Tiptronic in A8 W12 (braking force of engine)

Berrie · 02-17-2005, 01:03 PM

Hi all,

I live in the Netherlands and consider to buy an A8 W12 of 2002 (D2 model, of course). I'd like to know if any of you owns such a car or has test driven it. I made a test drive in such a W12 this weekend and the tiptronic felt much different compared to the tiptronic in my own car (3.7 Quattro, 2000). More specifically, when not stepping on the gas (for instance, when slowing down for traffic lights by letting the car roll out without braking) the gearbox appeared to slow down the car much faster than in my own car (this happened in any particular gear, both in automatic mode and in tiptronic mode).

Does anyone know whether this is normal; is it caused by the braking force of the W12 engine being stronger than in other A8s? I haven't experienced this in any other A8 and would like to get some opinions before buying the car. It was not such a matter as that the tiptronic stayed in a particular gear longer than expected (one could expect this in cars which are driven fast, since the tiptronic adapts to driving style). No, rather in any gear the car slowed down faster than I have experienced in any other A8.

Kind regards,
Berrie

JimR · 02-17-2005, 01:25 PM

I don't think a D2 W12 owner has ever posted here.

That said, I test drove a D3 W12 at an Audi special event last Fall, and didn't experience anything like what you are describing.

PaulW · 02-17-2005, 01:45 PM

But what I can say is you HAVE to get that car! Not many D2 W12's out there, saw one in Italy a few years ago.

Is it a standard or long wheel base car?

Do you know what model transmission it has in it? Is it a ZF? I wonder if it's the 01L/5HP24A tranny in our car or not.

Would think it's a beefed up one.....what is the HP/torque specs?

Berrie · 02-17-2005, 02:14 PM

The car has 420 HP and 550 NM (think you use other figures for torque in the US). Colour is mingblue and it has the standard wheel base. 50K miles (80,000km). I don't know what model transmission it has. But on the highway, it was making exactly the same amount of revs at any given speed as my own car. So I suppose it is the same transmission as in my car, apart from the strange engine braking effect. If this is normal for the W12 though, I'd buy this car immediately. But otherwise, there are about 25 W12s for sale in Germany and about 5 in The Netherlands, so I can choose another one if necessary

Actually, this is my dream car too. The A8 (D2) is the best looking car I've ever seen (perhaps it is matched by a Ferrari 456) and as I like to have as much horse power as possible, the W12 is a supercar for me.

Jkay · 02-17-2005, 02:16 PM

PaulW · 02-17-2005, 02:16 PM

On a car website or anything? Would love to see the engine stuffed in a D2....and there is no way it has the same tranny as in your present D2! :-)

That's a good thing!

Der Kimbo · 02-17-2005, 03:00 PM

It uses the same engine and transmission as the D2 W12. It is a different transmission than the V8's.

ryoung · 02-17-2005, 03:37 PM

Assuming transmission gearing is the same, engine braking is probably only proportional to engine displacement. Comparing the 6L W12 versus the 4.2L V8, 6.0/4.2 = 43% increase.

Jkay · 02-17-2005, 04:02 PM

JimR · 02-17-2005, 05:51 PM

02-17-2005, 01:03 PM	#1
Berrie New Member Account #: 43839 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 57	Tiptronic in A8 W12 (braking force of engine) Hi all, I live in the Netherlands and consider to buy an A8 W12 of 2002 (D2 model, of course). I'd like to know if any of you owns such a car or has test driven it. I made a test drive in such a W12 this weekend and the tiptronic felt much different compared to the tiptronic in my own car (3.7 Quattro, 2000). More specifically, when not stepping on the gas (for instance, when slowing down for traffic lights by letting the car roll out without braking) the gearbox appeared to slow down the car much faster than in my own car (this happened in any particular gear, both in automatic mode and in tiptronic mode). Does anyone know whether this is normal; is it caused by the braking force of the W12 engine being stronger than in other A8s? I haven't experienced this in any other A8 and would like to get some opinions before buying the car. It was not such a matter as that the tiptronic stayed in a particular gear longer than expected (one could expect this in cars which are driven fast, since the tiptronic adapts to driving style). No, rather in any gear the car slowed down faster than I have experienced in any other A8. Kind regards, Berrie

