Dynamic vs Auto vs Comfort

[omniphil]

Hey guys,

Is it just me of does Comfort and Auto feel like mostly the same thing? (I don't have magnetic ride)
My theory is that Auto will adjust to your driving style so if your driving normally (Which I usually do in Auto mode) it will put you in the Comfort setting, if you drive aggressively it will start to respond more like Dynamic.

I'm not sure there are really 3 different throttle maps and transmission maps? "Auto" makes it sound like it automatically switches between Comfort and Dynamic based on your driving style?

Side Note for Individual mode. Why can't we customize the traction control setting in here too? I'm my previous car (2009 M3) you have the M button that calls up you favorite settings, in there you can change the traction control to the sporty setting which is what you usually want when driving "Dynamically"
When you are in Dynamic mode in this car is the traction control lessen at all?
I assume it's not possible for the tuners to add traction control selection to the Individual or Dynamic modes?

[MichiganRS3]

auto will switch between comfort and dynamic.

Example - cruising along in traffic, easy on/off throttle = comfort settings comfort engine / trans / suspension
Cruising along on open road, hammering on throttle & aggressive steering input = dynamic engine / trans / suspension

[Potatohead_RS3]

Auto won't switch between anything. Auto is simply Audi speak for 'normal.' It is a middle setting. I use auto and comfort all the time highway cruising and there is a definite noticeable difference between them, mainly in steering effort and ride stiffness. For me the car almost feels floaty in the comfort setting. Each mode also opens or closes the exhaust valve(s) at different times, but so does putting the trans/engine in sport mode.

To change the TC setting is just one button press, I don't see much time being saved by putting it into the individual options menu.

[dthem300a]

Here is break down of what each system is doing depending on the drive select mode you are in.

[Jeff_Jeske]

I wish we could modify the MAGRIDE inputs to make them even stiffer than dynamic AKA a track mode.

[TheContrarian]

I've wanted to ask if auto is a variable setting or just an in-between. It doesn't feel adaptive or variable.

Auto is the mode I use the least/never. I generally want to emphasize comfort or performance alone.

Most commonly I am in individual with everything on dynamic except for damping, which I set to comfort. It can feel a bit under dampened bouncy roads.

[RS3TP]

I wish we could modify the MAGRIDE inputs to make them even stiffer than dynamic AKA a track mode.

My RS3 came with the RS fixed suspension and I am thinking from your comments here that it might be equivalent to the dynamic shock setting on your Magride?

[DarkSi08]

My RS3 came with the RS fixed suspension and I am thinking from your comments here that it might be equivalent to the dynamic shock setting on your Magride?

Probably even a bit stiffer than that.

[RS3TP]

Probably even a bit stiffer than that.

okay thanks. It feels firm but not bone jarring or anything like that and it is very liveable as my daily driver. I had an 18 Golf R and in Race mode it felt pretty comparable

[Nardo_RS3]

There are huge differences in each setting. I know a lot of people don't feel a massive difference between "Auto" and the other modes, but trust me the difference is very noticeable if you have any back pain/injury and or sciatica :) I've been recovering slowly over the past six months and here is what I notice:

Comfort mode soaks up rough pavement really well but the downside (well, for me) is that the suspension seems to travel further and take longer to "settle" over large dips which can be really painful.

Dynamic mode was a no-no for me a few months ago as any road imperfection was pretty uncomfortable. As I heal, Dynamic mode is actually pretty comfortable as the car settles faster and there is far less motion over those large dips.

Auto mode has been my go-to around town for the past few months. It really does seem to be named incorrectly as it just feels like a mid-level setting between comfort and dynamic and it's a good compromise for me in pretty much all conditions of daily driving.

