I just tripped on this website. I have had my Q7 since last March. 3.8 with Auto. I absolutely love the car, but absolutely hate the way the transmission operates. In the "D" postion, it shifts from First through Fourth before hitting 20mph! It shifts way too fast. At times, coming out of a red light, it lurches forward as if it is in too low a gear. Othertimes it lugs off slowly, as though it is in too high a gear.
In Sport Mode, it holds the gearshift points way too long. It feels like there is a problem with the shifting if driven mildly, and holds the gears almost until redline when dirven briskly.
Of course I brought it back to the dealer but was told "transmission operates as designed." Is this possible? Such a wonderfully engineered machine has a lousy transmission???
Any thoughts and/or recommendations are appreciated.
I think you are encountering the computer intervention into the throttle. Do you left-foot brake at all? I do, and I I had Audi check the transmission programming too. Like you, they said everything was normal. Over on Audiworld.com they told me to not left foot brake. I have stopped this completely and the problem is completely gone. There is a great height difference between the brake and gas pedal on the Q so I find it faster to react between brake and throttle by left-foot braking. But I think Audi has programmed the transmission/throttle to cut power if it senses too fast a transition from brake to gas - this must be to avoid "unintended acceleration". Remember 60 Minutes and the Audi 5000? I still occasiionally left foot brake - but only in anticipated stop and go traffic when I know I don't need to jump on the throttle.
Thanks for the reply. Apparently there are only two of us who have experienced this problem!
Unfortunately, I have never used my left-foot for braking so this is not the solution to my problem. Too bad, that would have been easy. I guess I'll just have to live with this. I'm an Audi fan, so this problem won't push me into a "benz" (ugh! - been there, won't ever do THAT again) but it does put a big blemish on an otherwise great vehicle.
now i agree on the gear shifts and timing, i have read many posts and reviews, the throttle is not very responsive as one has hoped for. I had an 200 S8, and that beast was just waiting for a push on the throttle!!
I asked the dealer wheather the ratios can be manipulated or perhaps the redline removed since everything is computerized, got a negative answer, and that this is the way the car is.
Posts: 4890
Joined: 2/24/2007 From: Sacramento, CA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: aggie88
- this must be to avoid "unintended acceleration". Remember 60 Minutes and the Audi 5000? I still occasiionally left foot brake - but only in anticipated stop and go traffic when I know I don't need to jump on the throttle.
I absolutely hate Dan Rather for that story! If i ever saw him in public i would kick him straight in the balls. Mercedes had that same problem, but they "alledgedly" payed off the media rumored in the millions to shut the fuk up about the problem and they got away with it, and hence almost took audi under in the late 80's.
I too was upset about the DSP software in the Q7, but the advice on not using my left foot for the brake was spot on and I have had no problems since. I have raced karts for 40 years and learned to use my left foot for the brake, this has not been an easy habit to break but it sure works better now.
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Q7 Automatic Transmission Question - 
