S Tronic Gearboxes

[motorheadman]

Are S Tronic Gearboxes reliable units? I've been looking at a Audi TT 2.0 Tdi's with S Tronic. A friend of mine had a Golf with one and said it was rubbish. It kept selecting the wrong gear for the job i.e. a high gear for going up hill etc. Maybe he was unlucky and bought a lemon? VW said there was nothing wrong with it.

Anyway, if they do go wrong are they expensive to put right? Or would a manual TT 2.0 TDi be a better bet?

[Glosphil]

My first auto car is DSG (Audi call it S-Tronic) in a Skoda Octavia vRS (diesel). I will never go back to a manual.

[zeDuffMan]

S-Tronic is very reliable if maintained properly.

[MrBarry123]

Provided they're not abused and serviced correct, yes, they are reliable.

However should they go wrong, yes, they are very expensive to fix. The reason being that when they go wrong, they REALLY do go wrong.

[Dr G]

The 6-speed S-Tronic in a TT 2.0 TDI is generally trouble free. They need oil every 40k (same time the diff oil needs doing) but tend to behave themselves.

All autos these days are biased for CO2 emissions and will often be in a higher gear than you personally would choose in a manual. If you find this the case just use the paddles.

[Dr_Rick]

motorheadman said:

Anyway, if they do go wrong are they expensive to put right?

The S-Tronic is basically 3no components:
- Clutch pack (2no clutches)
- Gearsets
- Mechatronic unit

If something goes wrong, the broad figures for replacement parts are:
- £1,500 for clutches
- £9,000 for a 'gearbox'
- £3,500 for a mechatronic unit

My car I think missed it's gearbox service at 40k when I picked it up at 72k. I got a service done and have my fingers crossed from now on.

[catso]

I've got an A3, 3.2 Quattro with DSG, 12 years old, 88,000 miles, did the oil/filter change at 40k & 80k and been totally trouble-free.

I'm looking at replacing the car soon and am ideally looking for another (DSG/S-tronic) as I find them the best of both (auto & manual) worlds...

[motorheadman]

Dr_Rick said:

The S-Tronic is basically 3no components:
- Clutch pack (2no clutches)
- Gearsets
- Mechatronic unit

If something goes wrong, the broad figures for replacement parts are:
- £1,500 for clutches
- £9,000 for a 'gearbox'
- £3,500 for a mechatronic unit

My car I think missed it's gearbox service at 40k when I picked it up at 72k. I got a service done and have my fingers crossed from now on.

How much??????????!!!!!!!!!!

[AMDBSTony]

I bought a 2015 A6 2.0tdi s-tronic - bloody awful.

The car was IMO dangerous. You were taking your life in your hands pulling out from busy junctions, the delay from pressing the accelerator and the power being transmitted was unacceptable.

I was nearly sideswiped joining a major roundabout, the car just bogged down. That was the last straw for me.

I don't know how they are allowed to continue production of cars with these types of 'characteristics'.

I bought the car new in March15 and by September 15 it had gone -,thats how bad it was.

I had many A6 tdi prior but they were all manuals.

My experience says go for the manual or the 8 speed auto......now that is a good auto box.

[SMB]

motorheadman said:

How much??????????!!!!!!!!!!

Last I heard mechatronics was 1500. And less if from an independent or repaired outside the vag network. So I think there is some scaremongering in those numbers.

[SMB]

AMDBSTony said:

I bought a 2015 A6 2.0tdi s-tronic - bloody awful.

The car was IMO dangerous. You were taking your life in your hands pulling out from busy junctions, the delay from pressing the accelerator and the power being transmitted was unacceptable.

I was nearly sideswiped joining a major roundabout, the car just bogged down. That was the last straw for me.

I don't know how they are allowed to continue production of cars with these types of 'characteristics'.

I bought the car new in March15 and by September 15 it had gone -,thats how bad it was.

I had many A6 tdi prior but they were all manuals.

My experience says go for the manual or the 8 speed auto......now that is a good auto box.

Strangely I don't have an issue getting away smartly, you need to change your driving style and think ahead a bit more compared to an old fashioned torque converter box. If you let the clutches start to engage then they will rocket away. My guess is you came off the brake and pressed hard on the gas and had a small delay followed by a jerk forward.

[va1o]

I've had 3 Golfs with the same 6-speed DSG gearbox and found it to be very good. Suits the 2.0 TDI particularly well and always seems to be in the right gear.

Its a shame the new TT TDI is no longer offered with it as would be an ideal car for me!

[Glosphil]

AMDBSTony said:

I bought a 2015 A6 2.0tdi s-tronic - bloody awful.

The car was IMO dangerous. You were taking your life in your hands pulling out from busy junctions, the delay from pressing the accelerator and the power being transmitted was unacceptable.

I was nearly sideswiped joining a major roundabout, the car just bogged down. That was the last straw for me.

I don't know how they are allowed to continue production of cars with these types of 'characteristics'.

I bought the car new in March15 and by September 15 it had gone -,thats how bad it was.

I had many A6 tdi prior but they were all manuals.

My experience says go for the manual or the 8 speed auto......now that is a good auto box.

