) a couple red lights right after pulling out of my garage with a cold car, so it's kind of a problem. Everyone is used to automatics here and don't expect cars to accelerate in stages like with a manual. Again, no problem when the car is warm because then the shifts become so much faster.

99.5 1.8TQM

Just want a smooth transmission shifter, as it should be. Don't want to be rpairing transmission in 5 years?