Jack

Picked it up new 3 weeks ago and have noticed that during a long stretch of my commute stuck in traffic at about 20-30mph, I get very little response from the pedal unless I gun it. Have switched into Tip mode and noticed that it is in 5th and punching it a bit drops it into 4th. The gearing makes some sense but I am wondering if this lag normal or is my tranny out of adjustment. Anyone have a similar experience?

Jack

2000 A42.8QTipX

larryV

Get used to it or get a chip: A stock 1.8T tip is a paradoxical slug/marvel of modern engineering.

Paul H. (in MD)

I think that the 1.8T Tip is programmed to upshift a little too quickly. Yes, you can drive "spiritedly" and it will quickly learn to stay in the lower gears more; but then I often find it will then hold them for too long if traffic changes and I am not able to accelerate again quickly. Also, I think the amount of throttle required to keep it from upshifting is too much. Quite deadly to pedestrians in the city. On top of that, it has a very short memory (at least mine does).

As an enthusiast driver especially, I feel that I am more or less relegated (the appropriate term) to using Tip mode most of the time. Only then am I able to anticipate what my transmission will do..

Given proper shifting and an aftermarket exhaust, the stock 1.8T Tip is actually quite peppy.

Paul
'98.5 A4 1.8TQTS

Lewis

Sounds normal, but I wouldn't call it "hesitation."
Try experimenting with the throttle; you'll find that, depending on how far/fast you depress it, the auto trans will downshift one gear, and if if you press still further, it will downshift 2 gears, and very little lag; 3d is pretty responsive to 80mph.
Try driving in Tip mode, also, and just bump down twice, from 5th to 3d, for pretty snappy passing.

Lewis
98.5 1.8T QSTip

Dan F.

I notice this problem most when I'm behind people who accelerate slowly until about 30 Mph, then start to add more power. The slow start makes the transmission think "I'm in lazy-driving economy mode", and you hit 5th really quickly. Then you no longer have power to keep up with traffic when it finally starts to pick up.

The best solutions are either to shift yourself with tiptronic, drive in "4" instead of "D" in city traffic, or kick the accelerator hard enough for a downshift.

Dan