Hoffdano

I have an A3 2.0. I am learning the behavior of the car.

I like the behavior of the car when the transmission is in S mode. It holds higher RPMs before shifting. But one thing I do not like is that it chooses a lower gear at steady highway speeds. That doesn't make sense to me. If I am driving at 60 MPH, and switch from D to S mode, it clearly downshifts to 5th instead of 6th. Does that make sense?

snagitseven

S mode is designed to not only hold the gears longer when upshifting, it also maintains the lower gears longer in deceleration and cruising to provide a quicker on-demand response to the accelerator for "sporty" driving. As a result, in most Audis with an auto transmission, the transmission will drop 2 gears when placed in S mode. In my A6 8-speed tiptronic, it will not even upshift to 8th gear when in S mode on the highway.

Syrome

Yep, S mode is always ready to overtake someone, if you don't want that, change to D when cruising along

zzimbile

Correct me if I am wrong, but there is no "S" mode on the S3. Simply drive and manual. The difference comes between the drive modes (eco, comfort and dynamic)?

chenw87

There is an S mode on the S3.

zzimbile

Good to know. I am normally in manual, but I will have to try this out.

19hole

I just go to manual mode and use the paddle shifters. I put it in 6th on the highway and it stays there untill I hit the downshift paddle twice to get to 4th for a quick pass.

whitby

Agreed, I find S to be annoying and it is easier just to push the lever over to manual

Hoffdano

OK - you confirmed what I have seen. "S" does seem to keep the A3 ready to jump. I was just surprised it held 5th for such a long time during steady driving.

And as already pointed out - I can either go to paddles or shift to D if I want 6th for highway driving.

Except for a jumpy throttle at certain low speeds, the DSG with the sport package is outstanding.

AgisA

If you go manual from S it still likes to hold the gear higher. Haven't tried with paddles yet.