02-17-2005, 01:25 PM	#2
JimR Member Account #: 1018 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 46,942	No D2 W12s made it across the pond. I don't think a D2 W12 owner has ever posted here. That said, I test drove a D3 W12 at an Audi special event last Fall, and didn't experience anything like what you are describing. __________________ JimR '07 A3 3.2q Lava Gray '99 A8 4.2q Pearl White '99 A6 Avant 2.8q Silver (My old car, son now drives) '06 Boxster S Guards Red (wife's wheels) Support the troops "Over the years, I have come to understand a critical difference between the world of fear and the world of freedom. In the former, the primary challenge is finding the inner strength to confront evil. In the latter, the primary challenge is finding the moral clarity to see evil."

02-17-2005, 01:45 PM	#3
PaulW AudiWorld Super User Account #: 22012 Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 18,107	Can't answer the question But what I can say is you HAVE to get that car! Not many D2 W12's out there, saw one in Italy a few years ago. Is it a standard or long wheel base car? Do you know what model transmission it has in it? Is it a ZF? I wonder if it's the 01L/5HP24A tranny in our car or not. Would think it's a beefed up one.....what is the HP/torque specs? __________________ _________________________________ Paul Waterloo 01 S8 Black on Black Lots of Electronic Mods D2 A8/A8L/S8 FAQ Digest

02-17-2005, 02:14 PM	#4
Berrie New Member Account #: 43839 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 57	Re: Specifications The car has 420 HP and 550 NM (think you use other figures for torque in the US). Colour is mingblue and it has the standard wheel base. 50K miles (80,000km). I don't know what model transmission it has. But on the highway, it was making exactly the same amount of revs at any given speed as my own car. So I suppose it is the same transmission as in my car, apart from the strange engine braking effect. If this is normal for the W12 though, I'd buy this car immediately. But otherwise, there are about 25 W12s for sale in Germany and about 5 in The Netherlands, so I can choose another one if necessary Actually, this is my dream car too. The A8 (D2) is the best looking car I've ever seen (perhaps it is matched by a Ferrari 456) and as I like to have as much horse power as possible, the W12 is a supercar for me.

02-17-2005, 02:16 PM	#5
Jkay Member Account #: 55364 Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,300	Perhaps the brakes are dragging lightly on the rotors. __________________ ------------------------------------- 18" 2006 Soft 5-Spokes - Goodyear F1s - Milltek Exhaust - Clear Sides & Corners

02-17-2005, 02:16 PM	#6
PaulW AudiWorld Super User Account #: 22012 Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 18,107	Got any pictures of it? On a car website or anything? Would love to see the engine stuffed in a D2....and there is no way it has the same tranny as in your present D2! :-) That's a good thing! __________________ _________________________________ Paul Waterloo 01 S8 Black on Black Lots of Electronic Mods D2 A8/A8L/S8 FAQ Digest

02-17-2005, 03:00 PM	#7
Der Kimbo AudiWorld Super User Account #: 24630 Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 6,745	I would suggest if it is at all possible to go drive a Phaeton W12... It uses the same engine and transmission as the D2 W12. It is a different transmission than the V8's.

02-17-2005, 03:37 PM	#8
ryoung Elder Member Account #: 17157 Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 11,977	Perhaps 43% more engine braking? Assuming transmission gearing is the same, engine braking is probably only proportional to engine displacement. Comparing the 6L W12 versus the 4.2L V8, 6.0/4.2 = 43% increase. __________________ 2001 Audi S8 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser

02-17-2005, 04:02 PM	#9
Jkay Member Account #: 55364 Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,300	I thought the same thing, but JimR says "no" .. and he drove one. __________________ ------------------------------------- 18" 2006 Soft 5-Spokes - Goodyear F1s - Milltek Exhaust - Clear Sides & Corners

02-17-2005, 05:51 PM	#10
JimR Member Account #: 1018 Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 46,942	Almost certainly a different transmission, though, FWIW. __________________ JimR '07 A3 3.2q Lava Gray '99 A8 4.2q Pearl White '99 A6 Avant 2.8q Silver (My old car, son now drives) '06 Boxster S Guards Red (wife's wheels) Support the troops "Over the years, I have come to understand a critical difference between the world of fear and the world of freedom. In the former, the primary challenge is finding the inner strength to confront evil. In the latter, the primary challenge is finding the moral clarity to see evil."

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