Hi All.

Just joined tonight as a need a question answered?????

I have a two day test drive right now on a very nice 05 S4 Avant Auto. Car has 47,000 miles on it and apart from a slight smell of cigarettes every now and then it's in great shape. Interior looks like new, new tires, newish brakes etc. Car is a US import to Canada, 1 lease owner from Oregon.

Here's my dilemma....the auto tranni sometimes feels harsh or thumpy on shifting. Mostly down shifting. Coming to a gentle stop at the lights, almost to a complete stop (like the trans is selecting 1st) "thump!" the tranni changes down and the vehicle stops. In a parking lot looking for a parking spot doing just a few MPH same thing. Tranni seems lumpy or harsh. Using the paddles do downshift on the highway just does not feel that smooth.

My M3 SMG feels the same but i expected the S4 Auto to be silky smooth. Maybe its just how it is. Sorry but i have not driven one before.

I want the car for work. I'm in multimedia signage and need to carry PC's LCD screens, tools etc but like a bit of performance. Car is just out of factory warranty and i'm a little concerned.

Any thoughts please?

Thanks, Richard, Victoria, BC , Canada.

 

i have a 04 A6' with tiptronic it does adapt to your driving over time which i notice helps with the shifting when im the only one who drives my A6 otherwise the tranny is all over the place. i agree about first gear for shure it jolts the car like i hit something sometimes... i doubt the trannis are the same between the two cars but thats my take on audis autos and that also includes the new a6's and b7 a4

also my a6 makes a really loud clunk when i first put it in drive now everytime and my bose head unit doesnt work

i think there maybe 1 guy with a b7 with a auto here with more insight

a chip might help with the shifting APR / or GIAC are the most common an run around 600$ for a flash *

 

Thanks Joshf.

The adaptive thing did cross my mind too. When ever i drive my wife's X3 the shifting can be sometimes a bit rough but not like this S4.

It does not feel at all odd or harsh most of the time and for the most part drives OK. The car is in too good a shape to make me think that it has been driven irresponsibly.

I'll call the local Audi dealer today for what its worth. They could never fix my Passat TDI back when i had that for work. Maybe I'll try the Vancouver dealer.

Thanks again.