Tiptronic autos
Discussion
Hello folks,
I'm thinking of changing cars soon, and high on my list is the Audi S6 (C5 variant). Now, this car only comes in auto (tip) form, and as I've never driven a tip, I'm keen for info on how it works.
Ok, I know 'how' it works, but it's more the day to day 'living with it' stuff. I've driven traditional autos, and I've driven DSG/SMG/PDK 'flappy paddle' cars. I'm assuming that Tip comes somewhere between the two? But how much control do you have?
Answers on a postcard please...
Ta.
I'm thinking of changing cars soon, and high on my list is the Audi S6 (C5 variant). Now, this car only comes in auto (tip) form, and as I've never driven a tip, I'm keen for info on how it works.
Ok, I know 'how' it works, but it's more the day to day 'living with it' stuff. I've driven traditional autos, and I've driven DSG/SMG/PDK 'flappy paddle' cars. I'm assuming that Tip comes somewhere between the two? But how much control do you have?
Answers on a postcard please...
Ta.
TTwiggy said:
kambites said:
I thought "Tiptronic" was a Porsche trademark?
It appears not. Audi used the term extensively, before they introduced DSG.kambites said:
TTwiggy said:
kambites said:
I thought "Tiptronic" was a Porsche trademark?
It appears not. Audi used the term extensively, before they introduced DSG.Being able to choose the gear is a nice feature to have on an auto car.
But don’t think it going to be anything like a manual.
If you want anything at all like a manual, then get a manual with a gearstick.
If you want an auto then get an auto, and if it has flappy paddles then consider it a bonus.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking flappy paddles is like a manual, it isn’t at all.
It might be fun for a testdrive or for a few days of ownership – but the novelty wears off and you’re then stuck with an auto.
bigandclever said:
TTwiggy said:
kambites said:
I thought "Tiptronic" was a Porsche trademark?
It appears not. Audi used the term extensively, before they introduced DSG.
kambites said:
Fair enough - well if it's the same as the Porsche usage, it's a normal slush box with a button that lets you suggest to the car that it might want to change gear some time about now. You'll use it for about ten minutes until the novelty value wears off, then leave it in full auto mode for ever more.
Exactly. Auto mode or Sport for me generally. I've never really felt the need to use it in the BM and the lever is the wrong way round anyway (forward to change up?)OP - go out and test drive one, it's the only way to know if you'll like it. My 335i is an automatic with flappy paddles on the steering wheel, and I love it. 90% of my driving is done in fully automatic mode but when I want to have a play around and hold onto gears - it's into Sports mode and use the paddles.
Chaps - many thanks for the input, but maybe I wasn't clear enough in the OP.
I have identified a car I'd like to buy (Audi S6 (C5)). This only comes in tiptronic - I don't have the option of manual or DSG.
I was after views on what a tip box is like. I suspect that it's basically an auto, with (very) limited ability to select gears.
I have identified a car I'd like to buy (Audi S6 (C5)). This only comes in tiptronic - I don't have the option of manual or DSG.
I was after views on what a tip box is like. I suspect that it's basically an auto, with (very) limited ability to select gears.
My 964 was a tiptronic, and whilst I prepare to be called all sorts- it actually suited driving in Dubai perfectly.
95% of my driving was on straight, busy roads- leave it in auto.
For the other 5% of the time, used as a manual, it was fine- swift gearchanges, when you want them-up or down- still smooth, and stymied only by having only 4 ratios- a little gap between top of 2nd and into 3rd.
Actually quite a good gearbox for the conditions I was using it in, and far better than I had expected.
I ran a merc c220 a while ago- left and right was up/down which took some getting used to, and it only ever changed when IT wanted to- not when asked, so if pushing on, it never gave confidence.
Current 7 series has buttons on front and back of the steering wheel, and again works fine, and surprisingly quick for the size of car.
Can't comment on the Audi setup, wouldn't bother with the merc- stick it in D and get on with it.
The Porsche however, gets loads of flak- mainly as the remainder of the car is renowned for it's purity of feedback, character and so on, but having lived with one- yeah, I'd have another.
In the UK it would have to be a manual though
95% of my driving was on straight, busy roads- leave it in auto.
