How many manual stick drivers?
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11
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RE: How many manual stick drivers?
Hey, if the 3.2 came in stick, I would have stick, but I would never get a FWD car. I hate that more than automatics. The DSG is smooth and shifts quicker than I do, but it needs a better shift program. In D, all it wants to do is go to 6th as quick as possible. No reason th DSG should be in 6th when I'm doing 40mph. The sport mode hold the gear too long. It keeps going between 2nd & 3rd when I go over and under 30mph. It's hard to maintain 30mph in urban driving and I'm not going to be driving around in 2nd gear all the time. D would be fine in the city if 5th and 6th didn't come into play until you're doing over 50mph or so. My wife's BMW 330i with the Steptronic seem to always be in the right gear in Sport mode. I wish the Audi DSG had the same programing.
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 906
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RE: How many manual stick drivers?
ORIGINAL: IzzyA3
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17
From:
RE: How many manual stick drivers?
DSG here. I've always driven automatics, but damned if the DSG doesn't make me want to learn to drive a stick. I can't say for sure I'd BUY a stick until I've driven one in traffic for a while, but no way to find out without doing it.
I've never had a car this sporty and nimble (84 civic wagon -> 01 grand prix -> 07A3), and I can't help thinking how awesome a MT might be now that I've had a while to learn about the DSG some. It is a little awkward sometimes when it miscalculates what you are going to do in the manual mode, but being able tohold just the right gear in a corner or when you arewaiting for a windowto rocket around someone, is absolutely awesome. I agree with the other comment about D being too much in a rush to get to 6th (and why isn't 6th steeper anyway, I can't help but think it would help with highway mileage) and S being too aggressive with shifting (I call the two modes Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) though.I always use the paddles to shift it way before the program would in S . I don't think I'd give up Quattro to get a manual either, but I hope to be driving the A3 for a while, so who knows what will be around when I'm shopping next.
In the meantime, plenty of time to find a cheap clunker with a manual transmission to learn on (and sell afterwards
)once the A3 is paid for. I wonder how many other people the DSG calls to the dark side, who never had the chance to learn a stick. It's like training wheels. Don't have to worry about the clutch, over-revs or stalling, but you sure learn about shifting up or down too early.
I've never had a car this sporty and nimble (84 civic wagon -> 01 grand prix -> 07A3), and I can't help thinking how awesome a MT might be now that I've had a while to learn about the DSG some. It is a little awkward sometimes when it miscalculates what you are going to do in the manual mode, but being able tohold just the right gear in a corner or when you arewaiting for a windowto rocket around someone, is absolutely awesome. I agree with the other comment about D being too much in a rush to get to 6th (and why isn't 6th steeper anyway, I can't help but think it would help with highway mileage) and S being too aggressive with shifting (I call the two modes Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) though.I always use the paddles to shift it way before the program would in S . I don't think I'd give up Quattro to get a manual either, but I hope to be driving the A3 for a while, so who knows what will be around when I'm shopping next.
In the meantime, plenty of time to find a cheap clunker with a manual transmission to learn on (and sell afterwards
)once the A3 is paid for. I wonder how many other people the DSG calls to the dark side, who never had the chance to learn a stick. It's like training wheels. Don't have to worry about the clutch, over-revs or stalling, but you sure learn about shifting up or down too early.
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 323
From:
RE: How many manual stick drivers?
ORIGINAL: IzzyA3
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
) but this is how it works:Prior to phones having headsets (wired or bluetooth) this was a real PITA, but not impossible. Steer with the left knee, smoke with the left hand (so you can ash out the window), shift (when necessary) obviously with the right hand, drink coffee(when not shifting) with the right hand, and cradle the cell phone between your chin and the shoulder of your choice. I know, not safe at all....but at least I wasn't reading the friggin paper or putting on makeup!
Now I use a bluetooth headset and don't smoke, so there are 2 things I don't have to juggle anymore.
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 83
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RE: How many manual stick drivers?
ORIGINAL: AManCalledE
I don't smoke anymore (quit just over 6 months ago ) but this is how it works:
Prior to phones having headsets (wired or bluetooth) this was a real PITA, but not impossible. Steer with the left knee, smoke with the left hand (so you can ash out the window), shift (when necessary) obviously with the right hand, drink coffee(when not shifting) with the right hand, and cradle the cell phone between your chin and the shoulder of your choice. I know, not safe at all....but at least I wasn't reading the friggin paper or putting on makeup!
Now I use a bluetooth headset and don't smoke, so there are 2 things I don't have to juggle anymore.
ORIGINAL: IzzyA3
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
) but this is how it works:Prior to phones having headsets (wired or bluetooth) this was a real PITA, but not impossible. Steer with the left knee, smoke with the left hand (so you can ash out the window), shift (when necessary) obviously with the right hand, drink coffee(when not shifting) with the right hand, and cradle the cell phone between your chin and the shoulder of your choice. I know, not safe at all....but at least I wasn't reading the friggin paper or putting on makeup!
Now I use a bluetooth headset and don't smoke, so there are 2 things I don't have to juggle anymore.
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 323
From:
RE: How many manual stick drivers?
ORIGINAL: rollyfoster
that makes me laugh because i broke my left foot a few years ago and found myself drving in a similar manner. my ride to the doctor bailed on me, so i had to drive myself. i had a smoke, a cup of coffee, a phone, and a 2 x 4 to push the clutch in. it was quite a sight.
ORIGINAL: AManCalledE
I don't smoke anymore (quit just over 6 months ago ) but this is how it works:
Prior to phones having headsets (wired or bluetooth) this was a real PITA, but not impossible. Steer with the left knee, smoke with the left hand (so you can ash out the window), shift (when necessary) obviously with the right hand, drink coffee(when not shifting) with the right hand, and cradle the cell phone between your chin and the shoulder of your choice. I know, not safe at all....but at least I wasn't reading the friggin paper or putting on makeup!
Now I use a bluetooth headset and don't smoke, so there are 2 things I don't have to juggle anymore.
ORIGINAL: IzzyA3
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
A question for all you manual drivers: how do you talk on the cell phone, drink coffee and smoke while driving with a manual
seriously, what do you do when you get a phone call?
) but this is how it works:Prior to phones having headsets (wired or bluetooth) this was a real PITA, but not impossible. Steer with the left knee, smoke with the left hand (so you can ash out the window), shift (when necessary) obviously with the right hand, drink coffee(when not shifting) with the right hand, and cradle the cell phone between your chin and the shoulder of your choice. I know, not safe at all....but at least I wasn't reading the friggin paper or putting on makeup!
Now I use a bluetooth headset and don't smoke, so there are 2 things I don't have to juggle anymore.
I broke my left foot during a soccer game several years back. I had to drive home >20miles in a F150. That ba$+ard had a long a$$ clutch!!! You better believe I was chain smoking on that drive home! I was also talking to my (now ex)wife on the phone pissing and moaning about my the pain I was in.