markcincinnati
02-20-2006, 02:21 PM
Sure, I "wish" for an A6 with a stick shift -- and I do not understand what the comment, "the car is too big for a manual" means but I accept the comment on face value.
I am pleased by Timbilt's information about a 7 speed DSG. Very pleased.
Very very pleased.
Why? I drove the TT with the DSG immediately after getting out of a 2003 225HP TT stick and the DSG was much better than any Tiptronic, including the excellent representation of the breed that is in my 14,000 mile old C6 3.2.
If I appear to presume too much (or too little) I submit the following for those who think the BMW SMG is interchangable with the Audi DSG.
They are not.
The DSG is better. The premise is for most intents identical. The execution of Audis with its Dual-ality makes this transmission especially with 7 forward speeds possibly enough to make most of us forget (or at least not miss as much) the 6 speed manuals (well, I might pause a moment with a tear in my eye thinking how nice the current S4 manual feels, at least compared with my 2003 allroad 6 speed -- which for the record, I loved -- but I knew it was hardly a GREAT manual transmission.)
If you have a perception of the DSG and the SMG as "twin sons of different mothers" well, from what I have read, you would be misinformed.
Indeed, according to one of the new gushing first drives of the S8, even the S8's tiptronic "feels much more like the DSG" than it has any right to (or words to that effect.)
The primary disadvantage 15 minutes ago was that the tip sucked gas mileage and performance from an otherwise capable engine.
Even that is not anywhere near as true as it was 16 minutes ago.
But, now even the tip can be employed with little gas mileage penalty if any. The CVT, probably won't be employed (my gut) in the face of what will almost certainly be 7 speed DSG's and perhaps 7 speed even more improved tiptronics.
I will, however, nevertheless, continue to bitch and moan about the lack of a manual transmission in the C6.
But April has a point (or perhaps better said, she almost always has a valid and valuable point of view) that the BMW 525 engine (a 3.0 liter) is less powerful and thirstier than the Audi 3.2 (or technically 3.1+ liter.)
Audi is producing, with the 3.2FSI even hobbled somewhat by US crappy fuel, powerful, smooth engines driving four wheels and despite being nose heavy (way way nose heavy compared with the Bimmers often) and heavier in general, turning in competitive performance for less MSRP (although sometimes a $5K more BMW leases for less than an Audi -- subvented probably, but who cares.)
I am not about to abandon my Audi just 'cause it don't offer no stick shift.
Conversely, a 530xi 6 speed manual with a proper performance suspension and tire set up priced with similar content to the Audi, would HAVE to be a serious contender.
Who knows, though, perhaps the 7 speed DSG Audi will blow away the manual transmission BMW.
Probably will, come to think of it.
But, as a sign of the times, despite my wife's BMW dealer's assertion that he sells 40% of the 5 series as AWD versions (constrained NOT by demand, but by availability of more x-drive 5's), he keeps zero (0) models of the stick shift persuasion in stock -- and this is at a BMW dealer that sells about 100 cars a month (and there are two BMW dealers in our fair city) compared with the largest of the two Audi dealers who sells but 50 cars per month.
We'll get over the stick shifts, sooner rather than later -- much as it pains me to say this.
Jus' don't go thinkin' the Audi DSG is the same as the BMW SMG. Cousins, maybe - but not siblings.
I am pleased by Timbilt's information about a 7 speed DSG. Very pleased.
Very very pleased.
Why? I drove the TT with the DSG immediately after getting out of a 2003 225HP TT stick and the DSG was much better than any Tiptronic, including the excellent representation of the breed that is in my 14,000 mile old C6 3.2.
If I appear to presume too much (or too little) I submit the following for those who think the BMW SMG is interchangable with the Audi DSG.
They are not.
The DSG is better. The premise is for most intents identical. The execution of Audis with its Dual-ality makes this transmission especially with 7 forward speeds possibly enough to make most of us forget (or at least not miss as much) the 6 speed manuals (well, I might pause a moment with a tear in my eye thinking how nice the current S4 manual feels, at least compared with my 2003 allroad 6 speed -- which for the record, I loved -- but I knew it was hardly a GREAT manual transmission.)
If you have a perception of the DSG and the SMG as "twin sons of different mothers" well, from what I have read, you would be misinformed.
Indeed, according to one of the new gushing first drives of the S8, even the S8's tiptronic "feels much more like the DSG" than it has any right to (or words to that effect.)
The primary disadvantage 15 minutes ago was that the tip sucked gas mileage and performance from an otherwise capable engine.
Even that is not anywhere near as true as it was 16 minutes ago.
But, now even the tip can be employed with little gas mileage penalty if any. The CVT, probably won't be employed (my gut) in the face of what will almost certainly be 7 speed DSG's and perhaps 7 speed even more improved tiptronics.
I will, however, nevertheless, continue to bitch and moan about the lack of a manual transmission in the C6.
But April has a point (or perhaps better said, she almost always has a valid and valuable point of view) that the BMW 525 engine (a 3.0 liter) is less powerful and thirstier than the Audi 3.2 (or technically 3.1+ liter.)
Audi is producing, with the 3.2FSI even hobbled somewhat by US crappy fuel, powerful, smooth engines driving four wheels and despite being nose heavy (way way nose heavy compared with the Bimmers often) and heavier in general, turning in competitive performance for less MSRP (although sometimes a $5K more BMW leases for less than an Audi -- subvented probably, but who cares.)
I am not about to abandon my Audi just 'cause it don't offer no stick shift.
Conversely, a 530xi 6 speed manual with a proper performance suspension and tire set up priced with similar content to the Audi, would HAVE to be a serious contender.
Who knows, though, perhaps the 7 speed DSG Audi will blow away the manual transmission BMW.
Probably will, come to think of it.
But, as a sign of the times, despite my wife's BMW dealer's assertion that he sells 40% of the 5 series as AWD versions (constrained NOT by demand, but by availability of more x-drive 5's), he keeps zero (0) models of the stick shift persuasion in stock -- and this is at a BMW dealer that sells about 100 cars a month (and there are two BMW dealers in our fair city) compared with the largest of the two Audi dealers who sells but 50 cars per month.
We'll get over the stick shifts, sooner rather than later -- much as it pains me to say this.
Jus' don't go thinkin' the Audi DSG is the same as the BMW SMG. Cousins, maybe - but not siblings.