So I drove a 2014 S5 6MT today...

[rlarsen462]

And to be honest, I liked it waaaay more than I thought I would. It was Ibis with black optics, no idea on other trim or features, didn't care (it was right at about $60K). Apparently one of the few 6MT's on a lot in SoCal (traffic keeps people away from manuals I guess?)

I thought I would HATE the V6, primary reason I bought the RS5 is because I had to stick with a V8 after my B7 S4 and didn't want to buy an older S5 with the 4.2. But actually, it's a great feeling car with the stick, and the transmission and clutch feel very smooth. I think a short shift kit and solid shifter bushings would do it wonders, but these are cheap upgrades. The V6 has a pretty decent sound, although I understand it's "accentuated" by Sound Aktor (sp?) or something? Would definitely need a drop and better sways, felt like I was on an ice rink compared to the RS5 (and I still have stock suspension on the RS).

Long story short, if I'd been able to test drive a 6MT (there were none that I could find at the time) when I was looking to buy and ended up with an RS5, I may have ended up sticking with the S5. I like the new red ring starter button too, so I had parts order me one so I can toss it in the RS5.

I also realized, no matter how incredible the RS5 transmission is (and it really is incredible), it can't replaced the connected feeling you get from a true manual. Heel and toed it a few times, and it's just so engaging...it's been a few years since I've driven an MT.

Anyway, thought I'd share.

[Seis-Speed]

6mt is the only way to drive a car. JMO, the low end torque in the Scars is really solid. If Audi would get better steering it would trump the competition. It will be interesting to drive the new M3/M4 which will be offered in the US as a 6mt.

[superswiss]

I test drove an S5 S-tronic before I ordered the RS5, because there were no RS5 to test drive. The S5 is a nice car no question, but as you said, it needs upgrades. I like how politely you put the soundaktor. It's essentially a wave file that is "artfully" modulated based on the throttle input. It does sound racy until you realize that you are basically listening to Gran Turismo while driving the car and then it becomes a little embarrassing.

I was driving manuals up until the RS5, and actually wanted an s-tronic. The more I'm driving the RS5, the more I agree with the head of engineering at Quattro Gmbh. The s-tronic is the best of both worlds. For a daily driver that's also a fun car, it's the ultimate transmission. Comfortable and convenient when just toiling around, stuck in traffic or long distance highway cruising and lots of fun in manual mode when you want it. For a weekend fun car I agree, I probably would get a 6mt.

[rlarsen462]

Totally agree...my RS5 is weekends-only which may be why I am still drawn to the 6MT. I haven't ticked over 1100 miles and I got it 3 months ago. I actually didn't realize the soundaktor thing was that cheeseball.

[scottykenneth]

Yea man. Love my car. Def needs some mods as said. Coils and spacers install next week. Lookin like a Q5 rt now. Haha

[FaceSmA5h]

When I had the S5 in a a manual...it was so fuuuuuun to drive. Like you, we both live in a lot of traffic. The joy and feel of driving a manual (esp in an Audi A5/S5) out weighs everything else imho.

Hopefully they'll make a limited edition RS5 in manual in the future ; )

[llBen]

I like how politely you put the soundaktor. It's essentially a wave file that is "artfully" modulated based on the throttle input. It does sound racy until you realize that you are basically listening to Gran Turismo while driving the car and then it becomes a little embarrassing.

The VW variant is a little linear actuator (which can't be used to 'play' audio at all). It's attached to the base of the windscreen and wired directly to the ECU Bus. It reads a ton of engine status messages (RPM, ignition timing, fuel pressure, wastegate state) to repeat the low frequency vibrations of the engine against the windscreen so that they can be transferred into the cabin.

You do not hear any "sounds" at all from the speaker, what you hear is actually your windscreen vibrating at almost exactly the same frequency as your engine. I'd imagine that you would get a similar result if you tore out the sound proofing and installed some stiff crappy engine mounts.

When you make a car for such a broad audience, half of which want something loud and the other half of which want something tame, I totally respect the need to be a little innovative with getting the sound of the engine into the car for those that want to hear it. A better route would be to offer a real sport exhaust option, of course, but then "noise pollution" comes into play.

In short, at least the sound you're hearing is not a wav file matched to RPM and played through the car speakers. It's not trying to make the car sound like a V8 or anything heinous. I do recommend removing the fuse or using VCDS to turn the volume to 0% for those that are fitting after-market exhausts, as it will interfere with the soundtrack of your new pipes!

BMW, on the other hand, have opted to play Gran Turismo as you describe.

[Okan509]

nice!

thanks for the comparison, make me feel like I got great value for my car..

Is the sounaktor really that loud? I haven't even noticed it. I've been trying to evaluate it, but have failed to

[mxrz]

6mt is the only way to drive a car.

Get ready to not drive any new cars soon.

[u2nelson]

The sound actor is not really that bad. I pulled the fuse on mine, I like it better this way, but the difference really is not how it sounds, just the volume of the sound. For me a little quieter cabin is better. Its so simple to pull the fuse and try it, everyone should play with this and make their own decision about it.

Totally agree on the suspension upgrades. You can see in my sig line what i have done, and the car is now amazing on the twisties.

[visualguy]

Get ready to not drive any new cars soon.

