Has anyone heard of or seen an auto-manual transmission that does not require a driver operated clutch (by definition, of course) but also has a floor-mounted/center console mounted shifter that moves in the H-pattern configuration commonly found on manual transmissions? I really wanna know if such technology is out there, and if it's possible to get that installed after-market.

I regret buying my A3 in an automatic transmission, but I hear the conversion to a manual transmission requires not only the unsightly hacking away and welding in the pedal area to accommodate a clutch pedal, a new fly wheel, and various other parts, but also the purchase of a transmission designed for a standard. I would trade her in for a manual if I could, but she's a 2007 with 28k miles on her, so I doubt I'd get much for her. Besides, the reason I got her was because I couldn't find any used A3s for sale locally with a manual tranny, so I'm looking for aftermarket solutions.

Thanks,
Sam

 

Several decades ago, Posche had a "two pedal" transmission that operated the clutch by the initial movement of the shift lever. It didn't last long, and my recollection of reviews was that it wasn't a very satisfying transmission in use.

I had my DSG Mechatronics unit replaced under warranty last year and it transformed the car. The most noticeable change was in the clutch engagement in situations requiring finesse - parallel parking, low speed stop-and-go (particularly in hot weather) , initial take up from start - the same situations where a manual transmission/clutch would require gradual engagement. The original unit seemed very much "on-off" but it now feels much more like how I'd drive a manual.

 

Not likely in a dual clutch transmission like the one on the A3, since it wants to go up or down the next gear, it is more of a sequential transmission than a "non predicting" "select any gear" type that the single clutch ones are.

The S-tronic on the A3 is a dual clutch manual transmission that has the computer control the shifting, engagement of the clutch, etc.

 

So there's no such thing as an auto-manual transmission that will let the driver move between gears that are non-sequential short of upshifting or downshifting several times consecutively? I understand that the gearbox is sequential, but nobody has designed a mod that allows the driver to move the shifter from (for example) the 2nd gear gate to the 5th gear gate, even if the gearbox has to shift through each gear one at a time?

 

If you want to downshift from 5th to 2nd, you blip the downshift paddle real fast 3x. This will still likely cause the transmission to go from 5th to 4th to 3rd to 2nd. If you blip the downshift 4x real fast while in 6th, it could do a drop to 5th gear, then go straight to 2nd gear. Although chances are it still might do a 6th to 5th to 4th to 3rd to 2nd if you blip down too slow. It is easier to use the kickdown since the computer will know it should go into 2nd gear.

 

I just like the feel of moving a shifter in the traditional H-configuration. Oh well, I guess I'll have to invest in a manual transmission car next time. Pity I couldn't find an A3 in standard...