So I just got done reading the article over on AudiWorld about the new A5/S5 Cabriolet.

It seems to me that when purchasing one, if you want one of the bigger engines and quattro, you are stuck with one of two automatic transmissions. If you want a manual transmission, you're stuck with front-wheel-drive.

And if you want an S5 Cabriolet, the V8 is no longer an option (being replaced with the new 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6), and you are stuck with an automatic transmission.

What the hell? I mean, I fully realize that the primary demographic for convertibles is probably going to be the people who just want a convertible because it's "cute" or "fun" to put the top down, and honestly couldn't give a bag of month-old dog crap if it's performance-oriented or not; and who probably don't know how to drive a manual in the first place and believe that the sole purpose of AWD is a safety feature; but come ON! At least put a proper transmission in the S5 Cab, and mate the 2.0TFSI with quattro and a clutch in the A5 Cab. FOR PITY'S SAKE!

 

afuckingmen

 

As to whether the manual or the auto is better, I believe it was the V.P. of Porsche who called Porsche's manual a piece of crap and said your better off buying an auto. Also talk to MOPAR who stomped Ford in Chevy in drag races with autos. Torqueflite ftw. A tranny is what you make it. Whether it's auto or manual; if you build it like ****, it'll perform like ****. Whatever, just this *******'s two cents.

 

its true that the auto trannys are getting quick, impressive even, but I think what Flippant is saying is that the enthusiasts are getting left behind, which is not good, because I'd have to venture a guess that the enthusiast is the guy who buys Audi after Audi. A guaranteed sale.

 

Yea I don't get Audi's marketing strategy. It's like your being penalized for wanting a manual. The upcoming TTS will only come with a dsg in the US market. wtf! they think all americans can't drive stick? Audi is so hell bent on taking over the market from merc and bmw they've forgotten about the niche market enthusiast. Instead they're building cars for the masses. Yea the dual clutch and pdk is/are great, hell even faster round a track in some apps. Still, for a daily driver I'd rather have a manual.

 

That's just GHAY! Manuals should be available for every engine size!

 

It's a safety thing I think. Everyone that drove a manual on the highway thinks they drive one around town too. They get into a sticky situation and **** the tranny because they don't know how to drive stick in an emergency. Also, figure this. Your brain is only devoting a very very tiny portion of it's power to shifting, whereas the auto tranny is designed to do that one task ALL OF THE TIME. If your good with a stick, go for it, but never underestimate a car with an auto.

 

I disagree. Theres not much brain activity required in shifting gears on a mundane daily commute. Infact, the repetitiveness makes it even easier cause it eventually becomes a habit. I think MOST people who drive manual, excluding ricers, are generally safer drivers. Their attention is focused on the road and what the car is doing instead of fiddling with the radio, sipping some overpriced starbucks latte, or talking/texting on the phone. Auto just makes it easier to get distracted. It's also boring.

 

You guys are SO transmissionist.

 

Exactly; you can sing the praises of the latest technology in automatic transmissions, and I will even be the first to recognize that many of them are quicker than a manual - but in terms of pure driving enjoyment a manual is by FAR the preferable option. I just don't see an automatic as being fun, it's just an idiot switch that takes a huge amount of control over the vehicle away from the driver.

With an auto, all you have to do is accelerate/decelerate and steer; whereas with a manual you have complete control over the application of power from the engine to the wheels. I don't even buy the whole paddle-shifter bit, that's just some video-game nonsense; and it's sequential so you can't just select exactly the gear you want, you have to click through each gear in turn - not nearly as fun or as engaging as physically kicking in the clutch and throwing the shifter across from 4th or 5th down to 2nd and hauling *** through that corner.

My point is, yeah, in terms of sales demographics, the people who want a convertible aren't concerned with this sort of thing. But this is Audi, and they shouldn't be alienating whatever small group of enthusiasts out there would like a fun, performance driving experience with the top down.