I have heard a number of drivers of DSG equipped cars complaining of this problem. In 2-1/2 years and 26K miles in a Skoda Octavia vRS diesel with DSG I have never suffered from hesitation when pulling away.

The earlier suggestion that it may be caused by a sudden change from firm braking to applying the throttle could be right. I will try that next time I am out in the car. I don't usually drive like that; I prefer to plan ahead.

[AMDBSTony]

Planning ahead is fine but sometimes you need to be decisive, especially when joining busy roundabouts or junctions.

Car didnt work for me which is why after 6 months of ownership it went.

As i said, i now have the audi 8 speed auto and i dont have the problem so it must have been the car.

I also have other autos that dont have the problem so there can be only one conclusion!

I would advise anyone buying one of the 7 speed s-tronics to have a real good drive, possibly borrow one for a weekend to gain experience. If it works for you then great, just didnt work for me, my wife or any of the others that drove this car.

Its a real bitter pill to swallow and say "oh yes, i spent a fortune on a car and i made the wrong decision" but if this helps others?

Anyway, have moved on and not out for an argument. This was my experience with the s-tronic and it wasn't a pleasant one.

[lee_fr200]

I've just got a 6spd dsg box and I must say its lovely it's smooth and it changes gear very quickly,

Doubt I'd have another manual

[alxce]

I have been driving an S4 Avant with S Tronic for the last 9 months and my opinion of the box is that's it's the best I have ever driven. I get no hesitation under any circumstances and under all driving conditions it's silky smooth and lightning quick moving through the gears. Previous experience of a DSG box is limited to an M3 which I also found very impressive and difficult to fault.
Absolute worst ever "auto" gearbox I had was Sportshift in an AM V8 Vantage which in terms of hesitation pulling away was downright dangerous.

[motorheadman]

AMDBSTony said:

I bought a 2015 A6 2.0tdi s-tronic - bloody awful.

The car was IMO dangerous. You were taking your life in your hands pulling out from busy junctions, the delay from pressing the accelerator and the power being transmitted was unacceptable.

I was nearly sideswiped joining a major roundabout, the car just bogged down. That was the last straw for me.

I don't know how they are allowed to continue production of cars with these types of 'characteristics'.

I bought the car new in March15 and by September 15 it had gone -,thats how bad it was.

I had many A6 tdi prior but they were all manuals.

My experience says go for the manual or the 8 speed auto......now that is a good auto box.

Yeah, my mate spoke about the very same thing in his Golf. Pulling out of junctions was dangerous! He's got rid of it now as he thought it was a bag of sh*te. I like the idea of an S Tronic A5 3.0 Tdi quattro or a TT but its really putting me off getting one. Seems like its a bit hit n miss on whether you get a good one or not.

I heard an A5 3.0 Tdi quattro wouldn't be a great idea as a manual due to the power?

[catso]

motorheadman said:

I heard an A5 3.0 Tdi quattro wouldn't be a great idea as a manual due to the power?

My brother-in-law's got one. It certainly changed his (and my) opinion on diesels, pulls like a train.

[Dr_Rick]

SMB said:

Last I heard mechatronics was 1500. And less if from an independent or repaired outside the vag network. So I think there is some scaremongering in those numbers.

I think the parts are in that ballpark - I don't have my notes from talking to Audi here. But the consumables and labour bulked the quote I was given to north of £3k. I declined.

Also, this was from a local independent, and I canvassed a number of independents for opinions, based on the symptoms my car was showing. All were in the same region price wise, but their views as to the cause were not consistent; some thought Mechatronic, one thought clutches, one wasn't sure.

I'm not trying to scaremonger. The bulk of the S-Tronic boxes perform just fine. I think the main point is that if / when it needs work, because it's so complicated, there is the potential for the bill to be eyewatering.

Edited by Dr_Rick on Monday 21st March 13:35

[AMDBSTony]

motorheadman said:

AMDBSTony said:

I bought a 2015 A6 2.0tdi s-tronic - bloody awful.

The car was IMO dangerous. You were taking your life in your hands pulling out from busy junctions, the delay from pressing the accelerator and the power being transmitted was unacceptable.

I was nearly sideswiped joining a major roundabout, the car just bogged down. That was the last straw for me.

I don't know how they are allowed to continue production of cars with these types of 'characteristics'.

I bought the car new in March15 and by September 15 it had gone -,thats how bad it was.

I had many A6 tdi prior but they were all manuals.

My experience says go for the manual or the 8 speed auto......now that is a good auto box.

Yeah, my mate spoke about the very same thing in his Golf. Pulling out of junctions was dangerous! He's got rid of it now as he thought it was a bag of sh*te. I like the idea of an S Tronic A5 3.0 Tdi quattro or a TT but its really putting me off getting one. Seems like its a bit hit n miss on whether you get a good one or not.

I heard an A5 3.0 Tdi quattro wouldn't be a great idea as a manual due to the power?

Wouldnt have thought a manual 4WD would have any issues?

I have the 3.0 biturbo with the 8 Speed auto. Its not s-tronic and its a fantastic auto box.