For the other 5% of the time, used as a manual, it was fine- swift gearchanges, when you want them-up or down- still smooth, and stymied only by having only 4 ratios- a little gap between top of 2nd and into 3rd.
Actually quite a good gearbox for the conditions I was using it in, and far better than I had expected.
I ran a merc c220 a while ago- left and right was up/down which took some getting used to, and it only ever changed when IT wanted to- not when asked, so if pushing on, it never gave confidence.
Current 7 series has buttons on front and back of the steering wheel, and again works fine, and surprisingly quick for the size of car.
Can't comment on the Audi setup, wouldn't bother with the merc- stick it in D and get on with it.
The Porsche however, gets loads of flak- mainly as the remainder of the car is renowned for it's purity of feedback, character and so on, but having lived with one- yeah, I'd have another.
In the UK it would have to be a manual though
TTwiggy said:
I was after views on what a tip box is like. I suspect that it's basically an auto, with (very) limited ability to select gears.
I can’t comment on the specific box on the audi.I had a 135i with the BMW version, it was an auto with flappy paddles, or I could change with the stick in sports mode.
(that’s a 3l twin turbo 1 series cabrio).
As mentioned above.
Think of it like a Auto with a bit of extra control when you want it.
To all intents and purpose, it is an auto.
The tiptronic is useful to drop a gear an increase revs when approaching a hill, or to keep in low gear on snow.
But (certainly on mine) the gearbox can override your decision anyway.
If I was buying another auto I’d want a tiptronic option (with paddles or stick), but I wouldn’t get one thinking it would be a replacement to a manual.
After twenty five years of driving and being absolutely convinced that manual is the only way to go, I recently bought my first auto, a SLK 280 which has a 3.0 litre V6, 231hp I think.
It's a revelation, I absolutely love it! It has the "flappy paddles" and I agree that you'll use them a couple of times in the first week in "manual" and never again, but what they are very useful for is dialing down a gear or two on a long descent, or shifting into an appropriate gear in readiness for an overtake so you're not slowed waiting for the kickdown. Pull and hold the "up" paddle for more than a second and it shifts straight back to "drive" afterwards (one quick click just shifts it up a gear).
Modern autos are a completely different kettle of mackerel to the old slushmatics. Mine has 7 gears, is butter smooth and seamless in changing gear, and very "intelligent" (ie if you brake gently on a long descent it'll shift down to give you a little engine braking, or it won't suddenly change up or down mid corner if you're cornering quickly and upset the balance).
I think the trick with autos is, get a modern one with plenty of gears, and only have one in a powerful car (nothing worse than gutless cars with autos screaming their heads off and doing nothing every time you put your foot down).
Oh, and beware car "experts" who've never driven a modern auto but will tell you they're rubbish because they once read it in Max Power magazine.
It's a revelation, I absolutely love it! It has the "flappy paddles" and I agree that you'll use them a couple of times in the first week in "manual" and never again, but what they are very useful for is dialing down a gear or two on a long descent, or shifting into an appropriate gear in readiness for an overtake so you're not slowed waiting for the kickdown. Pull and hold the "up" paddle for more than a second and it shifts straight back to "drive" afterwards (one quick click just shifts it up a gear).
Modern autos are a completely different kettle of mackerel to the old slushmatics. Mine has 7 gears, is butter smooth and seamless in changing gear, and very "intelligent" (ie if you brake gently on a long descent it'll shift down to give you a little engine braking, or it won't suddenly change up or down mid corner if you're cornering quickly and upset the balance).
I think the trick with autos is, get a modern one with plenty of gears, and only have one in a powerful car (nothing worse than gutless cars with autos screaming their heads off and doing nothing every time you put your foot down).
Oh, and beware car "experts" who've never driven a modern auto but will tell you they're rubbish because they once read it in Max Power magazine.
I would disagree with the comments about the novelty wearing off. We had a V6 Freelander with a tiptronic auto (sequential gearlever instead of flappy paddles) and it was almost always used when pressing on along b-roads or twisty a-roads. Much better than watching a dimwitted auto slushing up and down through ratios when you want to hold gears or downshift for bends
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