paddle shift
 

To those of you that have the sport interior/S line with the paddle shift: How do you like the paddles for use with the 8 speed?

Road and Track reviewed the S7, and said the paddles worked fine, but were "plasticy". Their word, but they did say they were plastic. Are the Q5's plastic also?

I love the paddles on my 2.0T S-Line. They're made of plastic, but I don't think that makes them feel cheap by any means. My only gripe (especially on the track) is that 8 gears are a lot to flip through, but I've since gotten used to them.

I'd recommend them. You can even get aluminum attachments for the paddles if you like a more metal feel.

Yes they are plastic but feel fine. My suggestion for improvement would be less of a delay from when you activate the paddle and when the transmission shifts. I end up shifting a little sooner than I normally would to makeup for the delay.

[QUOTE=detlefvi;My suggestion for improvement would be less of a delay from when you activate the paddle and when the transmission shifts.[/QUOTE]
In sport mode the response time is shorter and the transmission lock up is quicker.

I know, but I am spoiled as I was able to drive a Ferrari 458 once.

Nice, but totally different animal. Dual-clutch v.s. 8-gear slush box. Hey, I know the Audi has a nice tranny but it's no dual-clutch. I had hoped but...

Plastic are but in all vehicles of this category are plastic or aluminum imitation.
I have in combination with S-tronic gearbox and use them daily

I'm pretty sure the Q5 has an 8speed dual clutch tranny.

From Audi:
Transmission Eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission with Audi quattro® all-wheel drive

Not the DSG which would have been great; especially with the 3.0.

In some markets, there are Q5 with S Tronic (Audi's name for a dual clutch transmission) available. They are 7 speed, not 8 speed though.
As far as I know, the only such Q5 are the Diesel models. Maybe the 3.0 TDI that is planned to come to North America will have one...