2014/15 new shape S3 manual vs s-tronic

[PostHeads123]

I want to get an S3 the new shape 300ps model and can afford a 14/15 plate. I will be keeping the car long term 5 years plus do around 5-6k miles a year, how reliable are the s-tronic gear boxes these days ? I remember reading lots of stories of expensive bills with these on other Audi. For 2014 year I see a lot of manuals, I currently drive a manual car, if you were looking at long term ownership would you got manual or auto ?

Is there anything else on the early new shape S3's I need to look out for ?

[va1o]

I would definitely go S-Tronic, it's a great 'box and really suits the S3 nicely. Much nicer to drive than the Manual and lets you access the full performance very easily. Only thing to watch out for is the gearbox oil changes have been done on time (due every 40k miles).

The Manuals are undesirable with notoriously weak Clutches. I had a 2015 TT with the same engine and it failed after just 15k miles, ridiculous!

[Dr G]

Calling them undesirable is unfair; they are simply worth less money. Priced accordingly I've had no problem selling them. I personally prefer the manual although cannot fault the S-Tronic on any objective reason.

Clutches with standard power are fine driven sympathetically but they really don't last forever. If they've been used with any gusto they can start feeling heaving/slipping at around 50k. A map will zap even a new, standard clutch in no time.

S-Tronic box is fine and as already mentioned requires 40k oil changes.

Earlier cars have suffered leaks from the water pump/thermostat and Haldex pump failures. Think ~500 for water pump and ~300 for Haldex pump. They're otherwise quite reliable cars.