Tiptronic or S-tronic for MY2013 A5?

[dckim93]

Hi, I am considering to buy an A5 later this year and wondering whether I should get a good discount on the old model or get the new, facelifted one. If the new model has S-tronic transmission, instead of the current tiptronic, I am pretty sure I will get the new one. However, the latest press release from Audi that I found here says the MY2013 A5 will only get the tiptronic transmission. Any chance Audi may change its mind and install S-tronic on A5? Any other real advantages of getting the facelifted A5 (other than the subtle changes in design)? Many thanks.

[Huey52]

Definitely S-tronic if avilable to you. State of the art vs. a fairly dated technology at this point. Alas still the Tip-T here in the states for the A5/S5 coupe (S-tronic currently in the S5 Cabrio and slated for S5 2013 Coupe).

[tboooe]

Definitely S-tronic if avilable to you. State of the art vs. a fairly dated technology at this point. Alas still the Tip-T here in the states for the A5/S5 coupe (S-tronic currently in the S5 Cabrio and slated for S5 2013 Coupe).

Just out of curiosity, what is the real world difference between Tiptronic and S-tronic? I know S-tronic is newer and better but is there really a difference?

[gd10]

it will be tiptronic...

[IMG] a5tip by gdefran1, on Flickr[/IMG]

[mavis]

Tiptronic/Manual for A5
S-tronic for S5
S-tronic for RS5

Hippo looking A5/S5/RS5 for 2013

[mavis]

Just out of curiosity, what is the real world difference between Tiptronic and S-tronic? I know S-tronic is newer and better but is there really a difference?

Tiptronic has one clutch
S-tronic has two clutches

[MonzaA5]

Tiptronic has one clutch
S-tronic has two clutches

Wrong. Tiptronic doesn't have a "clutch"; it's a traditional automatic with a torque converter. S-tronic is a dual clutch transmission with electro-hydraulically activated clutches.

Although S-tronic is theoretically faster shifting, the modern 8-speed Tiptronic is also extremely fast and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in everyday driving. The 8-speed tranny is certainly nothing like old automatics where you had to floor the accelerator and wait two seconds for the tranny to downshift. Tiptronic is also smoother than S-tronic, which is why Audi puts in the A8 even in Europe.

[tboooe]

Wrong. Tiptronic doesn't have a "clutch"; it's a traditional automatic with a torque converter. S-tronic is a dual clutch transmission with electro-hydraulically activated clutches.

Although S-tronic is theoretically faster shifting, the modern 8-speed Tiptronic is also extremely fast and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in everyday driving. The 8-speed tranny is certainly nothing like old automatics where you had to floor the accelerator and wait two seconds for the tranny to downshift. Tiptronic is also smoother than S-tronic, which is why Audi puts in the A8 even in Europe.

Interesting comments. So it seems that perhaps the S-tronic may be newer but not necessarily better in real world terms. Marketing strategy is so interesting!

[mxrz]

The slushbox has higher parasitic loss compared to the twin clutch. More power is lost between the crankshaft and the wheels.

[mavis]

Wrong. Tiptronic doesn't have a "clutch"; it's a traditional automatic with a torque converter. S-tronic is a dual clutch transmission with electro-hydraulically activated clutches.

Although S-tronic is theoretically faster shifting, the modern 8-speed Tiptronic is also extremely fast and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference in everyday driving. The 8-speed tranny is certainly nothing like old automatics where you had to floor the accelerator and wait two seconds for the tranny to downshift. Tiptronic is also smoother than S-tronic, which is why Audi puts in the A8 even in Europe.

8Speed Tiptronic should give great mpg's, and torque converter is the equivalent of a clutch.

[Beast]

they should put r tronic for rs5....

[gd10]

they should put r tronic for rs5....

they are.

[FaceSmA5h]

they should put r tronic for rs5....

SMH...

[b6onboost]

Between S-tronic and Tiptronic there are still tradeoffs. In 'auto' mode the Tiptronic is going to be much smoother, in 'manual' mode the S-tronic will shift much quicker.

[mxrz]

they should put r tronic for rs5....

Please elaborate, why the hell should Audi do that?

they are.

Not really.

[DeMOROlized]

it will be tiptronic...

[IMG] a5tip by gdefran1, on Flickr[/IMG]

OP is from Hong Kong, and therefore what is available in the USA is irrelevant.

[mxrz]

OP is from Hong Kong, and therefore what is available in the USA is irrelevant.

Audi does not have an S-Tronic box that mates with a longitudinal 2.0T (yet), so where OP is from, is irrelevant.

[Beast]

idk I just thought R tronic was better lol, guess not.

[mxrz]

idk I just thought R tronic was better lol, guess not.

Not only is no better than the DSG/S-Tronic, it's a transmission designed specifically for the mid mounted V10. Making a version that is mounted to a different engine, not even in the same layout basically means designing a new one. In the V8 version, in automatic mode, it's absolutely awful.

[MonzaA5]

Audi does not have an S-Tronic box that mates with a longitudinal 2.0T (yet), so where OP is from, is irrelevant.

Wrong. Audi has been matching longitudinal 2.0T with S-tronic ever since the B8 came out in 2008. Just because something is not available in North America does not mean it doesn't exist in other parts of the world. So yes, where the OP is from is totally relevant.

[UmIsThisThingOn]

I was able to build an A5 Coupe 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic at the Audi HK site.

http://configurator.audi.com/acc/car...eng.view?msk=1

[mxrz]

I was wrong I see.

[dckim93]

Thanks all! I was surprised at the number of replies. I plan to move to Korea soon and buy the A5 there. I understand that, for the Korean market, Audi ships U.S.-configuration cars. I will probably need to see how deep the discount is for the old model around June / July and make a decision.

[Huey52]

BIG difference. The S-tronic is a dual clutch offering almost instantaneous shifts as the second clutch anticipates the next gear shift. The only downside is that it must go through all gears sequentially, but again so fast it's academic in practice.

Just out of curiosity, what is the real world difference between Tiptronic and S-tronic? I know S-tronic is newer and better but is there really a difference?