Even if Audi drops it in the next-gen S4/S5, BMW will still be offering it on all their cars up to the 4-series, including the new M3/M4.

By the way, I heard that 30% of S5 cars sold in the US are sold with 6MT, so not sure it makes sense for Audi to stop offering it.

[John P.]

I commute 40 minutes each way to work in my 6mt and wouldn't change a thing. Orange County traffic, too.

[NYSpeedRacer]

Even if Audi drops it in the next-gen S4/S5, BMW will still be offering it on all their cars up to the 4-series, including the new M3/M4.

By the way, I heard that 30% of S5 cars sold in the US are sold with 6MT, so not sure it makes sense for Audi to stop offering it.

Manual will always be a staple in BMWs. Even in my M6 GC, it has a 6speed.




Sent telepathically

[DinB]

Next gen BMW M5 is not going to have it either. They only offered it for the North American market. only 15% of M3 were sold with a manual transmission and that is one of the prime cars fot for the manual transmission.

[superswiss]

^^ Will be quite interesting how this goes. They tried this two generations ago and the US consumers rebelled, so they slapped an inferior manual gearbox on it for the US market only. If the trend keeps going this way, the latest drive train improvements will only be available with dual clutch transmissions and maybe the slush boxes, but manuals will just be an afterthought. Audi has already started it. The next generation quattro system introduced with the RS5 is not available on manual cars. The poor sales of the TT RS pretty much sealed the fate of the manual transmission in future RS cars. Ain't gonna happen anymore. Eventually even BMW will stop.

[Shawn@PacificGerman]

I liked my 13' S5 6 speed m/t , It was sublime in a fit of rage.
But commuting was tiring. Since I traded up to the 7 speed DSG, Id have a hard time going back.

[QYKSLVR]

^^ Will be quite interesting how this goes. They tried this two generations ago and the US consumers rebelled, so they slapped an inferior manual gearbox on it for the US market only. If the trend keeps going this way, the latest drive train improvements will only be available with dual clutch transmissions and maybe the slush boxes, but manuals will just be an afterthought. Audi has already started it. The next generation quattro system introduced with the RS5 is not available on manual cars. The poor sales of the TT RS pretty much sealed the fate of the manual transmission in future RS cars. Ain't gonna happen anymore. Eventually even BMW will stop.

I would have loved a MT on my RS5 but not at the expense of the crown gear diff and other Quattro upgrades that came with the S-tronic. I just traded in a 2011 6-MT S4. I think that everything about the RS5 is superior, and don't even miss the low end torque as much as I love the top end rush on the RS5. My S4 never passed as easily as the RS5 does.

[visualguy]

Next gen BMW M5 is not going to have it either. They only offered it for the North American market. only 15% of M3 were sold with a manual transmission and that is one of the prime cars fot for the manual transmission.

Huh? 44.1% of M3 cars were sold with 6MT in the US and Canada. Outside North America, 31.9% were sold with 6MT. This is over the last 6 years or so. M3 manual adoption has fallen in North America over the last couple of years to 30.5%, but dropped much more significantly in the rest of the world (down to 5.9%!)

There's no way BMW will drop the manual in the US anytime over the next few years - they're selling way too many of these to do that. This applies up to the 4-series. 5-series and beyond is a different story.

If Audi kills the manual on their cars, BMW will get some of those customers as well.

[Seis-Speed]

Get ready to not drive any new cars soon.

Just bought a 2013 S4 already looking at 2015 M3 in 6MT....

soon (sn)
adv. soon·er, soon·est
1. In the near future; shortly.
2. Without hesitation; promptly: came as soon as possible.
3. Before the usual or appointed time; early.
4. With willingness; readily: I'd as soon leave right now.
5. Obsolete Immediately.
Idioms:
no sooner than
As soon as:

[Barathon]

The VW variant is a little linear actuator (which can't be used to 'play' audio at all). It's attached to the base of the windscreen and wired directly to the ECU Bus. It reads a ton of engine status messages (RPM, ignition timing, fuel pressure, wastegate state) to repeat the low frequency vibrations of the engine against the windscreen so that they can be transferred into the cabin.

You do not hear any "sounds" at all from the speaker, what you hear is actually your windscreen vibrating at almost exactly the same frequency as your engine. I'd imagine that you would get a similar result if you tore out the sound proofing and installed some stiff crappy engine mounts.

When you make a car for such a broad audience, half of which want something loud and the other half of which want something tame, I totally respect the need to be a little innovative with getting the sound of the engine into the car for those that want to hear it. A better route would be to offer a real sport exhaust option, of course, but then "noise pollution" comes into play.

In short, at least the sound you're hearing is not a wav file matched to RPM and played through the car speakers. It's not trying to make the car sound like a V8 or anything heinous. I do recommend removing the fuse or using VCDS to turn the volume to 0% for those that are fitting after-market exhausts, as it will interfere with the soundtrack of your new pipes!

BMW, on the other hand, have opted to play Gran Turismo as you describe.

I don't have my car yet but I was under the impression that you can control the soundaktor volume ect through the MMI system. At least that is what my dealership said. Is that not the case?

[blendertoes]

The Soundaktor volume is linked to which mode (lower in comfort, higher in dynamic) that you have selected, but in order to turn it all the way down, you need VCDS or to pull the fuse.

Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 4