[steve111b]

When comparing Auto drive to Comfort drive I notice that in Auto the throttle is slightly more responsive when using the kickdown. Then, the car seems to upshift smoother after the kickdown when in Auto. In Comfort the car goes for the highest gear too quickly when coming off the throttle from the kickdown for my tastes. In any event there is not a lot of difference between the two, just an impression of better performance in Auto

There may be a map for comfort and a map for dynamic. Not sure that is the case, but 3 maps sounds unlikely to me. I suspect the gearbox shifts by throttle position. At 100% throttle the car shifts fast and hard. At 10% throttle the car shifts slow and soft.

The traction control is folded in with dynamic as a package. Yes, some traction control is turned off by selecting dynamic. There is no warning that this happens. You can turn off more traction control with the switch and there is a warning.

[Ross_T_Boss]

Comfort mode soaks up rough pavement really well but the downside (well, for me) is that the suspension seems to travel further and take longer to "settle" over large dips which can be really painful.

Exactly my experience, pain not an issue here fortunately but a bit unsettling on a high speed run. But then stick it in Dynamic and it was too jarring. Auto was fairly effective but I still found it sitting one way or the other.

What I found is the MSS (Track) springs really solved that dilemma for me, comfort doesn't lose confidence at high speed as it settles quicker (but without the jarring), but actually 'Auto' always seems to be bang on so I rarely ever bother moving it to anything else.

The difference is not as big as my MK2 but dynamic is actually useable :)

[Paul@SupremePower]

I've wanted to ask if auto is a variable setting or just an in-between. It doesn't feel adaptive or variable.

Auto is the mode I use the least/never. I generally want to emphasize comfort or performance alone.

Most commonly I am in individual with everything on dynamic except for damping, which I set to comfort. It can feel a bit under dampened bouncy roads.

This is me exactly for my RS3 and S5. I never use auto and use individual in dynamic everything except dampeners in comfort for winter. Summer it’s dynamic all the time or comfort in certain situations; usually for the comfort of a much older passenger or someone who is a wuss. 😜

[Paul@SupremePower]

My RS3 came with the RS fixed suspension and I am thinking from your comments here that it might be equivalent to the dynamic shock setting on your Magride?

Stiffer.

[seanix9]

Auto won't switch between anything. Auto is simply Audi speak for 'normal.' It is a middle setting. I use auto and comfort all the time highway cruising and there is a definite noticeable difference between them, mainly in steering effort and ride stiffness. For me the car almost feels floaty in the comfort setting. Each mode also opens or closes the exhaust valve(s) at different times, but so does putting the trans/engine in sport mode.

To change the TC setting is just one button press, I don't see much time being saved by putting it into the individual options menu.

Well summed up.

Auto is just an in-between function. It does not adapt to driving conditions.

I was actually testing this function yesterday with an another RS3 owner going for a spirited drive. Putting the car into dynamic, the suspension is even firmer than Auto.






Current - 2018 RS3 Sedan
Past - 2016 RS3 SB

[0000 RS5]

This is me exactly for my RS3 and S5. I never use auto and use individual in dynamic everything except dampeners in comfort for winter. Summer it’s dynamic all the time or comfort in certain situations; usually for the comfort of a much older passenger or someone who is a wuss. 😜

Spot on. Other than not having this thing you call winter here, this is exactly my routine.

[Gamil]

I never used the Auto setting before reading this post...
I REALLY do like the throttle response of this setting, compared to Comfort.

When I don't feel like driving in Dynamic, I always thought Comfort to have a long throttle response.
Auto is a nice in between, it just became my new Comfort setting thanks to you guys :)

[SlowSedans]

As far as engine power goes, there is no different between models, only difference is if you are in sport or drive. Load request and limits are the same for either across all 3 drive modes.

[rex_racer]

I wish we could modify the MAGRIDE inputs to make them even stiffer than dynamic AKA a track mode.

You should bug DSCSport www.dscsport.com to create and release a controller for the smaller chassis MQB cars. Complete end-user adjustability of the factory shocks as well as additional smart features that make them stand out. They're suppossedly working on a S4 controller at the moment.

[brad65ford]

Good thread.

[pulpoinspace]

the car has other drive modes????? dynamic for life.