How do you use a geartronic transmission?

[matthew1]

I want to get out on the highway and see if I can get 0-60 better shifting myself, than with the automatic. The last time I checked I’d just replaced the PCV system and 0-60 was about 8.16. I saw some historic reviews showing a range of 6.2 - 6.6 - 7.2 so I’d like to shave a second or more off if I can. So I will play with it and hopefully not get bored too soon. Thanks!

Don’t chase this too far down the rabbit hole. Car & Driver for instance flogs its test cars dozens of times to get their best acceleration numbers, then they correct for atmospheric conditions to achieve a sea level ideal. They slip clutches, 7k RPM launch, power brake... whatever it takes.

Speaking of C&D, they sniffed out the Audi unintended acceleration BS from day one, to their everlasting credit. Forever my ride or die car magazine. It’s sad to see them like they are today... a shadow of their former selves. RIP Brock Yates.

[kallekula]

I never use it. I can't see what it's good for? Sounds like just a sale gimmick to me.
EDIT: I mean out of all people that has this auto/manual feature, how often do they really use it?

[June]

I never use it. I can't see what it's good for? Sounds like just a sale gimmick to me.

Where it comes in handy (here in the USA) is keeping low speed for several miles. Here if you drive on a two lane highway it will pass through countless small towns with 15 to 25 mph speed limits. For example the entire town of Bryant has a speed limit of 15 mph. Try driving a turbo Volvo 15 mph for five to ten miles straight. The on the outskirts the speed limit bumps up and down from 15 to 45 constantly until the next town and the so on... That's constantly up and down for no good reason other than to create speed traps. The South is full of small towns crawling with nasty police who's only job is to create revenue. Being able to hold 1st through 3rd manually allows the speed limit to be maintained much easier. Especially for a lead foot like me. June

[volvolugnut]

I never use it. I can't see what it's good for? Sounds like just a sale gimmick to me.

Where it comes in handy (here in the USA) is keeping low speed for several miles. Here if you drive on a two lane highway it will pass through countless small towns with 15 to 25 mph speed limits. For example the entire town of Bryant has a speed limit of 15 mph. Try driving a turbo Volvo 15 mph for five to ten miles straight. The on the outskirts the speed limit bumps up and down from 15 to 45 constantly until the next town and the so on... That's constantly up and down for no good reason other than to create speed traps. The South is full of small towns crawling with nasty police who's only job is to create revenue. Being able to hold 1st through 3rd manually allows the speed limit to be maintained much easier. Especially for a lead foot like me. June

Sammy Hagar had a song suitable for these towns - 'I can't drive 55'. 15 MPH really?

I sometimes use Geartronic for forcing upshifts to 5th when the transmission wants to stay in 4th. A hyper mileing hack.

volvoulgnut

[June]

I never use it. I can't see what it's good for? Sounds like just a sale gimmick to me.

Where it comes in handy (here in the USA) is keeping low speed for several miles. Here if you drive on a two lane highway it will pass through countless small towns with 15 to 25 mph speed limits. For example the entire town of Bryant has a speed limit of 15 mph. Try driving a turbo Volvo 15 mph for five to ten miles straight. The on the outskirts the speed limit bumps up and down from 15 to 45 constantly until the next town and the so on... That's constantly up and down for no good reason other than to create speed traps. The South is full of small towns crawling with nasty police who's only job is to create revenue. Being able to hold 1st through 3rd manually allows the speed limit to be maintained much easier. Especially for a lead foot like me. June

Sammy Hagar had a song suitable for these towns - 'I can't drive 55'. 15 MPH really?

I sometimes use Geartronic for forcing upshifts to 5th when the transmission wants to stay in 4th. A hyper mileing hack.

volvoulgnut

Vicki Lawrence best described Southern law enforcement in this song from 1973! The small town South is still a scarey place for the passersby. June

[BlackBart]

DES, mmm

When I gently ride the brakes on my A4 to do a quick rotor clean, it cuts the throttle and you just stop!

[bbeels]

Hi Matthew1,

Nice to know that the magazines cull and correct the numbers. It's not easy to match that with a daily driver just pulling out of a rest area. I still have a bit to learn about using the manual side. So far I'm tending to shift too soon and rather than getting quicker pick up, I'm bogging down instead of accelerating. Maybe I should count the 8.16 as a good speed.

[bbeels]

Hi June,
I can see where it will come in handy here in Oregon as well. There are several spots on around the state where you suddenly have to drop to 25 to 35 speeds for towns that are less than a mile long. I'm don't recall any that go so low as 15, you can't even use cruise control at that rate.

[csh]

I think you really have to discover what works best for you with the Geartronic. I don't think it works well for 0-60 times etc, although I never really tried. It is just not like a manual. The upshifts are too far delayed for my liking. The down shifts are fine. It is probably best when you want to hold a specific gear like climbing steep grades or keeping it in a lower gear when on a freeway clover leaf. So for me I occasionally use it to hold a gear or to shift to a lower gear but then I flip it to auto when I am done and let it handle all the upshifts.

[abscate]

DES, mmm

When I gently ride the brakes on my A4 to do a quick rotor clean, it cuts the throttle and you just stop!

I wonder if you can pull the socket on the brake Iight switch to bypass this?