Just curious, of Tiptronic owners, what percentage of the time do you use the manual gate, rather than the straight automatic. After a while does the novelty wear off and you find yourself simply using the automatic.

No, novelty does not wear off. It's actual control I desire, just as you would when you decide to purchase a manual. The auto gives you a bit less control and quite a bit less "rip through the gears" fun, but it is still a lot of control over a fantastic Auto tranny. Mine=80% tip, 20% auto. have fun<br>my $.02

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I think the Audi Tip is best in the industry. Is it as fin as a 5 sp? No. Is it more fun than typical Auto? No Quetion. I think wether to buy the Tip or not depends on where you live. In Atlanta, I have hasd 5 speeds and nothing sux more than bumber to bumber w/ a stick. When you are on a straight you can use the Tip and it is a great hybrid. For me it is the best of both words. I am going to get Garrets 1 bar as well as his Tip chip which is supposed to really liven the tip up. It will never be the sme as a 5 speed but you might not wan a 5 either. I have driven the Audi stick before and personally I didn't like it. I will probably be flamed for that comment but the Bimmer stick was more enjoyable. Again, it all boils down to personal preference. Good luck

I have never followed Garret's tuning products. Where can I get in touch with him to get details on the tip chip? I love the tip, it's suits my currents needs like a glove!<br>thanks in advance!

I have no first hand knowledge of what I am about to say but I'll pass it on for you to decide...<p>Jason at Greedspeed advised strongly against any modification to the Tip tranny. He stated that he's seen these trannies fall apart when "improperly" modified. He did not mention Garrett specifically so this is not an anti-Garrett flame.<p>Good luck.

I used to rarely use it, but now find myself using it even in heavy traffic, so around 95% of the time.<p>steve

Depending on how hard I press the pedal I can make the auto shift at exactly the rpm that I want. Same thing with downshifting: if say you're in 5th at 2000rpm, if you press down on the pedal a certain amount it will downshift 1 gear, if you press down more, let's say 3/4 of the way, it will downshift into 3nd gear, and if you kick it down it will roar into 2nd. You can also kick the pedal into the floorl, then release it at say 4500 rpm, and the auto will change into 2nd right then and there. This automatic is the most responsive & and smooth auto I've tried. I really appreciate it more after driving an E32 735i, which felt super stiff & unwilling.<br>My impression is that the auto mode is more economical, and just as quick as the tip. You don't have to use the tip if you want to shift at the redline. Therefore I only use it sparingly as I find it to be a bit superfluous and not all that rewarding.<p>GusS

99% Tip. I just find that control is so much better with the tip. I almost never use the auto unless I just got in the car and haven't gotten ready to switch to tip.<p>I wish it shifted a little quicker (1st to 2nd can take a 1/2 second too long especially when stomping the pedal).<p>Otherwise its all the time, on the highway I find I use it alot to pass, downshift to 4 and get more power.<p>(If you have a playstation and steering wheel and TOCA touring car, the TIP tranny is very similar to the games clutchless shifting).<br>

I have been using my TIP recently and was wondering if I should downshift the gears myself or let the car do it for me; this is when I'm slowing down of course.<p>Thanks,<br>Jay J<br>99 1.8T Tip WETT

90% Auto...10% Tip. I will probably some day go with Garrett's Tip chip. What I really hate is when I switch over to Tip momentarily, then when I go back into auto, the auto is sensing to shift later (because of how I had just driven in Tip)and it feels like I'm still in Tip and I slam it in neutral and freak (and get pissed off) and sometimes put it back in drive real quick before letting off the gas..ouch.. Then I turn down the stereo (Bose sounds great in the Avant - especially with the CD's)and regroup myself. Just can't get the feeling of shifting in the Tip compared to a manual. Maybe it can be felt more in the 1.8 than the 2.8. It's really hard to feel where you are at when the music is on.<p>Dave <br>98.0 Avant 2.8 QT

For those of us that mostly use the Tip but occassionally switch to Auto, there is a nasty event when you occasionally think you're in Tip mode but are actually in Auto mode and, lo and behold, you go to upshift at high revs and end up slamming the car into Neutral. Since your foot never leaves the gas pedal with Tip, the revs then shoot into the red. And now to make matters worse, your reflex is to undo the horrible thing that you just did and you, without thinking, pull the shifter back down into Drive causing all four wheels to bite hard at 6000rpm and lurch you forward....<p>ouch. I hate when that happens.

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<br>nt

That is designed in, in order to help the engine warm up a little faster by running at higher rpm level. You can always use the Tip to shift.

that's why I drive in tip mode all the<br>time. (force of habit makes it difficult<br>to drive in auto mode) I have done what you<br>describe about 6 or 7 times (though at rpms below<br>4500)

unfortunately, i've done this as well. do you think this could cause some type of permanent engine damage?

for those with tip and sports package, which is used more often- the buttons on<br>the steering wheel or the shifter??

i did it once when my A4 is only 1000km on it<br>