2009 Audi A4 Avant: Transmission Tuning By Buick?

My friend who is a huge Audi-fan has the same complaints about their automatics, even the DSG. He circumvents the whole issue by exclusively buying manuals.

As an aside, I saw a 2009 A4 sedan for the first time today and, speaking from total honesty, thought it was one of the blandest and most boring cars I have ever seen. Only from the front was it distinguishable as an Audi. I don't understand how the Avant can look so good and the sedan so terrible. The previous generation A4 was vastly more attractive in my opinion.

One of the cool things about a small turbo is the ability to smoothly chug along at low RPMs.

I drive a Passat with the old 1.8T automatic, and in normal, sane, everyday driving, I rarely exceed 3K rpm. Hell, sometimes I quickly "tap" the DBW throttle just to get it into high gear (5th gear at ~40 mph).

It does wonders for fuel economy - you get less pumping loss at near-WOT and low RPMs. The instantaneous consumption meter says so, and besides, it's relaxing driving it as if it were a diesel, using the throttle to modulate boost, feeling the smooth, effortless low-RPM surge from the turbo.

If you were on a twisty mountain road, then I understand - in that case, I'd use Tiptronic, too.

Who says Buick has slow shifting transmissions? Most Buick transmissions are GM's Turbo HydraMatics, which are used in most other GM vehicles, and are generally considered to be excellent, smooth and quick shifting transmissions. So good that companies like BMW, Jaguar, and Rolls Royce have used them in their cars.

Stingray - its about the software, not the hardware...

My parents have had two A6's, and i would agree that the transmission programming is very conservative (though it's hard to fault the actual shifting).

However, I've found that VW group turbo I-4 engines pull quite hard at low rpm's, removing the need for a lot of shifts in normal driving.

related to one of the above posts - i rarely if ever need more than 3000 rpm with the 2.0T in my GTI, and the DSG almost never kicks down from 6th on the highway if i leave it in drive.

isn't the transmission adaptive?

my '07 A4 is ok, but my '05 A6 shifts quite roughly when driven aggressively through the lower gears. In normal driving it's fine though.

lol as soon as i read the title of this post, i wondered how long it would be before someone stated that Buick's don't have slow shifting transmissions. I'll admit, 4 posts is quicker then I expected.

So Audi programmed the automatic for improved fuel economy, but provided the manual mode for those who desire more aggressive shifting? Sounds like they've got all the bases covered nicely.

do they offer the DSG on the A4? My jetta wolfsburg has the DSG and i love it.

Seems to me that debating about which automatic is best and which gadget makes it better is a lot like debating all season tires.

Important in it's own way I guess but who really cares?

Empowah, I don't believe that your comment about small turbos being torquey at low RPM's is entirely true. My Volvo S60 AWD has a 2.5L five-cyl turbo and it's a slug unless you push it hard. The car has no power pulling away from a stoplight with a light foot, and it won't shift into 5th gear until you hit at least 50 mph. Sometimes when I'm cruising at 40, I manually shift into fifth, but the engine has so little power below 2k RPM, it downshifts into fourth the second I put it back into auto mode.

No, the new A4 does not come with DSG...and I can't understand why it doesn't?? The new S4 will come out with the new 7 speed DSG in the fall of 09 though....

the volvo has a very light turbo. the audi has a very, very impressive turbo-4. even in my jetta, i dont need to go past 3k revs on a stop light to keep up with other traffic.

my '07 A4 has paddle shifters but it is (apparently) still not considered DSG. It is considered tiptronic.

"No, the new A4 does not come with DSG...and I can't understand why it doesn't?? The new S4 will come out with the new 7 speed DSG in the fall of 09 though...."

Because Audi doesn't yet have a transverse mounted version of the DSG to use. You'll have to wait until next year for the S4. Even then you won't see a DSG on a standard S4, Americans want automatics.

Scott- your original post is just plain stupid. It kills me when auto writers pretend that everybody drives like an angry maniac and lambasts the manufacturers for "sapping" the fun out of the drive. The reality is that people actually care about fuel economy and upshifting as fast as possible is necessary to reach advertised EPA figures. If you don't like the transmission's logic, just leave it in sport (which locks-out top gear) or use the manual mode and stop crying. PS: Scott, the R8 doesn't have a "slushbox" in case you didn't know.

Mercedesfan- I cannot believe you thing the old A4 looks better than the new one. The old A4 had terrible proportions- short wheelbase, tall height, long overhangs and a high beltline. The new one is easily the most attractive car in the compact entry level lux sedan segment.

Correction- you will not see the DSG on the standard A4. Audi has already made this clear. They said Americans want automatics on the standard trim versions of their cars- the S/R lines are the only ones eligible for DSGs

The sport mode should really clear up these problems. I can understand the high gear choices and fuel economy programming in the regular auto mode; that makes perfect sense. But to have a sport mode that is tuned very similarly? Tisk-Tisk Audi. That is why you buy a manual. :)
P.S. Do the new A4s even come with a manual option?

"wagon's turbocharged 2.0-liter, which really comes alive above 3,000 rpm. "

Huh? The car's max torque is far lower.