Originally Posted by A4DRVR

I'm really disappointed with the transmission in my 2015 A3. I really wish there was an option for a fully manual transmission without getting into an S.

Originally Posted by EGainer

They will know, they'd just have to reach in awkward ways or use the stick.

My only complaint with the dsg is I have to look at the gear display to know the gear if I'm downshifting from 6 to 3 or so. With a stick I can feel the gear without looking

Originally Posted by Spoonie G

I don't need to look to know what gear I'm in. Guess that stems from riding dirt-bikes as a child. Older motorcycles also didn't have a gear indicator. You should be able to feel what gear you are in by speed and revs.

Originally Posted by superswiss

I think part of it has to do with the differences in cars. With the 8500 rpm readline and 4500 rpm powerband of the RS5 I rarely need to shift mid corner even if radius decreases/increases. Also the dynamic steering rack in my car has a more direct ratio, so for the same amount of turn in, I have to turn the steering wheel less. I don't shuffle steer when doing performance/spirited driving. You have no control if you suddenly need to counter steer unless you have a good grip and both hands on the wheel during cornering. Here's a nice video of a great run around the Nurburgring in a Pagani Zonda R. Notice how he is not moving his hands. I shuffle steer in everyday driving, but then I mostly have the transmission in automatic mode.

EDIT: Also notice how with the column mounted paddles in the Pagani, his hands are not near the paddle or are near the opposite paddles in tight corners. That doesn't happen with the steering wheel mounted paddles.

Pagani Zonda R - Nürburgring Lap Record 6:47 - YouTube

Originally Posted by jeff968

That is why I'm waiting for the manual S3. Audi execs have hinted that it may come to the US. Otherwise, it will be a Golf R 6 speed manual for me. For me, it is the engagement aspect of driving that only a manual transmission offers that makes all the differnce in my driving experience. My cars have always been manuals so we'll see where my $40K ends up next year. My 06 A4 2.0T continues to perform very well and I enjoy my 6 speed manual tranny every day!

Thanks for your post.

Originally Posted by A4DRVR

I would still be enjoying my 08 6 SPD manual A4 too if I hadn't learned about the cam follower issue by having mine fail. After it was fixed I was too paranoid about the shavings floating around in there, so I traded up for a 15 A3. I have to say the A3 has more pull than the A4 did and it's a lot of fun to drive. I just have to get used to a manual automatic I guess.

Originally Posted by bradenalexander

You will also notice he doesn't pull the paddles in a turn - 95% of shifts happen either decelerating into a corner, or accelerating after/out of a corner. Yo yes, wheel mounted would be fine in this case - but it doesn't really justify steering wheel mounted either I don't think.

Originally Posted by A4DRVR

I'm really disappointed with the transmission in my 2015 A3. I really wish there was an option for a fully manual transmission without getting into an S.

Originally Posted by ahyeah

I really dislike the dsg also. The rev matched downshifts aren't nearly as satisfying as in other Audis, automatic kickdown happens in Manual mode, Sport holds gears awkwardly compared to other models I've driven in length, you can't tell what gear you're in because the cars so kinda numb/sound deadened (unless you've found a way to enable it thru vagcom which i can't seem to get to work), it'll clunk downshifting into 2nd. It's just generally kinda lifeless, imo. It blows me away sometimes that folks accept the loss of feel.

I would be completely satisfied with the S3 if it just had a manual. I could care less if it's a fraction of a second slower when shifting gears 3 times in a 0-60 sprint.